Services

Services

Problems students talk about

Students come to counseling for a number of reasons, but mostly because they are temporarily 鈥渟tuck鈥 in the middle of working out a personal problem. Being stuck usually relates to several common themes as noted.

Family:聽communication with parents, parents鈥 divorce, independence

Spirituality:聽questions about faith, confusion about God鈥檚 will, differences among Christians

Friends:聽helping friends with problems, conflicts with friends, over-dependent friends

Decision Making:聽keeping commitments, difficulty with decisions, setting limits/priorities

Intimacy/Sexuality:聽building lasting friendships, confusion over sexual behavior, issues of sexual orientation, break-up of a steady relationship, effects of past sexual abuse, sexual harassment, physical/verbal abuse in dating relationship

Managing Emotions:聽depression or anxiety, expressing anger, recognizing emotions in ourselves, forgiving others

Problem Behaviors or Situations:聽anorexia/bulimia, alcohol or drug abuse, other 鈥渃ompulsive鈥 behaviors, unplanned pregnancy

Most of the above behaviors are the typical struggles of many students. Making use of counseling available to you as a student may be one of the best decisions you make, rather than some sign of weakness or sickness. Normal people seek help when help is needed.

Professionally Trained Counselors

Staff counselors are professionals with graduate degrees in counseling, psychology, or social work. Each staff person is committed to applying Christian principles as a foundation for their work with students. Counselors at the college recognize that there is no healing apart from the work of God. They understand their discipline and, at the same time, understand the work of grace in each person鈥檚 life.

The Center is also used for the training of graduate interns for the counseling profession. Interns are closely supervised by a doctoral-level staff counselor who is responsible for the intern鈥檚 work with students.

Confidentiality

What you share with the counselor will be held in confidence, unless you give your counselor permission to discuss it with others. This is the case except for incidents of suspected abuse of children or elderly persons, or when you present a serious danger to yourself or others, or in the extremely unlikely event that records are requested by a court of law. You will be asked to sign a specific release form before any information is provided to outside parties.

Concern for a friend/Consultations

If you are concerned about a friend who may need help, you can discuss this with a counselor without being asked to reveal the identity of your friend. A brief consultation at such a time may be just what you need to decide how best to help your friend. A counselor can often assist you with ideas about suggesting counseling to a friend or about handling a difficult situation. Students are often relieved after these consultations, and grateful for this type of assistance.