Starting College as an LGBTQ+ Student in the Triad:

This post was created to be a resource to you in building mental health support.

I remember, years back, the first days of college. The process of moving in. Meeting new people. Feeling lost, stuck, and excited all at once and sometimes individually. For a lot of LGBTQ+ students, college is often the first place you get to be fully yourself.

But “fresh start in college” carries its own weight. New roommates, you haven’t come out to yet. Distance from friends who already knew you. Family phone calls where you’re deciding, again, how much to share or not to share. Professors and classmates reading you in ways you can’t control or may not even invite. Many of our clients who are transgender and nonbinary students share that the first semester can be a strange mix of freedom and constant low-level vigilance.

If you’re heading to UNCG, NC A&T, Guilford College, Greensboro College, Bennett, GTCC, Elon, or High Point University this fall, or you’re a parent of a student who is here, here’s an honest guide to setting up mental health support before you need it urgently.

Campus counseling is real support with real limits

I encourage you to research your college and see what the counseling center is all about. You’ll likely find resources and spaces of support. Often you’ll see short-term counseling support to help you move from one place to another. Our counseling office actively takes on the role of a support resource for numerous local universities and colleges where we can provide personal and ongoing clinical support.

If what you need is ongoing therapy for anxiety, depression, family difficulties, gender exploration, trauma, or just having one consistent person through four years of change, we are here to help. We find that the students who do best are usually the ones who set up off-campus counseling early, before the October wall hits, and treat campus counseling as a supplement rather than the whole plan.

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Practical notes for Triad students

Location and telehealth. Our counselors can only see clients located in states where they’re licensed. We are currently licensed in North Carolina and are here to help.

Insurance. If you’re on a parent’s insurance and aren’t out to them, know that insurance statements (EOBs) go to the policyholder and list the provider. Click here to see which insurance plans we accept.

Timing. The first two or three weeks of the semester are a great time to start counseling. By midterms, everyone’s often exhausted and in a challenging space. If you suspect you’ll want support this year, we book an appointment.

Community counts as mental health care too. Campus LGBTQ+ centers and student orgs, and off-campus groups are wonderful resources. Santos Counseling is here to support you with your wellness needs.

For parents of college students

Parents, I’m sure that you are aware that the college experience will provide your child with growth, independence, and new opportunities. I’m also going to make an educated guess and highlight potential worries that many parents have. The worry that college will make your child homesick, that it’ll bring anxiety, homesickness, academic stress, and uncertainty.

At Santos Counseling, we believe that mental health support is an important part of a student’s success. We encourage parents to view counseling as one of the essential tools in their child’s college toolkit. Whether your student is looking to build confidence, manage stress, improve relationships, or simply have a supportive space to process life’s challenges, counseling can help them develop the skills they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Investing in your child’s mental wellness today can provide lasting benefits throughout their college journey and beyond.

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Getting set up in Greensboro, NC

Santos Counseling is a bilingual (English/Spanish) practice in Greensboro, North Carolina that provides LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming therapy for college students and young adults. Our office is able to support you in person at our office on Dolley Madison Road or by telehealth anywhere in North Carolina. Our clinicians work with anxiety, depression, identity exploration, family relationships, and the very specific project of building an adult life that fits who you actually are.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do therapy from my dorm?

Yes, Santos Counseling offers telehealth sessions to anyone physically located in North Carolina. All you need is a private spot and a phone or laptop. Many students do video sessions from their room or a booked library study room.

Will my parents find out what I talk about?

No. If you’re 18 or older, you are the client, and your sessions are confidential to you.

What happens over summer break or if I study abroad?

If you’re anywhere in North Carolina over the summer, telehealth continues uninterrupted.

I'm not in crisis. Is therapy still worth it?

Yes, and honestly, that’s the best time to start counseling. We encourage starting your first year of college this way, so you can have a supportive space grounded to help you move forward and address challenges as they take place. Building skills and self-understanding while things are manageable is what keeps the hard weeks from becoming hard semesters.

How is this different from my campus counseling center?

College campus centers are a great free resource, but most are short-term by design. With limited sessions, referral out for ongoing needs. We provide continuous, unlimited therapy with the same counselor across your whole college experience, plus specialized services like ADHD support, gender-affirming care, and therapy in Spanish. Many students use both.