Services

Individual Counseling top
Individual counseling is where a student meets on-on-one with a counselor.
Students come to EN B 219 and meet in a private office to discuss their concerns. Individual counseling can range anywhere from one time a week to once a semester. Typically, sessions can last from one to eight sessions depending on the student, counselor and the issue(s).

See "Counseling" section for more detailed information about individual counseling.

Group Counseling top
University Counseling Services provides various therapy and support groups each semester. Typical groups offered are eating disorders, coming out, and sexual assault, family issues and anxiety. The groups are free and confidential. See a list of possible groups running this fall. If you are interested in joining a group below or have an idea about another group topic, please call us at 392-5475.

Support groups form each semester addressing various topics.  See Counseling Home Page for details or call 392-5475.

Benefits of group counseling: top
Group counseling is a process where 4-10 individuals meet weekly with a professional counselor (facilitator) to discuss specific issues. It is an opportunity for group members to take responsibility for their situation through these discussions. Members are encouraged to give support to one another and to provide feedback to other members. This enhances trust and builds cohesion so that members feel safe to explore sensitive issues and resolve emotional difficulties. Members work through these issues by role playing, trying out new behaviors, and paying attention to how they interact with and react to one another.

One great benefit of group counseling is that members are able to relate to others who are in a situation similar to their own. This allows members the opportunity/possibility to see how someone else handled a certain problem and provides a model as to how he/she might handle the same problem. It also fosters empowerment when a member can report to the other members a successful interaction in dealing with a difficult situation outside of the group. Members learn from each other, and many times, grow together emotionally throughout the group process.
Group counseling is also a safe place where you meet with the same individuals each week. The group is generally closed to anyone else once the core members have been established. When people join a group it is requested that they keep the contents of the group discussions confidential. Disclosing group information outside of the group is inappropriate, therefore, it is stressed that what people talk about or share with the group must remain within the group.

How does group counseling work? top
Group counseling can be very successful. It requires a commitment on the part of the member and the leaders to fulfill the contract that is made during the initial meetings (confidentiality rules and attendance commitments, etc). When this commitment is made, and members can talk openly about their issues, the work can begin. Group counseling is a reflection of what goes on in "real life". The group setting is a place where the behaviors and emotions that initially brought the individual to group counseling can surface. When this happens, the dynamics of the group actually allow members to practice new behaviors and learn new skills that are more appropriate.
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With the support of the other group members and the facilitator(s), members learn that they are not alone. Additionally, members and facilitators offer options and use caring confrontation to challenge negative behavior in other group members so that they may develop more positive behaviors.

Life Planning and Career Assessment top
University Counseling Services provides counseling to students questioning life goals and career planning. Students can discuss decision making skills, world of work issues, personal barriers to success and much more with a counselor. There is also the opportunity to take inventories related to career development and life planning. These inventories, in most cases, are interpreted by the counselors in the office, and can assist students in learning more about themselves related to the world of work. This testing is confidential. Students may contact University Counseling Services if they wish to take advantage of testing services.
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Strong Interest Inventory There are two different tests that are utilized in the office. The first is the Strong Interest Inventory, which can be purchased in the University Bookstore for a modest cost. Students can gain access to the DISCOVER website by contacting either Counseling Services 392-5475 or Career Services 392-6536 for a user name.
Students who take the Strong Interest Inventory must meet with a counselor to discuss the results once they are available. It takes up to two weeks for the inventory to be scored and processed.

DISCOVER Program: top The second test option is the DISCOVER Program, which is a free, Internet-based program with three inventories and many other career components for students to explore and discuss with a counselor. This site can be utilized without supervision or intervention. However, many students still find it helpful to meet with a counselor once they complete the inventories to answer questions and help navigate the system.
Though students can gain pertinent information about future career plans from the tests, they are not used exclusively. The tests are part of a collaborative process of career development and life planning that involves many steps and generally takes anywhere from one to six sessions depending the issues raised during the sessions.