The Center for Student Wellbeing does not issue medical excusal notes for missed classes. In the event of illness or injury that is expected to result in significant academic disruption, the student is advised to contact their professor(s) as soon as possible to notify them. Whether the disruption is a missed test, late assignment, or absence from class, early notification to the professor is very important. It is to the discretion of individual faculty to determine whether they will accept a personal report of illness as a valid excuse. The Center for Student Wellbeing does not communicate directly with faculty or other staff (supervisors, athletics) on a student’s behalf.
 
The Center for Student Wellbeing will provide a verification of attendance note to confirm the student was seen if one is requested at the time of visit and the scheduled appointment conflicts with a scheduled class. We do our best to accommodate students and schedule visits during times that do not interfere with a student’s academic schedule. The verification note will be issued directly to the student, and it is the student's responsibility to provide the note to faculty/staff. Please be advised an appointment verification note does not excuse a student's absence; it is still at the faculty/staff discretion to consider the absence excused. The Center for Student Wellbeing cannot provide appointment verification note for illnesses or injuries that occurred in the past nor for illnesses or injuries that were not treated by our office.

Once a student has a scheduled appointment, typically called an intake, they can expect to meet with a counselor for 30-45 minutes. This first appointment is not a counseling session and is intended to gather information, determine counseling goals and appropriate next steps (i.e., individual counseling, group counseling, or referral for other support services).  

Each counselor practices within their scope and has their own approach to the counseling process. Since each student brings their own unique concerns, we do not practice in a “one size fits all” approach. Instead, we do our best to tailor our approach to the student’s needs.

At times, a referral to an outside provider may be warranted due to the nature of a college setting and limitations within this setting. The majority of students will resolve their concern in 3-6 sessions; however, some students may need more sessions (i.e., long-term counseling) where the goal is to reduce symptoms/improve management of symptoms, rather than resolve a problem.

A crisis occurs when you have reached a level of distress that is beyond your ability to cope. Counselors are available for crisis intervention and given that these times are unpredictable, we will do our best to accommodate a student during our business hours by having our first available counselor meet with the student. 

Crisis intervention is not a typical counseling session. The goal is to assess the student’s safety first, then work to reduce the level of distress for the student to return to an acceptable level of functioning.

After-hours response is available to students experiencing a mental health crisis/emergency by calling campus safety at (716) 375-2525. Campus safety or the RD on-call will typically arrive to the students on-campus location and be present while the counselor on call assesses the student by phone. The counselor on call, RD, and campus safety will work collaboratively to address the needs of the student in crisis. 

BetterMynd: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis after hours or during the weekend, you can call 844-287-6963 (844-BTR-MYND). The BetterMynd crisis line is available 24/7, 365 days a year to all students on or off campus.

All contacts with the Center for Student Wellbeing and health records are kept confidential, stored in a HIPAA-compliant electronic health record system. Information cannot be released without the student’s consent, most often obtained via a signed release of confidential information. Exceptions are made in limited situations as permitted by federal or state laws.

Parental notification is the responsibility of the student (over the age of 18). This includes when students are transported to the emergency department for further evaluation or after other prevention/intervention efforts are made by counselors or medical staff. Exceptions are made for students under the age of 18 and if a parent is an emergency contact listed by the student (over the age of 18). In the latter exception, the student needs to be determined incapacitated or not otherwise able to notify a parent on their own within a reasonable time frame. 

Carmella Bartimole, Ph.D., LMHC

Carmella has been working as a mental health counselor in the Wellness Center at SBU since fall of 2019. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in English from Sacred Heart University, a Master of Education in community counseling from St. Bonaventure University, and Ph.D. in counselor education from the State University of New York at Buffalo.  

In addition to her previous role as associate professor and coordinator of the Counseling and Career Center at Jamestown Community College, she has more than 30 years of experience in counseling and teaching, and her area of expertise is grief counseling. Carmella also worked as the bereavement coordinator for Hospice where she facilitated support groups and worked individually with family members who lost a loved one due to a terminal illness.  

She is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and has earned a Fellow in Thanatology (FT) through ADEC. Her dissertation research on teen suicide led her to meet with and learn about high risk teens at the Youth Psychiatric Unit at Erie County Medical Center. Her work allowed her to gain a new-found understanding of how teens who attempt suicide think.     

