Health & Counseling Services
Art by Chenwei Xu
Free and confidential counseling services at SVA
Student Health and Counseling Services (SH&CS) provides short-term, confidential, and free counseling services for all current and registered graduate and undergraduate students at SVA.
Matriculated undergraduate and graduate students may request to make an online video appointment* with one of SVA's licensed therapists. This service is provided at no cost.
Even if you waived SVA's health insurance plan, you are still eligible to receive counseling services from our office.
Appointments are held between 10 am-3 pm EST during our Fall hours.
- Alumni are not eligible for counseling services.
- Staff/faculty at SVA are not eligible for counseling services.
SVA does not have any medical services or an infirmary.
SVA does not have any medical services or an infirmary. If a student is feeling sick, there are urgent walk-in clinics around the SVA area. Urgent walk-in clinics do not require an appointment. Please review the Map of Medical Facilities on the bottom of this page, located under 'Resources'.
SVA-sponsored health insurance plan - Cigna
Students (new and returning) are automatically enrolled and billed in the SVA sponsored health insurance plan, Cigna PPO. The insurance runs the full academic year, from August 25, 2021-August 24, 2022 (The insurance will end for students that graduate/complete their credits in December 2021).
Wellfleet and SVA will send you instructions on how to download a digital version of the insurance card by email in August.
Waiving the Fall 2021 health insurance fee
All students, new and returning to SVA (i.e., freshman, sophomore, junior, senior year) are billed annually for the Cigna insurance plan - $1,290 per semester.
The line item on the tuition bill is 'health insurance fee' .
Students that do not want to be enrolled in the SVA health insurance plan may apply to waive out of the fee owed by applying online for a waiver.
Please note that the insurance plan that you plan to waive with must be an Affordable Care Act compliant plan, owned, based and operated in the United States. Cost-sharing ministries, travel insurance plans or international plans are not acceptable forms of health insurance.
A health insurance waiver must be submitted every academic year in order for the health insurance fee to be removed from the tuition bill.
The Fall 2021 health insurance waiver is available at: sva.edu/uhp.
The deadline to apply to waive is October 1, 2021.
Other important items to note regarding waiving the fee:
- Students cannot remove the health insurance by e-mailing SVA administrative offices (this includes the Health & Counseling office and Student Accounts).
- The insurance fee is not removed by calling SVA administrative offices (i.e., Student Accounts or Financial Aid).
- Crossing off the health insurance line item on the tuition bill does not communicate to Student Accounts or Health and Counseling that you wish to opt out of the insurance.
- If SVA does not have a waiver on file, submitting tuition payment without the health insurance fee will not remove the fee.
If you are studying remotely for the Fall 2021 semester and do not plan on attending classes in-person, please email health@sva.edu for further information.
24/7 emotional support
NYC WELL is a free mental-health support resource. NYC Well offers English, Spanish or Mandarin speakers and has access for translators in about 200 languages.
- Call 1.888.NYC.WELL (1.888.692.9355)
- Text "WELL" to 65173
- Chat online
The Samaritans organization operates a confidential hotline when you need someone to talk to. Call 212.673.3000.
Crisis Text Line offers free, around-the-clock support. Text "HOME" to 741741.
International crisis numbers
Suicide Hotlines in China
National Suicide Hotline:400-161-9995
Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center Hotline
Hotline: Free: 0800-810-1117 Hotline: Mobile/IP/extension users: 010-8295-1332
Website: crisis.org.cn
Lifeline Shanghai
Hotline: (021) 63798990 Website: lifelineshanghai.com
Crisis hotline in Israel
"ERAN" (-ï"øò) Hotline: 1201 Hotline: Tel from abroad: 972-9-8891333
Website: 1201.org.il/
Suicide Hotlines in Japan
Befrienders International, Tokyo
Hotline: +81 (0) 3 5286 9090 Website: www1.odn.ne.jp/~ceq16010
BI Suicide Prevention Centre, Osaka
Hotline: +81 (0) 6 4395 4343 Website: spc-osaka.org
Tokyo English Lifeline
5-4 22 rm 302, Minami Aoyama Minao Ku 107-0062 TOKYO
Hotline: Counselling: 03 5774 0992 Hotline: Face to Face: 03 3498 0231 Website: telljp.com
Crisis Hotlines in India
Befrienders India - National Association
c/o Sneha, 11 Park View Road R.A.Puram 600 028 Chennai
Website: befriendersindia.org
Lifeline Foundation
17/1A Alipore Road Sarat Bose Road 700 027 KOLKATA
Hotline: +91 33 2474 4704 Hotline: +91 33 2474 5886
Hotline: 2474 5255 Website: education.vsnl.com/n4h/
ROSHNI
1-8-303/48/21 Kalavathy Nivas, Sindhi Colony S.P. Road 500003 A.P.
