The Counseling Center team is excited to start a series of mental health-related workshops for Warner students this term.
“We welcome and invite all students who want to come by,” said Ki Gaines, Director of Counseling. “Our hope and goal is to have our workshops be informal and easy-going, so that students can come and listen or participate to their comfort level.”
They plan to start the workshops with a short presentation then transition into an activity or small group discussion, where students can participate or observe.
“As we will not be in a confidential location these workshops will not be diving into deep issues, unless a student feels comfortable sharing, and no one is required to share anything,盖恩斯说.
The Counseling Center conducted a needs assessment at the end of last semester. Students said they need help dealing with anxiety, 抑郁症, 财政负担, 还有平衡工作, 体育与学习, 盖恩斯说.
“In learning about the interests of the students, we are trying to tailor our workshop themes around some of these topics and hope they are successful so we can continue providing them and/or expanding them, if there is an interest from the student population,盖恩斯说.
Seventy-six percent of the 31 students who participated in the assessment expressed interest in attending workshops on campus. Most of these were interested in workshops focused on stress management, 自我保健, 人际关系的技巧, and mental health awareness.
Members of the Counseling Center team know what it’s like to work through these challenges.
“I grew up in a dysfunctional family system that trained me to believe mental health was a sign of spiritual weakness, and I was afraid to participate in it,托尼娅·博伊尔说, Graduate Therapist and Outreach Coordinator. “I didn’t go to counseling until I was much older, 但当我这么做的时候, a compassionate and caring Christian counselor changed my life.”
While she wishes she had accessed counseling sooner, she appreciates the support she found among 朋友.
“During my college days I had supportive Christian 朋友 who were there for me, 是无偏见的, and who prayed for me frequently,博耶说。. “I learned that the people you surround yourself with matters greatly.”
A strong support system also was essential for counseling intern Cayden Sharp as she struggled with stress and anxiety during her college days.
“Staying connected with my sports team, 朋友, and talking to my family back home always helped me alleviate stress and helped improve my mood,夏普说. “Having a great support system to rely on was huge for me.”
Sharp made sure to take care of herself physically and mentally.
“I would find time to practice 自我保健 like taking walks, 锻炼, 或者参加我的爱好,”她说。. “This also helped improve my mood, lessen anxiety and helped me stay oriented to my body and what it was feeling. What I wish I would have known at the time is to appreciate community. One of the best things about college to me was the community. Go to the campus events and stay connected in your school because those will be the memories you will take with you!”
Counseling Intern Lydia Reed says in college she struggled with body image, guilt about food and exercise addiction.
“当时, people around me weren’t talking very honestly about body image, and body positivity conversations hadn’t quite hit social media,里德说. “Things that helped me: talking very honestly with 朋友, which helped them learn to voice their insecurities as well, practicing how to notice and catch my subconscious criticism of myself, and learning to override those subconscious lies with truth. I wish I had known how to pay better attention to my negative self-talk much earlier—I would have been much kinder to myself!”
Gaines herself struggled with processing childhood trauma.
“(It) resurfaced as I moved away from home and my family,盖恩斯说. “I did not have the supports I needed and was often too scared to ask for help. 回顾, I wish I had known that seeking support is a sign of strength, 没有弱点, and that there were resources available to guide me through those difficult moments.”
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Workshops will be held at the SLC on Wednesdays during lunch, generally from noon to 12:30 p.m.
Upcoming workshop themes include:
10月. 23 -“连接”
11月. 13 – “Gratitude and Mindfulness.”
12月. 4 – “Stress, Family and the Holidays”