Counseling and Telemental Health Services. Point offers all on-ground and online students personal counseling by trained professionals through a contract with The Virtual Care Group (VCG). Students gain full access to VCG’s telehealth videoconferencing platform, so they can get the care they need anytime from anywhere. Services include 50-minute behavioral visits, life coaching, and on-demand crisis counseling. These services are free of charge and totally confidential.

As part of orientation, the Student Life Office provides students with “Mobile App Instructions” showing how to log in and make appointments on the VCG service platform (https://thevirtualcaregroup.com/point-online).

Residential students in West Point also have access to some limited in-person counseling on campus, along with unlimited medical visits with local board-certified physicians. Students seeing the Point residential counseling staff may be limited to six sessions. If further care is needed, the staff will refer them to VCG or external agencies. 

Telemental Health Services (also called Telehealth, Online Counseling, Tele-behavioral Health, or Telepsychiatry) is the use of telecommunications technology to provide behavioral health services. Telemental Health is an integral part of the Telemedicine movement, which uses computer programs, video conferencing, Internet programs, teleconferencing, and smartphone applications for the remote delivery of mental health services, including assessment, diagnosis, system tracking, and treatment.

Providers follow all state and federal laws regarding licensure, confidentiality, and interjurisdictional requirements. Additionally, the technology utilized in providing Telemental Health Services meets and/or exceeds standards outlined by the American Telemedicine Association (www.americantelemed.org), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and other professional associations. Students with questions or concerns may contact the Chief Student Development Officer, Ms. Jaunelle White (Jaunelle.White@point.edu).