SECUNDERABAD Hotline: +91 40 7904646 E-mail Helpline: help@roshnihyd.org
The Samaritans Sahara
Sir J-J. Road Byculla Bridge 400 008 MUMBAI
Hotline: +91-22-2307 3451 Website: mumbainet.com/health/samarita.htm
Suicide Hotline in Singapore
Samaritans of Singapore
Block 10, Cantonment Close #01-01 80010
Hotline: 1800- 221 4444
Website: samaritans.org.sg/
Crisis/Suicide/Helplines in South Korea
Counsel24
Counsel24 provides 24-hour counselling and mental health support for people in South Korea who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 1566-2525
Lifeline Korea
Lifeline Korea offers 24-hour telephone service to people in South Korea who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 1588-9191
Mental Health Center Crisis Counseling
Mental Health Center Crisis Counseling offers 24-hour service to people in South Korea who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 1577-0199
Ministry of Health & Welfare Call Center
Ministry of Health & Welfare Call Center offers 24-hour service to people in South Korea who are depressed or at risk of suicide.
Tel: 129
Crisis Lines in Canada:
Nationwide suicide prevention and support network.
The website can be viewed in both English and French.
Opening hours: 24/7.
Call: 1 833 456 4566.
https://thelifelinecanada.ca/help/crisis-centres/canadian-crisis-centres/ - List of Canadian crisis lines by region/providence
Crisis Lines by Country or Region:
https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/ - lists crisis line information for different countries and regions across the world
http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html - another list of crisis lines by region or country
Students returning to SVA from a medical leave
Students looking to return from a medical leave of absence must have a Certificate of Readiness form completed by a licensed clinician, ideally 1-2 months before a student's intended return/registration.
Certificates of Readiness completed in another language must be translated by an official translation service. The original clinician’s statement must be accompanied by a translated certificate and authenticity note.
The form is available at the bottom of this page under 'Resources'. It may be e-mailed directly to health@sva.edu.
SVA Student Health Form
The SVA Student Health Form is required of all students looking to register for classes. The form is available on the bottom of this page under 'Resources'.
Please note that if you or your family have a record of your vaccinations (Measles, Mumps Rubella), you may scan a copy of the records and email it to health@sva.edu for review, along with the answer to Step 1. This also means that you may not need to bring the health form to a doctor, if your records are approved by our office.
- Step 1- Meningitis Response - to be completed by the Student. This step does not need to be completed by a doctor.
- Step 2 - Measles, Mumps Rubella vaccinations - to be completed a doctor. If you have a record of your Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccinations (also known as MMR), you may skip Step 2 and email a picture of your medical record displaying MMR vaccinations.
Students with medical or religious exemptions - please read page 2 of the SVA Student Health Form for further information.
If you have previously attended SVA or submitted a health form for SVA's Pre-College Summer program, please e-mail health@sva.edu to inquire if we have it on file.
Fall 2021 health insurance fee waiver deadline
All students, new and returning to SVA (i.e., freshman, sophomore, junior, senior year) are billed annually for the Cigna insurance plan.
The line item on the tuition bill is noted as 'health insurance fee' .
Students that do not want to be enrolled in the SVA health insurance plan may apply to waive out of the fee owed by applying online for a waiver. Please note that the insurance plan that you plan to waive with must be an Affordable Care Act compliant plan, owned, based and operated in the United States. Cost-sharing ministries, travel insurance plans or international plans are not acceptable forms of health insurance.
A health insurance waiver must be submitted every academic year in order for the health insurance fee to be removed from the tuition bill.
The Fall 2021 health insurance waiver is available at: sva.edu/uhp.
The deadline to apply to waive is October 1, 2021.
Other important items to note regarding waiving the fee:
- Students cannot remove the health insurance by e-mailing SVA administrative offices (this includes the Health & Counseling office and Student Accounts).
- The insurance fee is not removed by calling SVA administrative offices (i.e., Student Accounts or Financial Aid).
- Crossing off the health insurance line item on the tuition bill does not communicate to Student Accounts or Health and Counseling that you wish to opt out of the insurance.
- If SVA does not have a waiver on file, submitting tuition payment without the health insurance fee will not remove the fee.
