Counseling

Mission Statement:

The mission of the South Mountain Community College Counseling Division is to support all students, faculty and staff by providing instruction and services that promote personal development, foster academic and professional growth, as well as enhance mental health, wellness, and resiliency.

Personal Counseling & Development Services:

In addition to academic programs, the Counseling Division provides free counseling services for students regarding life skills, career planning, and crisis intervention. Our counselors work to support and empower students in achieving their academic, professional, and personal goals.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, counseling services will be available via phone and video conferencing for students, faculty, and staff. All services are by appointment only.

How to make a counseling appointment:

Students who are enrolled at SMCC, as well as faculty and staff can book a counseling appointment via YouCanBookMe.

We currently have four counseling faculty available to meet with you. Please click on their booking link below to schedule an appointment. You will automatically be sent a confirmation email, a reminder email, and a calendar invite to the session.

Dr. Thomas Aubrey

Dr. Thomas E. Rojo Aubrey
(he/him)
BHS Director, Counselor & Faculty
https://smcc-draubreybhs.youcanbook.me

Jason Reif

Jason Reif
(he/him)
Division Chair & Counselor
https://smcc-jasonreif.youcanbook.me/

Kerry Scott

Kerry Scott
(she/her)
Counselor & FYE Faculty
https://smcc-kerryscott.youcanbook.me/

Shalmeka Sweet

Shalmeka Sweet
(she/her)
Counselor & CPD/FYE Faculty
https://smcc-shalmekasweet.youcanbook.me/

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):

Counseling is available, at no charge, to all students enrolled at South Mountain Community College, as well as all faculty and staff.

  1. Academic advising is for students who need assistance with academic information or help developing an educational plan. To meet with an Academic Advisor, please click here.
  2. Counseling is for students who need help with personal matters. You can discuss topics such as developing better study skills, well-being, managing stress, responding to crises, setting goals, and/or resources for mental health assistance.

  1. Your privacy will always be respected, but please note that all counselors maintain student privacy as outlined by FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) guidelines, and, like other college representatives, may release information as permitted by FERPA or in circumstances involving the safety of students or others.
  2. Counselors are mandated by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to report knowledge of gender-based or sexual discrimination that involves MCCCD students or employees, including sexual harassment or sexual violence that creates a hostile environment on campus.

Immediate Crisis Support Resources:

Low Cost Mental Health Resources:

You can also email counseling@southmountaincc.edu for a list of comprehensive resources regarding nutrition assistance, housing, and mental health.

Offered Courses:

The Counseling Division also offers courses that facilitate student success through college orientation, personal growth, study skill development, and educational and career planning. These courses also provide an opportunity for career exploration and multicultural appreciation.

  1. FYE 101: Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success – 1 credit
  2. FYE 103: Exploration of College, Career and Personal Success – 3 credits
  3. CPD 160: Introduction to Multiculturalism - 3 credits
  4. CPD 180*: Human Resilience: Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Applications – 3 credits

*Students will also have the opportunity to earn 4 nationally recognized certifications as a part of their CPD 180 course completion:

  1. Certified Resilience Professional (CRP) through the Arizona Trauma Institute and International Trauma Institute
  2. Certified Academic Resilience Technician (a-ART) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine
  3. Mindfulness-Informed Technician (c-MIT) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine
  4. Certified Self-Care Technician (c-SCT) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine

Don’t forget to Explore Our Degrees or check out our Behavioral Health Sciences program below!

Behavioral Health Sciences Program (BHS)

The Behavioral Health Sciences program focuses on the comprehensive study of human behavior. It offers practical training and service-learning experiences to prepare students with the clinical skills necessary to deliver specialized and comprehensive mental health and social services.

As one of the fastest growing programs at South Mountain Community College, a degree in the Behavioral Health Sciences can open the door to a career as part of a clinical team in psychiatric, counseling, or social work — in the private and public sectors, schools, medical or residential facilities, and the community at large.

