With classes, long winters, relationships and other stressors, students can certainly make use of available mediums of stress release. Whether a student needs advice on sexual education, wants to learn about yoga or just needs someone to talk to, the counseling services at UB can help.
But despite having Counseling Services in the Richmond Quad in the Ellicott Complex, Wellness Health Services in 223 Student Union, Student Health Services in Michael Hall and Psychological Services Center in 168 Park Hall, not many students know of the facilities' existence.
"Because I am an RA I know of it," said Bobby Bedi, a junior majoring in anthropology. "Had I been a student, I would not know."
"Counseling should be made more available," said Paul Joseph, a freshman mathematics major. "They should promote themselves more aggressively with events, posters, fanfare and to reach out to those isolated, secluded individuals that really need their help than to wait for them to come out of their shells."
Bedi said despite not being a known entity on campus, many students might not opt to see a counselor.
"It is kind of intimidating. No students will put themselves through counseling," he said. "They are smart enough to come to college and they would feel stupid if they have to resort to counseling. They should make them feel more comfortable with it by coming to the dorms."
"I am not interested in counseling," said Navin Muhammed Rajoo, a sophomore computer science major. "I think I can solve my problems myself. Counseling don't really do anything to help you, they just make you help yourself."
Ryan Murray, a junior economics and psychology major, disagrees, and said counseling can be helpful for those who really need it.
"I wouldn't go with minor problems, but major problems like suicide, probably," said Murray. "I don't think it's the school's job to play everyone's personal psychologist, but it is the school's job to help those with major problems that interfere with college life and studies."
Among the available services is The Wellness Team, which is available to all registered university students, and is funded by the comprehensive fee.
According to Laurie Krupski, director of wellness education services, the team consists of three offices: the Wellness Education Services, Counseling Services and Student Health Services.
While Student Health Services in Michael Hall caters to general medical concerns for both men and women, and offers nutrition counseling, confidential HIV counseling and mental health counseling, The Wellness Team provides health education, prevention education, nutrition counseling and stress reduction. Also available are free massages, drumming circles, ballroom dancing, yoga, tai chi and Pilates.
Some students think it is in an individual's best interest to take advantage of the services offered by the Wellness Education Services.
"I'd talk to my friends but if the problem is serious, I'd go (to the counseling services)," said Erin Stapleton, a sophomore undecided major. "It's a good idea for people who will take advantage of their services."
The Counseling Services sector of The Wellness Team offers individual, group and couples counseling; crisis intervention; victim's workshops; and other workshops.
"We offer individual counseling and group counseling," said Dr. Sharon Mitchell, director of Counseling Services. "We go out and do programs and workshops, such as 'Eating Disorder Week' and 'Mental Health Week.'"
The goal of the Counseling Services is to get to the root of the problems of those requiring counseling, according to Mitchell.
"We're staffed by psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers. When someone comes in, we try to help," said Mitchell. "We probably spend a little more time to find out a solution by looking at his general situation and personal history."
The Counseling Services provides the majority of psychological assistance on campus. According to Krupski, The Wellness Team handles 8,500 cases per semester during its day programs, and 5,000 cases per semester during its evening program.
"Any student can come to the Counseling Services for an assessment," said Mitchell. "We have the expertise to deal (with) most psychological conditions. If (students) have a medical component to their problems, we will refer them to a physician."
According to Bedi, it is possible to notice students who would be able to benefit from counseling or psychological intervention.
"Being an RA, I see students who seclude themselves from social activities, programs and daily interaction with hall mates," said Bedi. "They can't seem to, like, seek an outlet through their RA or any other person in the hall. They should seek professional help."
Another branch of counseling available on campus is the Psychological Services Center, which is open to the general public as well as to students.
Unlike The Wellness Team, The Psychological Services Center charges a fee for its services because students' university fees do not fund the program.
According to Dr. Beth Cohen, director of the Psychological Services Center, the
Center is run within the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. She said the program's funding comes from the CAS and client fees.
The Psychological Services Center also has slightly different programs from The Wellness Team.
"The Counseling Services is a large agency with full-time staff and graduate students in training, internships and practicum, while the only paid employees at the Psychological Services Center are (myself), the graduate students and my secretary," said Cohen.
"They offer individual counseling therapy, we also offer individual counseling therapy. They offer group therapy while we offer specific group therapy which is a cross between a class and a group. The group listens and we offer information to explain and overcome the problems," said Cohen.
According to Cohen, the Psychological Service Center also offers cognitive behavioral therapy.
"We provide services that researchers have shown to be efficient," said Cohen. "Through our thoughts and behavior, we can change our feelings. If we figure out what kind of behavior, way of thinking, self-defeating thoughts, it is easy to intervene at that cognitive level or behavioral level than emotional level."
Though the Psychological Services Center provides basic individual and group counseling for individuals with a wide array of problems and is now initiating a series of "Life Enhancement Groups," there are certain psychological issues that the center does not deal with, according to Cohen.
"For now, there are 'Life Enhancement Groups' to quit smoking, overcome insomnia, manage stress and control social anxiety," said Cohen. "There are certain kinds of problems that we exclude. Like, substance abuse problems, we would refer them elsewhere. Also, psychosis. When people have hallucinations, hearing voices, losing touch with reality. These are different fields of expertise."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
