Doctoral & Masters Level counselors A safe, comfortable environment Multiple services, but our breadand butter is counseling… Web site (includes all student services): NMU Home Page Current Students Student Services Home Resources

Fact or Fiction? Or…Why are some students reluctant to use counseling services?

Fact or Fiction? Or…Why are some students reluctant to use counseling services?

You must to be really !@#$%ed up to seek counseling. It takes a reallyreally long time to get it!

You must be weak to see a professional therapist—strong people handle problems on their own.

You must to be really !@#$%ed up to seek counseling. It takes a reallyreally long time to get it!

You must be weak to see a professional therapist—strong people handle problems on their own.

Facts…Facts…People go to counseling for all kinds of reasons—usually to feel better about themselves, regardless of what their specific “problem” is. The focus is to develop/enhance psychological health. Therapy is really about exploring and finding personal strengths and inner resources.

The average # of sessions for students use of our counseling services is about 4. A significant percent (about 1/3) find just one or two visits to be helpful. About 90% finish in 7 sessions or less.

Contrary to weakness, it takes character & courage to acknowledge personal issues and difficult feelings—to talk openly about things many may have never verbalized before.

Fact or Fiction?Fact or Fiction?

Professional therapy costs an arm and a leg. Confidentiality may be valid to a certain extent, but sooner or later all records at a university get seen by somebody.

Professional therapy costs an arm and a leg. Confidentiality may be valid to a certain extent, but sooner or later all records at a university get seen by somebody.

More Facts…More Facts…Fact Therapy does indeed cost a bunch—about $100/hr—but counseling & consultation services at NMU are 100% free. You can’t pay for them even if you want to!

No information

ever leaves the office without written permission (except in the extreme circumstances of danger to self or others, abuse of minors or elders, or court order).

None!

ServicesServicesCounseling—individual, couples and Counseling—individual, couples and

group, crisis intervention and/or group, crisis intervention and/or personal growth.personal growth.

Consultation – With individuals or groups about psychological concerns or general need for guidance/information. We often talk to students, faculty and staff, or parents concerned about a 3rd party.

Outreach--Psychoeducational presentations—stuff like Relaxation training/stress management, coping with the blues, anxiety, grief, sexual assault prevention, enhancing relationships, and others.

Performance Enhancement TrainingAnd Other stuff that is requested…

College Years are “The best “The best years of your years of your

life”life”

Fact And Fiction—It is Both; Life is

Change…

Fact And Fiction—It is Both; Life is

Change…University students are at the stage of life that

is both exciting and stressful. The college years are a time of one of the highest learning curves (personal growth and change) of life—

forming values for living, relationships, success, making meaning, balancing intellect

and feelings, fun and responsibilities, etc. Not to mention that this will [hopefully]

involve reading and studying lots of stuff and digesting lots of knowledge.

Remember, change is hard, even when it is good! Find healthy ways of taking care for

both yourself and how you relate to those you count among your friends and loved ones…

University students are at the stage of life that is both exciting and stressful. The college

years are a time of one of the highest learning curves (personal growth and change) of life—

forming values for living, relationships, success, making meaning, balancing intellect

and feelings, fun and responsibilities, etc. Not to mention that this will [hopefully]

involve reading and studying lots of stuff and digesting lots of knowledge.

Remember, change is hard, even when it is good! Find healthy ways of taking care for

both yourself and how you relate to those you count among your friends and loved ones…

Building Good College Years—

Our Values/Tips for Students

Building Good College Years—

Our Values/Tips for Students

Serenity: Develop The Serenity: Develop The SerenitySerenity to accept the to accept the things you cannot change; The things you cannot change; The CourageCourage to to change what you can; and The change what you can; and The WisdomWisdom to know to know the difference. the difference.

Apply this to all of the following . . .Apply this to all of the following . . .

Serenity: Develop The Serenity: Develop The SerenitySerenity to accept the to accept the things you cannot change; The things you cannot change; The CourageCourage to to change what you can; and The change what you can; and The WisdomWisdom to know to know the difference. the difference.

Apply this to all of the following . . .Apply this to all of the following . . .

Learn to like, accept & be yourself

Learn to like & accept others, especially those who are different

Build good relationships—based on solid personal values

Balance, balance, balance

Be your best, but know your limits and boundaries Be human, not perfectRespect what you don’t know at least as much as what you do knowBuild good habits—don’t let them build you—make them work for you, not against youStress—learn to value/use it! Then learn to let go of the rest

Be your best, but know your limits and boundaries Be human, not perfectRespect what you don’t know at least as much as what you do knowBuild good habits—don’t let them build you—make them work for you, not against youStress—learn to value/use it! Then learn to let go of the rest

Building Good College Years—(continued)

Building Good College Years—(continued)

Develop Develop Confidence in Confidence in

YourselfYourself

Develop Develop Confidence in Confidence in

YourselfYourself