Support Services

Advocacy services include discussing options and resources related to legal, educational, housing, financial, emotional or other needs; assistance with and/or accompaniment to MSU Office of Institutional Equity (OIE), civil, or criminal proceedings; or safety planning.

Individual therapy is available for individuals who have experienced or currently are experiencing relationship violence.

For more information about individual therapy, visit our Individual Therapy page.

*Childcare may be available for survivors during individual therapy sessions. Clients who are in need of childcare during sessions can check with their therapist about availability.

MSU Safe Place holds a support group for survivors of relationship violence:

Reclaiming Power: A Healing Journey - Mondays (hybrid) or Thursdays (in-person) 5:30-7pm. Open to all survivors of relationship violence. Due to limited capacity those interested are only able to register for one session of this group per semester. 

Parents Connection: Coping in Community - Wednesdays 2pm-3:30pm. In-person. Open to all survivors of relationship violence who are parents and have minor aged children.

To register, use the links above or contact Safe Place at noabuse@msu.edu or 517-355-1100.

For more information about support groups visit our Support Groups page.

*Childcare may be available for survivors during support group sessions. Clients who are in need of childcare during support group sessions can check with their therapist about availability.

Crisis Intervention services are provided to relationship violence or stalking survivors seeking support via phone or crisis chat and to individuals receiving shelter or other support services.  This may include debriefing experiences, assessing safety and exploring options.

MSU Safe Place provides shelter to female, male, non-binary and trans adults and their minor-aged children who are experiencing stalking and/or emotional, physical or sexual abuse in an ongoing relationship and are in need of a safe, confidential place to stay.

MSU Safe Place Crisis Chat is staffed by trained volunteers. Crisis chat is available from 10AM-9PM EST, Monday-Friday. Crisis chat is also available by request for events outside of our regularly scheduled hours using the form on the Crisis Chat page. Our volunteers are here to support survivors, their friends, and family members.

Support includes:

• Discussing feelings, and experiences related to relationship violence and/or stalking
• Answering questions about MSU Safe Place services
• Connecting to campus & community resources
• Information about advocacy services (housing, academic, medical, legal), counseling services or University processes
• Answering questions you have about relationship violence or stalking

Crisis Chat is not a replacement for therapy. However, it is a way to get immediate support and access to resources.

If you are seeking therapy, MSU Safe Place offers free individual and group therapy for MSU-affiliated survivors. MSU Safe Place also offers free advocacy and shelter services for MSU faculty, staff, and students as well as community members from surrounding areas as staffing and capacity allow.

For more information about crisis chat visit our Crisis Chat page.

MSU Safe Place respects the principle of confidentiality for all clients. Additionally, domestic and sexual violence programs are covered under a Michigan Law protecting confidentiality, and federal funding through VOCA requires certain standards of confidentiality. Our confidentiality policy remains in effect except for the following circumstances:

• When you sign a Release of Information that indicates to whom you want information shared and you identify specific information you want disclosed. The release of information is time-limited, based on the timeframe you determine.
• Suspected or actual abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult.
• A medical or other emergency has occurred, and staff calls 911.
• You make a credible threat to severely harm yourself. MSU Safe Place staff understand that sometimes people use self-harm (such as cutting) as a means of coping, and that in and of itself is not a reason for us to call 911. We encourage residents to be open about their use of self-harm so we can offer support and resources.
• You make a credible threat to harm others.
• A compelling reason, such as a felony warrant, is presented by law enforcement.
• A subpoena of records is received, and our program is not successful in our attempt to quash the subpoena, as covered under Michigan statutes MCL 600.2157.a and MSA 274.2157(1).

Speaking or chatting with MSU Safe Place support staff means that you agree to these terms.

Please feel free to ask MSU Safe Place staff to address any concerns you have about confidentiality before you share any information.