Counseling Services
Free counseling sessions are available for Mat-Su College students.
Kirklin Kinney, LPC, ADCII, PS
907-352-3252
Mat-Su Health Services scheduling office and 24-hour crisis line
907-376-2411
How to make an appointment
- Contact Mat-Su Health Services at 907-352-3252. Or, call their scheduling office and 24-hour crisis line at (907) 376-2411.
- Identify yourself as a Mat-Su College student.
- As a student, you have access to free sessions (up to 3) with an experienced behavioral health care clinician. Appointments can take place either on campus or at Mat-Su Health Services, located at 1363 W. Spruce Avenue, Wasilla.
- Depending on when you call, you can set an appointment or you will receive a call back. The Mat-Su Health Services number is staffed 24-hours a day.
For your first appointment, you should plan to meet with the clinician for 50-60 minutes. The clinician will explain the limits of confidentiality, and ask you to sign a consent-for-treatment form. Minors may need parental permission for services.
Note: If you need to cancel an appointment, please do so by 5:00 pm the day before your scheduled appointment. If you fail to attend two scheduled appointments, you may lose eligibility for additional free sessions.
Confidentiality
All counseling services are confidential. No information can be released to anyone without your written consent. Rare exceptions to confidentiality are required by law. These situations are related to intent to harm others and/or self, or situations where a child is being harmed.
What Is Counseling?
Counseling is meeting with a licensed behavioral health clinician to discuss some aspect of your personal or interpersonal life. It involves talking about and working through concerns and problems.
Counseling can help you
- Clarify personal issues and emotions
- Set goals
- Improve relationships
- Free yourself of disturbing thoughts and feelings
Why Seek Counseling?
Anger management
Anxiety
Bereavement
Depression
Eating disorders and body image
Family issues
Gender identity exploration
Problems resulting from abuse
Sexual orientation exploration
Stress management
Thoughts of self-harm
Veteran transitions
Meet the Dedicated MSC Counselor
“My goal is to encourage, empower, validate, and partner with individuals to develop problem-solving strategies in order to reduce challenges and increase successfully attaining personal and academic goals”
Kirklin Kinney, LPC, ADCII, PS is licensed counselor with 17 years of experience, ranging from: Addictions Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapies, Crisis Intervention and Prevention, and other modalities. He’s heavily involved in community activities, which has impacted his cultural awareness and sensitivities. Kirklin served honorably in the military, and uses his experiences (military/civilian) to encourage others to discover their “Crucial C’s” (Capability, Courage, Connection, and Count). Kirklin believes in people and is passionate about what he does.
Counseling through the college offers an opportunity to work through a wide range of concerns and/or challenges that can impact success in school. Working hard to meet goals and challenge comfort levels can feeling overwhelming or confusing. Some discover certain mental issues/challenges begin or become realized during this special time of growth and development. For those working towards a new career, other challenges may surface - discovering how to balance other life roles. Short-term counseling offers opportunity to learn new or different strategies and solutions to better manage challenges or concerns. All challenges and/or concerns are welcome; none are too small or large. Counseling offers outlets for emotional and/or or mental growth, which increases both insight and the success in academic pursuits and life goals.
Kirklin Kinney LPC, ADCII, PS
907-352-3252
Students may always contact Mat-Su Health Services for mental health care. Mat-Su Health Services offers a variety of options for payment of care, including a sliding scale and insurance.
Website: Mat-Su Health Services
Phone: (907) 376-2411
Resources
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Although the 3-digit number is easier to remember, the original lifeline 1-800-273-
TALK (8255) will still work.
Crisis Text Line
Free 24/7 support for these experiencing emotional distress. Text 741741 from anywhere
in the U.S. to connect via text with a trained Crisis Counselor.
Trevor Lifeline
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention
and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ youth under the age of 25. Phone services
are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386 or TrevorText is available by texting "START"
to 678678.
Trans Lifeline is a national trans-led organization dedicated to improving the quality of transgender lives. The line is available daily from 7 a.m. - 1a.m. PST / 9 a.m. - 3 a.m. CST / 10 a.m. - 4 a.m. EST. Volunteers may be available during off hours. Call 877-565-8860.