If you were moving to a strange, new location and knew ahead of time that you could have a readymade, safe group of people that you could meet with and talk to, wouldn’t you be relieved? If you also knew that there would be an expert available who knew the system and could give you advice and support for getting oriented, wouldn’t you be glad? What if you also found out that there was no charge for this service and your privacy would be strictly guarded? What I mean is that no one would know that you were meeting with this group unless you told them. That is exactly what you have available here on campus at the Counseling Center. All services are free and confidential. All groups are led by a trained, licensed professional.
Groups at the Counseling Center are like a safety net. You learn that others in the group have problems similar to your own so you are not alone. All kinds of different issues may be shared, such as relationship issues, substance use, depression, fitting in. Developing trust is addressed right from the first session and everyone participates in maintaining it. You can get ideas of ways to deal with problems from other group members’ experiences. The leader may teach you new skills, such as relaxation techniques. You may learn new ways of looking at what is going on in your life. You may even choose to try on new behavior. All of these things provide a back-up safety net that you can turn to if you need it.
Groups meet weekly for about 1 – 1 ½ hours per session. Usually groups consist of about 6 – 8 students. Times for groups vary and are usually arranged to coordinate with your schedule. Some groups require a pre-group session with the group leader to make sure the group will meet your needs. You can also ask about receiving class credit for attending a group. Some of the groups being offered this fall include: Creative Relaxation, Enhancing Relationships, Silent Meditation, Survivors of Sexual Assault/Abuse, Substance Abuse: Early Recovery, Eating Issues and Body Image, Enhancing Self-Esteem, Rainbow Room. Call 227-7469 (M-F, 8am to 5pm) to find out more about our services or to make an appointment. You can also find out more about our staff and services through our website: counselingcenter.wcu.edu.
