Counseling

What is Counseling?

Counseling is a space where you can talk openly about your thoughts, feelings, experiences, and challenges without fear of judgment.

Unlike a quick check-in or drop-in conversation, counseling is an ongoing process where you and your counselor work together over multiple sessions to better understand yourself, explore your emotions, navigate challenges, and discover what works for you.

You don't need to be in crisis or have a big problem to benefit from counseling. Whether you're navigating friendships, adjusting to TAMS, managing stress, or figuring out who you're becoming, counseling offers a supportive space to explore what matters to you.

Counseling isn't about someone telling you what to do. It's about helping you discover your own way forward.

If you are in crisis and cannot wait for a scheduled appointment, inform TAMS staff that you need to speak to the psychologist ASAP and they will contact one of us.

At TAMS Counseling, we believe that every student has the capacity for growth, resilience, and success. Guided by our core values of respect, openness, trust, passion, and education, we strive to create an inclusive, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where students feel seen, valued, and empowered. Through counseling, outreach, psychoeducation, and advocacy, we help students navigate challenges, strengthen relationships, develop healthy coping skills, and enhance their overall well-being. We are committed to fostering a culture of belonging and supporting students in achieving their personal, academic, and interpersonal goals while equipping them with the tools needed to thrive both now and in the future.

Log into Navigate
Click on Schedule an Appointment
Care Unit: General Event (probably at the bottom of the list)
Location: choose either of the TAMS Counseling offices that you prefer
You may also contact us by sending an email to TAMS.Counseling@unt.edu

Patrick Turnock	Patrick.Turnock@unt.edu
	I am a licensed psychologist and the Director of Counseling for TAMS. For nearly 30 years, I have worked with adolescents and families, including the past 15 years at TAMS. I love working with gifted adolescents and helping students navigate the opportunities and challenges of an accelerated academic environment. My approach to counseling begins with curiosity. I strive to understand each student's unique strengths, experiences, and goals, and I work collaboratively with students to clarify what they want and identify paths forward. My approach is flexible and eclectic, drawing from a variety of evidence-based perspectives based on each student's needs. I believe counseling is most effective when it empowers students to build self-awareness, communication skills, self-advocacy, resilience, and balance. In addition to providing counseling services, I oversee the TAMS counseling program, supervise graduate student clinicians, and work to continually improve services for our students.
Nishita Raut	Nishita.Raut@unt.edu
	Hello! My name is Nishita Raut. I am an international student which helps me understand the challenges of navigating transitions, balancing academic demands, and adjusting to new environments. I recognize that adolescents and young adults often face unique pressures as they develop their identities, manage relationships, and make important life decisions. I utilize an Existential approach in counseling and view the therapeutic process as a collaborative journey. At times, you may lead the way, and at other times, I may provide guidance and support. I believe people learn and grow through reflecting on their experiences, and that each person has the capacity to make meaningful choices that move them closer to the person they want to become. My goal is to create a supportive, authentic, and nonjudgmental space where students can explore their thoughts, emotions, values, and sense of purpose. Together, we can work on building resilience, managing stress, strengthening relationships, and finding meaning amidst life's challenges. I enjoy incorporating creativity, reflection, and expressive activities into my work and am committed to helping students thrive throughout their TAMS experience.
Anna Straughan	Anna.Straughan@unt.edu
	My name is Anna (she/her/they/them), and I'm a 5th year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at UNT with additional training in children, adolescents, and families. My approach to counseling is relational, since I believe it is important that my clients and I have a strong working relationship so we can work on my client's goals as a collaborative team. I'm honest, authentic, and patient as a clinician. I work with a variety of concerns, and particularly enjoy helping clients with time management, identity development, grief, roommate/friend/family conflict, and social anxiety. In addition to therapy, I'm also available for clinical, cognitive/achievement,

Personal Counseling

Where are the counselors located?

Dr. Turnock's office is located in SAGE 390A. Anna and Nishita's offices are located in SAGE 390B and 390C.

What can I talk about?

Anything of concern to TAMS students. Everyday decisions and challenges involving:

Adjustment to TAMS
Missing home
Relationships
Personal identity and growth
Deciding on college major/career
Feeling like an imposter
Procrastination
Social Media & Your Time
Worry about a test
Worry about future
Respecting your needs and limits
Resting better
Calming down
Finding my self-care
Finding balance

This is not an exhaustive list of concerns. Counselors are trained to address various mental health issues or phases of life concerns.

Confidentiality of Information

"Your information stays confidential"

Sessions with TAMS counselors are confidential. This means that what you share in the therapy room cannot be shared with TAMS administration, student life, professors, or other students. Limited exceptions apply to this rule. Please speak with your TAMS counselor. This is explained in more detail during the first session with a TAMS counselor.

Upcoming Events

Keep an eye out for Seminars and Thriving Tuesdays!

Academic Counseling/Advising

Please see Academic Advising for additional information.

Our Mission

Offer free mental health and performance enhancement services through accessible counseling, assessment, and workshops
Provide psychoeducation through outreach and seminars to increase familiarity, destigmatize mental health concerns, and reduce barriers to seeking support
Provide comprehensive and interdisciplinary externship training to counseling and clinical psychology doctoral students
Cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging with intentionality, care, and commitment

Just as a compass guides direction, our efforts are guided by our core values:

Respect:
We treat everyone we interact with and everything we do with the utmost respect and care. We take a mindful and nonjudgmental approach to best meet, understand, and serve the TAMS community.

Openness:
We are committed to a life-long process of learning and are always striving to grow. We promote open dialogue, creativity, and innovation to foster a culture of continued development to address the needs of the TAMS community most effectively.

Trust:
As practitioners, educators, and advocates, we prioritize authenticity in our roles and intentionality in our actions. We adhere to the legal and ethical standards of our profession.

Passion:
Our passion to help others fuels our dedication to support the wellbeing of our community. Our efforts are multidisciplinary and reach beyond the counseling room to help raise awareness around important issues and improve the systems in which our students function.

Education:
We take a two-pronged approach to education:

At a student level, we provide psychoeducation to destigmatize mental health concerns and help our community of emerging adults develop prosocial skills, cope with stressors, and care for themselves while being expected to achieve highly
At a doctoral externship training level, we provide well-rounded training to rising counseling and clinical psychologists in counseling, assessment, and advocacy work