MONDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008 10:40 AM
You School's Most Underutilized Resource: The Counseling Center
The college years can be among the most stressful in a person's life, and for many students the stresses and strains of university life can take their toll, both on academic performance and personal satisfaction. A recent survey found that an astonishing half of all college students have experienced a mental health problem in the last twelve months. However, you don't necessarily have to have a mental health issue to benefit from a college program you may not have considered taking advantage of: your college counseling center.
Most colleges and universities provide licensed psychiatrists, psychologists, or therapists to provide advice, assistance, and counseling to students. They help with issues ranging from serious mental health disorders to the everyday stressors of academic life. They are an underutilized resource, and they can provide benefits beyond treatment for mental health issues or help with violence, sexual harassment, and other immediate dangers.
Speaking with a counselor can help a student to address his or her feelings and begin to understand how to take control of stress, navigate social relationships, and process the changes the student is experiencing during the long transition from child to adult. There is no stigma to seeking advice or asking a counselor to listen, and a smart utilization of counseling-like any form of advising-can help you to improve your outlook, your attitude, and your grades. Ultimately, counseling can help you be the best college student you can be.
Therefore, take a moment to consider one of your campus's least recognized ways to improve student performance: the counseling center. After all, the university is paying for it, so why not take advantage while you can?