The Behavioral Health Sciences degree and certificate programs offer students a unique opportunity to earn their Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree predominately or entirely at the South Mountain Community College campus or online. The program has several options for degree paths, as well as certificate options:

  1. Basic Certificate: 18 credits
  2. Advanced Certificate (CCL): 40-43 credits
  3. Associate in Applied Sciences (AAS): 63-71 credits
  4. Bachelors of Science in Behavioral Health is coming soon!

Areas of Emphasis:

Both the Associate’s degree (AAS) and Advanced Certificate (CCL) allow students to select one of the following areas of emphasis:

  1. Trauma and Crisis Stabilization
  2. Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
  3. Addiction and Substance Use Disorders
  4. Developmental Disabilities
  5. Criminal Justice and Forensic Science
  6. Mental Health

Industry Certifications:

Students will also have the opportunity to earn 10 nationally recognized Industry certifications as a part of specific BHS courses:

  1. Certified Trauma Support Specialist (CTSS) through the Arizona Trauma Institute and International Trauma Institute
  2. Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) through LivingWorks
  3. Certified Trauma Recovery Specialist (c-TRS) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine
  4. Certified Resilience Professional (CRP) through the Arizona Trauma Institute and International Trauma Institute
  5. Certified Mindfulness-Informed Technician (c-MIT) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine
  6. Psychological First Aid (PFA) through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
  7. Certified Professional Resilience Technician (c-PRT) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine)
  8. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing
  9. Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) through the Crisis Prevention Institute
  10. Certified Self-Care Technician (c-SCT) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine
  11. Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) through the Behavior Analyst Certification Board
  12. Certified Mental Health Technician (c-MHT) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine
  13. Certified Mental Health Wellness Coach (c-MHWC) through the National Institute of Behavioral Medicine

Industry Training for First Responders and Health Care Providers

South Mountain Community College trains First Responders and Health Care providers by offering classes that teach psychological and emotional resiliency to offset the occupational hazards of traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Our courses enhance career survivability by improving well-being and life satisfaction.;

Courses Approved by the; Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board

The following SMCC counseling classes are AZPOST Board approved for continual education (CE) for police and correctional officers taking the following classes:;

  1. BHS 155: Professional Resiliency and Well-Being (professional resiliency);
  2. CPD 180: Cognitive, Emotional, and Behavioral Applications (academic resilience)

For additional information regarding the Behavioral Health Sciences program, please contact the Program Director, Dr. Thomas E. Rojo Aubrey at thomas.aubrey@southmountaincc.edu.

CARE & Conduct Reporting

Maricopa County Community Colleges District offers an online system for reporting students of concern, academic misconduct, student code of conduct and Title IX violations. Please select the appropriate reporting form to route your submission to the responsible party. Take from MCCCD Reporting a Student of Concern, or a Student Conduct and/or Code Violation.
NOTE: If you have any questions about this form, please contact the Office of Compliance at 480-731-8848.

How to submit a report:

Select the appropriate reporting link:

CARE (Early Alert) Reporting

  1. Academic (need tutoring or additional resources to help with their classwork, etc.)
  2. Attendance related (not showing up or logging in for class on a regular basis, etc.)
  3. Non-academic issues (reports of homelessness, COVID-related issues, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, nutrition assistance, etc.)
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, or at risk of harming themselves or others, please immediately call 9-1-1 or the 24/7 Help Line at 602-222-9444 for immediate assistance.

Student Conduct Reporting (Public Incident Report)
This form can be used to report general student misconduct or student code violations (cheating, forging, plagiarism, violence, threats).
NOTE: If you are unsure of which form to choose, please use this form.

Discrimination & Sexual Harassment (Title IX) Reporting
This form is used to report discrimination or harassment based on protected categories as listed in the MCCCD administrative regulations (race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, pregnancy, or veteran status).

  1. Complete the form to the best of your ability.
  2. Review & submit it.
  3. Follow up with the student about any additional resources or questions they might have.
  4. All enrolled students, as well as faculty and staff, can consult with an SMCC Counselor, at no charge. You can click here to make an appointment.