SUNY ESF
Counseling Services

Meet the Staff

Ruth A. Larson, Director of Counseling Services
Ruth has been a counselor for over 25 years and her focus is on adjusting to college, depression, anxiety, mindfulness, grief and loss, PTSD, sexual and relationship violence, and LGBTQIA+ issues. She has worked in a variety of settings: community mental health, psychiatric hospitals, a morgue as a grief counselor, and private practice. Ruth is a member of the Association for University and Community College Counseling Directors and the American Counseling Association.

Joelle Conant, Staff Therapist
Joelle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Syracuse, New York. She obtained her Master of Social Work degree from Syracuse University in 2011 and has been a social worker for 10 years. Her areas of focus include relationship problems, grief and loss, anxiety, depression and college transitions. She has experience in case management as well as substance abuse counseling. Joelle provides students with harm reduction strategies to address substance use concerns and support academic success. She believes in using a Strength-Based approach to support students in meeting their personal life goals. She is a member of the American Counseling Association.

Ryann Hubbard, Intern Counselor graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in Psychology from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts and is in his second year in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program at Syracuse University. Ryann is a first generation college student and is interested in working with other first generation students, military students, students who are neurodiverse, and students who have experienced trauma. Ryann is a member of the American Counselors Association.

What We Offer

• Counseling - Short-Term and Solution-Focused
• Crisis Management
• Consultations - if you are concerned about a friend or loved one, or want one-time advice on a specific issue
• Assessment and Referral
• Educational Programming - Education and Resources on a wide variety of mental health topics - Look for us tabling in Gateway!
• *If you would like Counseling Services to provide an educational workshop for your club or organization, please contact us at: 315-470-4716 or email Ruth A. Larson at rlarson@esf.edu

Scope of Service and Referrals

ESF Counseling Services assists students with the following issues:

• Stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Academic Concerns
• Self-Esteem
• Relationship Issues / Interpersonal Concerns
• Adjusting to College
• Grief and Loss
• Mild Concerns about Eating Disorder / Body Image Issues
• Mild Concerns regarding Alcohol and Substance Use and Abuse Issues
• Mild Concerns of PTSD

Counselors work with students to accommodate busy schedules. Please keep in mind, counseling is short-term, solution-focused in nature. If the student requires additional and/or intensive services, the counselor will work with the student to connect with agencies and other counselors in the surrounding community for ongoing care.

There will be times that the student and/or the counselor believes the issue is out of our scope of practice and a referral needs to be made to a counselor in the community for longer-term, more in depth counseling and support. Students may remain with their ESF Counselor in a bridge care plan until they are established with their off-campus provider.

It is often beneficial to sign a Release of Information so the two counselors can communicate with each other for the most successful continuation of care. After a referral is given, your ESF counselor will reach out to you twice within a semester to see if that referral is a good fit.

Eligibility & Fees

Registered ESF students are eligible to seek services at Counseling Services. During your initial intake session, you and your counselor will determine your goals and outline some of the services which may be most helpful to you.

There is no charge for counseling sessions. Counseling Services is supported by the Student Health Fee and the College's budget.

Confidentiality

Counselors take your confidentiality very seriously. What you say in counseling stays in counseling with a few, very specific exceptions:

• You are an imminent danger to yourself or others
• You make terroristic threats
• You are abusing a child or vulnerable adult
• Your file is subpoenaed by a court of law and the subpoena is signed by a judge

Client counseling files are securely kept and never become part of your academic record. Your parents/guardians, ESF staff or faculty will not be informed of your participation in counseling.