Counseling

Counseling

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency call 911 or visit the emergency room nearest to you. 

Additional resources: 

  • National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline text or call 988
  • Common Ground 1(800) 231-1127
  • Disaster Distress Hotline 1(800) 985-5990 or text RESTORE to 741741 to connect to a crisis counselor for free confidential support

We're here to help you achieve emotional and mental well-being while on your academic journey at OCC.

Hotlines & Helplines 

Meeting with a Counselor

Counselors and Support Staff are working to serve you.  Counseling appointments are available in the following formats and may require up to two weeks in advance during peak periods:

  • Phone Appointments
  • Zoom Appointments
  • In Person Appointments

Contact Counseling

We’ve Got Your Back

Have questions about classes, careers, or issues outside school? The counselors at OCC can help you find answers. They can help with questions like:

  • What classes should I take?
  • How can I get help with my course work?
  • What kind of career best suits me?
  • How can I overcome life challenges that affect my schooling?
  • How do I transfer to another school after graduating from OCC?

They have one overriding goal: to help guide you to success in school, a career, and your life.

OCC provides more than 60 counselors at our five campuses. They all have graduate degrees in counseling, psychology or related fields, and most are licensed professional counselors through the State of Michigan.

It’s easy to get help from a counselor. If possible, you should work with the same counselor throughout your time at OCC. This helps you and the counselor develop a relationship that benefits both of you.

Be sure to also check out Resources to Help You Succeed, a list of nearly 100 websites compiled by OCC counselors. It can point you to everything from free software for OCC students to job listings to sources of low-cost health care.

Counseling Services Include

Educational Counseling

Educational counseling: Counselors can help you plan your education and make sure your class choices will meet your goals. They can discuss topics like OCC programs and degrees, registering for classes, graduation requirements, transferring, College policies, and the Student Handbook, among others.

Career Counseling

If you’d like to explore what kind of career best suits you, counselors can help. They’ll talk to you about your interests, skills, and strengths, and will hook you up with resources – either on or off campus – where you can get the information you need to make a great choice.

Personal Counseling

Sometimes, life circumstances may pose challenges that stand in the way of academic success. To assist with these potential challenges, Oakland Community College (OCC) offers limited personal counseling to currently enrolled students. The purpose of this time limited service is to support the mental health and wellbeing of students as they strive toward academic success in their coursework at the College. 

OCC’s limited personal counseling services are not intended to be all inclusive or for long term use. Referral to outside resources and human service agencies within the surrounding community is often a critical compliment of this process which may be initiated at any time during this limited personal counseling process. 

For further information concerning limited personal counseling, schedule a meeting with an OCC Counselor

Additional Resources

Nahrein Atkinson, Counseling Faculty at OCC

Contact Information & Service Hours

Counseling main line: (248) 341-2270

Auburn Hills Campus
2nd Floor B Building
Email a Counselor @ Auburn Hills
Fax (248) 232-4355

Highland Lakes Campus
2nd Floor of Woodland Hall
Email a Counselor @ Highland Lakes
Fax: (248) 942-3055

Orchard Ridge Campus
1st Floor of M Building
Email a Counselor @ Orchard Ridge
Fax: (248) 522-3696

Royal Oak Campus 
1st Floor of B Building
Email a Counselor @ Royal Oak
Fax: (248) 246-2455

Southfield Campus
2nd Floor of A Building
Email a Counselor @ Southfield 
Fax: (248) 233-2740

Service Hours

  • Monday, Thursday & Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm (Onsite & Virtual Services)
  • Tuesday & Wednesday: 8:30am - 5pm (Onsite & Virtual Services) 
    • 5:00 - 7:00pm (Virtual)
  • Saturday (see dates below): 8:30am - 12:30pm (Virtual Services Only)
    • First two Saturdays in January & September
    • Entire months of July, August & December