Counseling and Student Accessibility Resources

Counseling Services

The TSC Counseling Center is available to assist students with challenges they experience by encouraging personal and academic growth to help them successfully meet life’s challenges.

Enrolled students are eligible for free personal counseling services. The counselor respects the confidential nature of discussions to the limits provided by law. No record of a student’s visit is made on any academic file.

Accessibility Services

The Office of Counseling and Student Accessibility Resources provides learning, physical, developmental, mental, and emotional disabilities services. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, a person has a disability if he or she has a physical or mental impairment that limits one or more major life activities. TSC provides reasonable accommodations to ensure access to all courses, programs, services, jobs, activities, and facilities.

Accessibility Resources

  • Extended time for tests/quizzes
  • Distraction-reduced testing
  • Permission to audio record lectures
  • Books in alternative format
  • Use of assistive technology – Kurzweil 3000
  • Sign language interpreter


    New Students Request for Accommodations:


    School District

    • Full Individual Evaluation
    • Last accommodations received
    • DDS lab assessment (for dyslexia)


    TWC/Medical Specialist

    • Psychological evaluation
    • Medical diagnosis documentation
    • Veteran award letter with explanation of diagnosis

Returning Student:

 Request Services:

On-campus Resources:

To schedule an intake appointment with a licensed professional counselor, call (956) 295-3417. Students experiencing a crisis are urged to go to the nearest hospital emergency room, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), call 911, or text 741-741. Students experiencing a crisis after hours may call Tropical Texas Center for MHMR’s 24-hour phone line at 1-877-289-7199.

Counseling and Student Accessibility Resources

Lightner Center, 102A
80 Fort Brown
Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 295-3587

Provides free counseling to currently enrolled students. Services offered are individual, family, couples, substance abuse, and anger management counseling, as well as skill-building, communication, listening, assertiveness, time management, and organizational skills.

Local Mental Health Authority:

Tropical Texas Behavioral Health

861 Old Alice Rd.
Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 547-5400

The organization provides an array of services to children, adolescents, and adults 18-years-of-age and older suffering from severe depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, or any other severe emotional symptoms that interfere with their daily activities. Treatment is individually designed to meet the specific needs of each consumer while promoting independence. Services are available to assist individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Crisis Services are available 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.

Off-Campus Mental Health Resources:

General Counseling:

UTRGV Counseling and Training Clinic

2168 E. Jackson
Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 882-7792

The clinic provides various services, including individual, group, couples, marriage, and family counseling. The goal of this clinic is to offer growth-enhancing experiences, as well as preventative and early treatment for developmental, emotional, and interpersonal difficulties. This clinic is free and open to the community.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas

1225 Boca Chica
Brownsville, TX 78520

956-465-9978

This clinic offers help to those uninsured, whose existing coverage does not provide mental health services benefits, who are low-income and lack the money to pay for counseling services, or who would not receive treatment any other way. Counseling services are provided by trained, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family counselors in local churches, clinics, and community centers across the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and the Coastal Bend region. Sessions are private and conducted in a safe and familiar environment, such as churches and community centers.

The first meeting with a counselor is free. A modest fee based on a sliding scale is collected for each follow-up session, however, no one is denied service because they cannot pay. An appointment must be scheduled in advance.

Substance Abuse Counseling:

Tropical Texas Behavioral Health

861 Old Alice Rd
Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 547-5400

Substance use outpatient and intensive outpatient services are available to adult and adolescent males and females. Individuals eligible for services are those who meet diagnostic criteria for substance use disorders and do not require a more structured setting to maintain sobriety. The program is designed to enhance participants’ quality of life by empowering individuals to achieve their highest potential for dignity, independence, and self-fulfillment.

Detox and aftercare services are available to adult and adolescent individuals. Treatment is individualized according to the specific strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences of each individual served. Aftercare services are designed to extend the gains made through inpatient detoxification by helping individuals engage in community recovery programs and mental health services. Tropical Texas contracts with local facilities to provide supportive care through the recovery process for substance use disorders and mental health services.

Palmer Drug Abuse Program

1275 Cottonwood Dr.
Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 544-3333

The organization’s mission is to support teenagers, adults, and family members through individual and family counseling,  support group meetings and supervised drug-free social activities, all in a safe, comfortable, and sober environment. Individual and group counseling is available.

Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas

5510 N Cage Blvd,
Pharr, TX 78577

1800-748-3577

The organization currently offers outpatient treatment services for adults only. These services are available to individuals who are suffering from a substance use disorder. BHSST is a DSHS-licensed treatment facility that can accept insured individuals through Medicaid or private pay. Services are available in Brownsville.

The program consists of a 12-week outpatient schedule of 6 individuals and 24 group sessions. The treatment follows a cognitive behavioral therapy curriculum featuring motivational interviewing techniques.

Local Mental Health Authority

Tropical Texas Behavioral Health

861 Old Alice Rd.
Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 547-5400

The organization provides an array of services to children, adolescents, and adults 18-years-of-age and older suffering from severe depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, or any other severe emotional symptoms that interfere with their daily activities. Treatment is individually designed to meet the specific needs of each consumer while promoting independence. Services are available to assist individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Crisis Services are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Trauma Counseling

Friendship of Women, Inc. (Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault)

P.O Box 3112
Brownsville, TX 78523

(956) 544-7412

Friendship of Women, Inc. counseling services are tailored to meet a survivor’s needs. Survivors may obtain both individual and group therapy after a counselor determines what type of counseling services would be most beneficial.

Counseling for adults and children is available free of charge at the emergency shelter and the community outreach center. Our clinical team is made up of two bilingual Licensed Professional Counselors with more 25 years of combined experience working with survivors of family violence and sexual assault/childhood abuse.

Family Crisis Center (Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault)

616 W. Taylor
Harlingen, TX 78550

(956) 423-9305
(956) 423-9306

Counseling services at the Family Crisis Center include individual and group therapy for survivors. Both adults and children are able to access services.

Mujeres Unidas / Women Together (Domestic Violence Sexual Assault)

511 N. Cynthia St.
McAllen, Texas 78501

956-630-4878

Counseling services are provided at Mujeres Unidas. Survivors are able to learn about the dynamics of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as safety planning.

Crisis Resources

Tropical Texas Behavioral Health
24-hour mobile unit
1-877-289-7199

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text 741-741
National Domestic Violence Hotline:  1-800-799-SAFE(7233)
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Nationwide RAINN (Sexual Assault) Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4679)
911

Off-Campus Mental Health Resources

General Counseling:

UTRGV Counseling and Training Clinic

2168 E. Jackson
Brownsville, TX 78520

(956) 882-7792

The clinic provides various services, including individual, group, couples, marriage, and family counseling. The goal of this clinic is to offer growth-enhancing experiences, as well as preventative and early treatment for developmental, emotional, and interpersonal difficulties. This clinic is free and open to the community.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas

1225 Boca Chica
Brownsville, TX 78520

956-465-9978

This clinic offers help to those uninsured, whose existing coverage does not provide mental health services benefits, who are low-income and lack the money to pay for counseling services, or who would not receive treatment any other way. Counseling services are provided by trained, licensed professional counselors, licensed clinical social workers, and licensed marriage and family counselors in local churches, clinics, and community centers across the Rio Grande Valley, Laredo, and the Coastal Bend region. Sessions are private and conducted in a safe and familiar environment, such as churches and community centers.

The first meeting with a counselor is free. A modest fee based on a sliding scale is collected for each follow-up session, however, no one is denied service because they cannot pay. An appointment must be scheduled in advance.