About our BHC program
Behavioral health consultants (BHCs) are licensed mental health clinicians within our Medical Department who provide students with brief behavioral interventions to support their health and well-being.
Part of our primary care medical teams at Cornell Health, BHCs work collaboratively with medical providers to help students identify and make behavioral changes to improve their mental and physical health and self-manage symptoms and concerns.
Your primary care provider (PCP) might refer you to a BHC to help you address health or emotional concerns, habits, or behaviors that are getting in the way of your optimal health, well-being, or daily functioning.
Issues frequently addressed by BHCs
Behavioral concerns:
- ADHD & executive functioning skill building
- Nicotine / tobacco cessation
- Healthy eating / exercise
- Alcohol or other drug use
Physical concerns:
- Sleep problems
- Sexual health concerns / sexual functioning
- Chronic or acute health concerns
- Pain management
Emotional concerns:
- Stress
- Anxiety / worry
- Anger
- Intimacy
- Depression
- Bereavement
What happens during a BHC visit?
Initial conversations with a BHC typically happen during an appointment with your PCP, when a concern is identified that could benefit from behavioral modification. Follow-up visits with the BHC might be scheduled to continue developing and working toward a behavior change plan.
When meeting with a BHC, you will be asked questions about your physical symptoms, emotional concerns, and lifestyle choices. The BHC will then help you develop solution-focused strategies to address your concerns, manage difficulties, and work toward health-related goals.
Visits with a BHC are typically brief and few in number. A BHC may also connect students with traditional mental health services or other resources when needed.
Scheduling a BHC appointment:
- At this time, students must be referred to a BHC by their primary care provider (PCP) or another healthcare provider at Cornell Health.
- Follow-up BHC appointments may be scheduled directly with your BHC or by calling 607-255-5155.
Cost for care:
- Initial meetings with a BHC as part of a primary care medical appointment are covered by the $10 primary care visit charge.
- Follow-up BHC appointments have a $10 charge. (The cost of the appointment is billed to the student’s insurance, and the out-of-pocket cost is capped at $10.)
How is behavioral health consultation different from counseling?
Behavioral health is one component of addressing a student’s mental and emotional health care. Much like a visit with a medical professional, behavioral health targets specific goals and concerns, utilizing concrete strategies to promote change toward a student’s desired outcome. BHCs also work in close collaboration with medical colleagues to offer a team-based approach to care.
BHCs do not provide traditional counseling or psychotherapy, which is often longer and more comprehensive in nature, but they can help a student decide if traditional therapy would be a good next step.