Services

Services

Problems students talk about

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

Family: communication with parents, parents’ divorce, independence

Spirituality: questions about faith, confusion about God’s will, differences among Christians

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

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

Intimacy/Sexuality: 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: depression or anxiety, expressing anger, recognizing emotions in ourselves, forgiving others

Problem Behaviors or Situations: anorexia/bulimia, alcohol or drug abuse, other “compulsive” 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’s 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’s 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.