The Counseling Center
I feel like the counseling center has gotten bashed a lot on this site. I'm just speaking for myself, but I have had many fantastic experiences with the counseling center. They have helped me immensely in dealing with some of the emotional issues I have already posted about. I'm sure there are many ways that the counseling center can be improved and we’ve already read about people who are "embarrased" or "disappointed" in their services. I don't discourage people from trying to improve the counseling center, but I just wanted to point out that many people DO have good experiences with SU's counselors and not everyone has negative experiences.
I'd encourage anyone who does want emotional support or help dealing with anything to go see a counselor here. It could even be a “silly” or “stupid” issue. I know I had a couple “trivial” things I talked to counselors about. What's the worst that could happen? If you have a bad experience, you just stop going and you've maybe wasted a few hours of your life. The possible benefits, however, can be immense - so don’t be discouraged from seeking professional help at SU just because others have had bad experiences. Also, the counselors here ARE professionals. They may not be perfect, but generally they know what they’re talking about because this is the job they went to school and got trained for. Counseling was a very emotionally difficult and upsetting process for me (as I’m sure it is for anyone), but when I was done my entire life was improved and I could approach every day with more confidence and self-assurance. My relationships with other people became better, more fulfilling, and satisfying. I am more full of life and I am who I am today (and someone I can be proud of) because of the counseling center and how much they helped me. The counselors there helped me immensely during very difficult and stressful times in my life. Hopefully they can help other people as much as they helped me. There's no other time in your life where you'll have absolutely free mental health services, so I'd suggest at least trying it out.
posted by I @ 2:58 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
They're very polite, yes. But let me tell you, they didn't give the neccessary help when my one friend needed it the most. He was put on suicide watch 2 times. The counseling center did NOTHING. My friend ended up committing suicide. NONE OF YOU HAVE WATCHED YOUR FRIEND DIE... AFTER YOU'VE WITNESSED A FRIEND HANGING FROM A BALCONY, YOU CAN TELL ME THEN THAT THE COUNSELING CENTER WORKS.
I know I don't have the experience of witnessing my friend's death. I empathize with anyone who has had to deal with this and I don't claim to know what it's like.
With my comments I just wanted to balance out the discussion and point out that not all experiences at the health center are negative. I am just speaking from my own individual experiences, which were extremely positive. I hope other people can also have good experiences at the counseling center and I'm sorry for people who have not. I'm also not saying that the counseling center works for everyone. All I'm saying is that it worked for me and other people I know and that it has the potential to help many other people as well.
I personally don't know anyone who has been HARMED because they went to our counseling center. They may not have been helped, but I don't think the counseling center has made anyone worse than when they started. Again, I am speaking from my own limited experience and other people may have had different experiences. I just wanted to let people know that help is out there and that many people do benefit from our counseling center.
If I had not gone to the counseling center, I would probably be a total wreck right now and would have had lots of emotional pain and relationship difficulties. I would not wish that on anyone in my life. My point is that it doesn't hurt to try.
Dr. Hardin, I understand your concern, but if this is something the University wants to cover up, then I do not agree with it. The person in question was put on suicide watch- not once- but twice. Public safety referred him to the counseling center, and they literally sat by and did nothing. Now, after his death, myself and my entire townhouse were put on "close suicide watch" and they humiliated us all by telling every RA and HR at Susquehanna that we were on watch.
I understand that the counseling center could not have saved him. I don't think anybody could have. But they could have at least referred him to a hospital.. to someone who could have helped diagnose him correctly. Diagnosing depression and finding out they have borderline personality disorder is like diagnosing the common cold and finding out that they have AIDS.
I hope you understand my anonymity.. I do not want my peers to know how upset I am with this university on this issue as I work in many different capacities with administration and other students on a day to day basis.
In closing, I'd like to say to Susquehanna- not many other students suffered more than the 7 of us. We visited the family in question on his birthday, and we all had the opportunity to see his room as it was left and we were all given a present from his family of something of his to remember him by. If I can be desensitized and can still live in the residence where the "event" occurred, then hopefully everyone can view my post on a public forum discussing my distaste for the counseling center.
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