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The Counseling Center staff is available to handle a variety of issues for students including stress, roommate problems, relationship issues and depression. The center offers free appointments to students.
“I like it [the Counseling Center] a lot,” said sophomore Samantha Scalpone. “I think Sr. Cindy and Fred are really welcoming. They have helped me with situations I was sure and unsure of.”
Counselors are available for appointments, including Director Dr. Cindy March, Fred Chamberlain as well as interns. These counselors see all age levels come into their offices with issues in their lives. The age group is usually between 17 all the way up to nontraditional students.
“If I ever had any type of stress because of problems with my friends or with school, I think I would turn to the Counseling Center for help,” said freshman Megan Carey. “It seems like the best possible way to mediate your problems while getting someone else’s opinion at the same time.”
What Can You Find?
Students and faculty can benefit from the center. “Faculty could come for a consultation and we could talk to them and refer them out,” said Chamberlain. Six sessions per semester are provided for students whom the counselors feel would benefit from the extra individual sessions. The Counseling Center also offers group sessions throughout the semester.
During the current semester, there will be a relaxation group, alcoholism in the family group and relationship issues group. All of these are available to help students and to comfort them in situations they may be going through. The relaxation group offers students a way to deal with stress and offers ways to relax during the semester. The relationships group gives the approach on how to have healthy satisfying relationships with friends, family and others.
The center is also having an Eating Disorder Awareness and Screening Day on Feb. 23, which offers confidential screening to those who may be suffering from eating disorders. Pet Therapy Day on Apr. 29 gives students a stress free day with pets from the SPCA.
“I love when then pets come on campus,” said Carey. “It is a way to forget about school and go see cute animals during the day. It reminds me of the pets I have at home.”
The center also offers therapy and support groups. “I went to a group for extra credit for a class and I really felt like the experience was worth it,” said Former Freshman Erica Cahn. “Even though I didn’t go there for any problem in my life, I still went away with knowledge of relationships.”
Excellence and Profesionalism
The Counseling Center is run by professional counselors and a psychologist who are all licensed with degrees in their specific field. The center also provides a Certified Addictions Specialist that is available to the students as well. This specialist can help with substance abuse and other related issues.
Counseling can help students understand issues in their lives that cannot be dealt with unless talking to a professional. The center’s main goal is to help the students, and often schedule appointments for those interested in two weeks or less. If the counselors feel students need help beyond what the counselors can provide, then a referral can be made to a counselor within the local community.
“I think the Counseling Center is good for the people who need help and need to deal with problems,” said freshman Amanda Brath.
Counseling helps students with the way the student handles situations in life, prepares them for further conflicts and shows them how to approach the situation. “I think it [counseling] allows students the opportunity to sit down and reflect what works in their life and what doesn’t work in their life. They sit down and make positive changes,” said Chamberlain. “It can always be beneficial to anybody to sit down and make changes.”
Connected and Resourceful
The Counseling Center also is connected to the Campus Peer Associates which consists of the Sexual Assault Peer Educators, HIV/Aids Peer Educators and Substance Abuse Peer Educators. These groups provide information and try to make people aware of sexual assault, HIV and substance abuse. The Sexual Assault Peer Educators are on-call at all hours in case a student needs their services at any time.
“These groups really help students and show students that there is always someone to go to when there is a problem,” said freshman Alyssa Cipriano. “These groups are good to students and can be a good experience to join.”
“I would encourage anyone who is curious about what we do, to contact us,” said Chamberlain.
The Counseling Center is available to all students Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students can contact the center by calling 570-674-6408 or by contacting Dr. Cindy March at srcindy@misericordia.edu. The offices are located on the ground floor of the Andrew J. McGowan Student Residence Hall. Students can also reach the office through campus safety when the center is not open.
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