Back-to-school can often mean back-to-stress for many students after a relaxing summer.
Particularly in the wake of recent tragedies in the DU community, such as the Aurora theater shooting and the passings of students over the year, the Health and Counseling Center (HCC) is a resource for students and faculty alike.
According to Alan Kent, new Executive Director of the HCC, counseling is designed to help people develop tools to deal with stress and to strive to make better decisions.
“Counseling does a lot of things depending on what particular issues the individual is struggling with,” said Kent.
The HCC currently offers a wide range of educational and outreach services to address needs on an individual basis, including 12 different ongoing group counseling sessions and workshops, both of which change quarterly based on student interests.
This fall, the HCC is holding grief support, mindfulness awareness and stress management groups among others.
“Individuals will usually come in and meet with a counselor for a one-one-one intake evaluation to understand what concerns they are dealing with before assessing whether group counseling is the right choice for them,” said Kent.
According to Kent, counseling can be very effective, in some circumstances as or more effective than medication in dealing with mild depression or anxiety.
Brandie Burchett, a second-year Biology student from Denver, visited the HCC over the summer for a one-on-one counseling session.
“We just discussed stress relief options and ways to allow my emotions to get out in a healthy way. The long term ‘stress buster’ tips helped immensely and I use them every time I get upset,” said Burchett.
Under state law, counseling is confidential, with rare exceptions of a patient being an immediate danger to themselves or others or evidence of abuse.
“Most issues will remain private and we will not release information without the students’ permission,” said Kent.
Burchett described the HCC as a “safe haven” and a place where she can be honest.
“Just knowing someone is watching out for you and helping you live a healthy life when you feel alone and angry, or sad or stressed…it can save you. It takes a lot of pressure off yourself and makes the day-to-day more manageable and the future imaginable,” said Burchett.
Alisa Brown, a second-year marketing major from Albuquerque, N.M., visited the HCC last spring for counseling.
“I appreciate their help more than I can ever explain and am so much better off now because of their aid. They helped me feel taken care of when I was away from my family, and that is something for which I will always be grateful,” said Brown.
Kent believes that society’s stigma about seeking counseling has reduced in recent years, and that many more people are more open to getting support.
“If you were, for example, diabetic, you wouldn’t refuse medicine to make you better. It is the same for depression and stress…everyone needs help once in awhile and that is perfectly okay,” said Burchett.
Kent emphasizes that counseling at the HCC is always open to any DU student or employee and is, in many cases, free or low-cost.
“We all have a point where we can benefit from independent mental health professionals to help us deal with stressors. We would much rather someone get the support and assistance they need rather than struggle in silence,” said Kent.
Should a DU student want to informally try counseling, the “Let’s Talk” series has weekly free, confidential consultations with HCC counselors with times and locations available on the HCC website.
If you need immediate assistance with a problem or feel you need crisis counseling, call the HCC at (303) 871-2205.
To schedule an appointment, either call the HCC or login to your MyHealth account.
