What is Counseling?

Counseling provides an opportunity for individuals to learn to make better decisions, improve personal skills, develop increased confidence, overcome blocks to personal effectiveness, and acquire a keener awareness and appreciation of their needs and the needs of others. In a personal interaction with a counselor, a client is helped to explore and express feelings, examine beliefs and ways of thinking about the world, reflect on patterns of behavior, and work toward making healthy changes.

Typical Concerns of Students who seek Counseling:

• transition and change 
• uncertainty about values and goals 
• personal relationships with friends 
• family concerns 
• issues of grief and loss 
• depression and anxiety 
• lack of motivation; concentration difficulties 
• sexual concerns; sexual orientation issues 
• abuse of alcohol and other drugs

Through counseling, persons with these difficulties can have their problems assessed and treated. Treatment may include referral for medical evaluation or to other community resources.

Counseling can take a number of forms.  At the Counseling Center, individual, group, and couples counseling are available.

• Individual counseling provides an opportunity to learn to make better decisions, improve one's relationships, and generally increase personal effectiveness.  With the help of a counselor, a person can explore feelings and express them better, examine beliefs, and work toward making healthy changes. 

• Group counseling offers an individual a chance to understand feelings and change problem behaviors with the support of peers with similar concerns.  Groups may focus on such topics as managing stress, nurturing interpersonal growth, dealing with dysfunctional families, or managing one's anger. 

• Couples counseling is available to partners who want to improve an intimate relationship.  At least one member of the couple must be enrolled at the College.  Both members usually attend the first session.