SVA-sponsored health insurance plan - Cigna PPO
Students are automatically enrolled and billed in the SVA sponsored health insurance plan, Cigna PPO. The insurance runs the full academic year, from August 25, 2021-August 24, 2022
Wellfleet and SVA have emailed students instructions on how to download a digital version of the insurance card, at their SVA email address.
Community of Mental Health Resources
A list of therapists and psychiatrists outside of SVA is available for download at the bottom of this page under “Resources.”
COVID-19 vaccine requirement
COVID-19 vaccine requirement
- All members of the SVA community are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with FDA-approved or WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccines.
- If necessary, send any medical, religious, or temporary exemption forms here. We will carefully review all requests and respond within 15 business days.
Nearby Bellevue is open Monday-Friday from 7am-7pm, hwoever there are many places to get vaccinated in New York City.
COVID-19 testing requirement for students not fully vaccinated
- Weekly COVID-19 (PCR) testing is required if you are not fully vaccinated (fully vaccinated means, the final dose date of any FDA-approved or WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccine, plus 14 days).
- Students not fully vaccinated will be required to submit a negative COVID-19 PCR test once a week (every 7 days) to Cleared4. This process is directly connected to your SVA ID card's access to buildings, along with answering the daily health screening question using Cleared4.
- We offer onsite (340 East 24th Street, 1st floor) PCR testing via Aura on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am-1pm. As of now, you may walk-in during those hours.
- If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you are urged to meet with a healthcare provider and quarantine as directed. Locations of in-person urgent care facilities near the SVA campus can be found here.
Daily health screening question - Cleared4
Please answer the daily health screening question once a day, at least 2 hours before you arrive on campus.
You do not need to answer the question on the days you are not coming to campus.
If you forget to answer the question at the time of your arrival on campus, please answer the question and a blue badge will generate. Show the badge to SVA Security to gain access. Allow 2 hours for your SVA ID card to re-activate.
Re-opening SVA
Stay up to date with SVA's re-opening plans for returning to campus.
Cigna PPO FAQ
How Do I Create an Account to Download My Health Insurance Card?
Students enrolled in the SVA health insurance plan receive emails from Wellfleet along with the SVA Health and Counseling Services office at the start of the semester. E-mail notifications inform students to create an account with Wellfleet to access the insurance card.
Please review the below video for instructions on how to create an account.
Credit: WellfleetHow to Create an AccountHow Do I Log in to My Account to View My Card or Claims?
If you have already setup a Wellfleet account, you may login to download a copy of your insurance card and view your claims.
Credit: WellfleetLogging Into Your AccountWhat Should I Bring When I Go to an Urgent Care Clinic or Doctor’s Office?
Students should bring a form of identification (driver's license or passport) along with a copy of their health insurance card (a screenshot or a physical card).
What Is the Name of SVA’s Health Insurance Plan?
The name of the insurance plan is Cigna PPO (Note: the insurance name is not called Wellfleet).
- It is an accidental injury and sickness plan.
- It does not cover dental (teeth) or vision.
- It is a school-sponsored insurance plan, so students may need to inform the clinician/doctor's office of this before an appointment is made. There's a group number on the card you may need to offer as well: ST0654SH.
Community of Mental Health Providers
Accessing Mental Health Services Outside of SVA
Steps for Accessing Mental Health Services for Students Without SVA Cigna Insurance
Contact your insurance company by calling the phone number located on the back of your insurance card or exploring the insurance company’s website. Get familiar with your benefits and coverage for mental health care.
Ask your insurance company if you will need a referral from a primary care physician in order to speak to a mental health clinician. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to seek mental health care.
Ask your insurance company if you will need pre-approved authorization from them or a primary doctor, in order to speak to a mental health provider and if so, how many sessions you will be approved for.
Ask your insurance company if you are only eligible to see a mental health provider who is “in network.*”
*Note: In-network providers are clinicians that are contracted by specific insurance companies to see individuals at a pre-set rate. Depending on the plan, you will pay a flat rate after every visit (or when picking up a prescription) called a “co-payment” which may range in cost depending on the insurance plan (the copayment is usually between $20-65 per session). Not all insurance plans require copayments. When working with an in-network therapist, you will be asked to pay the clinician the copayment at the time of your session. Working with an in-network clinician will generally be the most cost effective way to receive mental health treatment. However, there may be less clinicians in your area who are in-network with your specific insurance.
Ask your insurance company if you have “out-of-network benefits.*”
*Note: Out-of-Network clinicians are not contracted with any insurance company and set their own rates based on their degree, credentials, certifications, and expertise. Some insurance companies will allow individuals to choose any qualified mental health professional. Some insurance companies may provide some financial reimbursement and this is called out-of-network coverage. Often, in-network providers will be more affordable than out-of-network providers but some individuals prefer to see a clinician of their choice, regardless of their status as in-network or out-of-network providers as it offers more options in their area.
