By Liberty Kyle
Bellarmine University offers many free resources to help students with the obstacles they face during their time in college. One of the resources is the Counseling Center.
The Counseling Center is located on the fourth floor of Allen Hall. Appointments made by the phone are preferred because they are more secure and confidential.
There is often a negative view of therapy and counseling, so many people have no interest in seeking help, but the center’s purpose is to be a safe place for students on campus.
“Our main goal is to support students and help them address any like mental health concerns they have whether it’s a clinical diagnosis or any relational distress they have so that they can persist in school and be successful at Bellarmine,” Melissa Gibson, the assistant director of the Bellarmine Counseling Center, said.
The Counseling Center also offers different services, depending on what a student might be looking for or need. One of these services is one-on-one counseling with a licensed counselor.
During the first appointment, known as a consultation appointment, a student meets with a counselor to discuss why he or she is there and what he or she might need to discuss. The initial 30 minute session is a chance for students to experience what counseling might be like without making a full commitment. If a student is not interested in one-on-one counseling, the counselor can make recommendations for other types of counseling.
Along with one-on-one counseling, students also have the option of group therapy. There are two different groups this semester in the center, one for coping skills and also one for interpersonal concerns.
“Interpersonal group is for people who are struggling with interpersonal concerns and would like to be able to process those with other people that are going through something similar and the coping skills group includes a lot of relaxation training tips and techniques to help with emotional regulation. So it can be really helpful for people that are going through a lot of stress.” Whitney Sims, a Counseling Center psychologist, said.
Another service the Counseling Center offers is “Let’s Talk”. This is a walk-in service that is located in the Student Success Center and is available for students from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Let’s Talk” offers a more convenient location as well as another form of noncommittal counseling that can be introduced to students. The location of this service allows the counselors to become a safe, familiar face on campus for students.
Common issues that the counselors help their patients with are stress management, relationship issues, adjustment to college, family issues, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, body image/eating, coping with trauma, and identity issues. If a student feels what he or she is dealing with does not fall under any of these categories, they can still point you in the right direction of places that can.
If a student is facing an issue that the Center believes needs more help than what they can provide, they will refer that student to an off campus location so he or she can receive the help needed. Students are given ten free sessions per semester.
The Counseling Center has been beneficial for some students. Kathleen Stacey, a current Bellarmine University Sophomore, said: “I heard about it through Bellarmine orientation when they came and talked to us. It is super helpful and they all want the best for everyone there. I’d recommend it to everyone.”
If a student makes an appointment with the Center, he or she will be able to come in for a consultation within two days. But if there is a crisis situation, students may walk into the Counseling Center and seek help.
“We’re always able to serve students if there is a crisis need,” said Gibson.
Working at the counseling center along with Gibson are Dr. Gary Petiprin, director of the BU Counseling Center, Whitney Sims, psychologist currently finishing her doctorate, Aly Inclan, a psychiatric nurse.
The Center also offers a training program for doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows. There are six people in training at the center who are also available to meet with students.
The Counseling Center is available for appointments Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment with the counseling center, call 502-272-2777.