She loves working with students in an educational setting and considers it a privilege to assist individuals who are finding their way in life. One of her favorite quotes is from C. S. Lewis: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” 

Abigail Dlugosz, MSEd, LMHC

Nicole Henderson, M.A., Mental Health Counselor

Nicole joined Counseling Services as a mental health counselor in 2024. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from PennWest University at Edinboro.  

Nicole’s previous work experience was with clients diagnosed with co-occurring disorders, which provided her the opportunity to work with a variety of clinical presentations, to include psychosis, trauma, depression, anxiety, and personality disorders. Her most recent work in a dual diagnosis (mental health and substance use disorders) program, allowed her to assist clients through their recovery journey, ultimately helping her to cultivate her therapeutic approach.  

Nicole works with clients to help them navigate life’s challenges and achieve emotional wellbeing. Her areas of focus include depression, anxiety, relationships, substance use disorders, and personal growth. She employs a client-centered approach while integrating cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and solution focused therapy, tending to each client’s unique needs. She actively encourages clients to explore themes such as freedom, responsibility, isolation, and searching for meaning. Nicole helps clients uncover their authentic selves and develop a deeper understanding of who they are.

She has been committed to creating a safe and supportive environment where her clients feel heard and understood. She believes in the power of empathy and active listening to foster healing and personal development.  

For all on-campus undergraduate and graduate students enrolled full time at St. Bonaventure University, the cost of appointments with the campus medical provider and counselors, some on-site medications, and on-site medical supplies is built into the cost of attending SBU. There is no fee and no need to use insurance.

Insurance coverage is required, however, for certain services. These include:

• To pay for any medical testing or bloodwork that the campus medical provider may need to perform that must be sent out to an external laboratory;
• To purchase prescription medications not provided on campus;
• To pay for costs associated with any referrals made to off-campus providers such as emergency room services, specialists, radiology (X-ray) services, urgent care providers, etc., in the event that the SBU Health Services medical provider is unable to meet a student’s medical needs on campus; or
• To pay for medical transports (such as ambulance and EMS rides) to other facilities. 
  

To purchase the SBU Student Health Insurance Plan

• If you or your child is a full-time undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) student, and would like to purchase the plan, the charge will be automatically added to your student account. For more questions on billing, please contact the Business Office at 716-375-2030.
• If you or your child is a part-time undergraduate (bachelor’s degree), part or full-time graduate (master’s degree) student and you would like to purchase the SBU Student Health Plan, you may do so by CLICKING HERE.  (PLEASE NOTE: As a part-time undergraduate or graduate student, you must be taking at least 6 credit hours in order to qualify to purchase the plan.)
  

To keep your current, existing health insurance plan

* The SBU Student Health Insurance Policy is underwritten by a company that is not directly affiliated with St. Bonaventure University. Any questions regarding the student policy may be directed to our insurance broker Haylor, Freyer and Coon by phone at 1-866-535-0456, or by email at student@haylor.com

Students requesting a leave of absence for medical reasons are subject to the university's leave policy and readmissions procedures.

• Medical Leave of Absence Policy
• Provider Information Form

• Immunization & Vaccination Policy Updated 05/08/2023 
• Meningococcal Disease & Vaccine Fact Sheet

New York state requires all K-12 students to have had the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine(s). However, if you are out of state or received an exemption for the individual vaccines or combination (MMR) previously due to medical or religious reasons, please complete the appropriate exemption form. 

• Medical Exemption to Immunization
• Religious Exemption to Immunization

• Allergy Injection Form
  • Allergy Injections Agreement Form
  • Allergy Injections Consent Form


• Club Sports Clearance Form 
  All students playing a club sport must complete this form before participating in practices or games. NOTE: No physicals are provided by the Wellness Center. Please have any physicals required for any reason completed prior to arriving on campus, or by an off-campus provider.


• Release of Confidential Consent Form
  
  

NCAA athletes only

There are additional forms to complete and return to the Department of Athletics in Reilly Center. To access the NCAA Division 1 Sports Medicine page and forms, CLICK HERE.