If you choose an out of network provider, ask the clinician whether you are expected to pay the clinician their full fee directly at the time of the service and then file an insurance claim with your insurance plan to get reimbursement. Alternatively, a provider may offer to file a claim on your behalf and get paid through the insurance company instead. You may ask your clinician for a receipt of services rendered also known as a “superbill” which you can then submit to your insurance company for reimbursement if the provider doesn’t process the claims for you.
Steps for Accessing Mental Health Services for Students With SVA Cigna PPO Insurance
SVA Cigna insurance does not require pre-approved authorization from a primary care physician nor the insurance company in order to receive mental health services. This means that you can directly contact a mental health provider to learn about their availability without going through a doctor nor the insurance company.
Many providers on our referral list (Community Mental Health Resources) accept the SVA Cigna insurance or will work with you on out-of-network reimbursement.
SVA Cigna insurance is a school sponsored insurance plan and that information should be communicated to the provider that you contact. There’s a group number on the insurance card that may be requested by your mental health provider: ST0654SH.
SVA Cigna has a $100 deductible per year. A deductible is the out-of-pocket cost that you must pay towards medical expenses before the insurance company pays their portion (usually a standardized percentage) of the medical expense. After you pay your $100 deductible, you usually pay only a copayment or coinsurance for covered services.
For more information about SVA Cigna Insurance: School of Visual Arts Health Insurance Plan.
Accessing Mental Health Services for Students with International or Travelers Insurance
Most mental health providers in the U.S do not accept international insurances or travel insurance. Please check with your health insurance to see what benefits and coverage you have in the US.
Some mental health clinics may provide sliding scale options or lower rates for students. Please see our Community Mental Health Resources for more information.
Here you will find other Low Cost Therapy Options in NYC.
Additional resources to begin your search for a mental health provider outside of SVA
Headway.co- will help connect students with providers who take their insurance if they have: Aetna, Cigna, United, Oxford and Oscar. Can find therapists and make appointments through this site. Typically you may be able to get an appointment fairly quickly. To access: https://headway.co/ **Most providers provide video/phone sessions during COVID-19.**
Psychology Today- provides a database of therapists and psychiatrists. You can search based on your zip code, health insurance information, and other preferences you may have. Once you have narrowed down the search you can click on each profile to get more information on the provider and most you can contact through the site. To access: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us **most providers will list if they are doing video/phone sessions during COVID-19 on their profile**
SoHoMD- teletherapy, telepsychiatry and text therapy. They are in-network providers for teletherapy/psychiatry for the following insurances: Aetna, Cigna, and Optum (Oscar, Oxford, UnitedHealthcare). Text therapy is a subscription of $40/week. Typically appointments are available fairly quickly. To access: https://www.sohomd.com/ or call (212) 369-6757
Mindful Urgent Care- psychiatric and medication management services are provided but NO individual therapy services are available at this practice. Group therapy services (CBT specifically and has groups for 18-22 year olds). Also offers telepsychiatry. They accept most insurances. Typically appointments are available within 48 hours. To access: https://mindful.care/schedule-appointment-psychiatrist/
Comprehensive Therapeutic Services (CTS)- has offices in all 5 boroughs. Offers therapy but not psychiatric services. Offers teletherapy. Accepts a majority of insurances and has payment plans. Can request an appointment online. To access: https://www.cts-nyc.com/ or call: (212)-658-0977
Talking for Wellness- teletherapy services and in-person therapy services. Located on W. 27th street. Wait time is usually less than a week. Accepts Aetna in-network and various insurances out-of-network. Free phone consultation. No psychiatric services. To access: https://talkingforwellness.com/ or call/text: 1-917-283-0738
Bellevue’s Mental Hygiene Clinic- no teletherapy available. Walk-in/appointment based. Low-cost and accepts most insurances. More information: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hhc/bellevue/downloads/pdf/outpatient-psych-info-5-languages.pdf
NYC Well- 24/7 crisis line and mental health resources. Free of charge. Provides crisis counseling and can connect to other services. Services provided in English, Spanish and Mandarin. Interpreters are available for 200+ languages. To access: Call: 1.888.NYC.WELL Text: WELL to 65173 Chat: nycwell.cityofnewyork.us
Meet Our Staff
Speaks Spanish & English
Speaks Mandarin and English
New York, NY 10010