After your initial visit to the Counseling Center, your counselor will discuss a counseling plan with you that suits your individual needs and recommend which services they feel will be of most use to you. All services are free to enrolled BSU students and include:
The Counseling Center offers a range of assessment services to help your counselor gather information about you to determine the best course of care, and for you to gain personal insight and knowledge about yourself. In addition to the information you provide on your initial paper work and the discussion you have with your counselor on your first visit, your counselor may recommend some additional testing through our assessment program on a specific topic such as eating disorders, depression, anxiety, or alcohol use. Tests are taken either on a computer or with a pencil and paper and take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to complete. Your counselor will score your test and discuss the results with you. The goal of our assessment program is to provide you with insight and information and to further aid in developing a counseling plan for you.
We also offer an anonymous online screening tool, to help you explore and identify symptoms of: mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, harmful and hazardous alcohol use. The online screenings are a useful to learn more about yourself and to help you decide if it may be a good idea to seek the help of a trained professional.
The Counseling Center offers short term individual counseling. Individual counseling is an opportunity to explore issues of concern in a safe and confidential setting. The focus of individual counseling is aimed at changes you can make in your own life and not how to change a significant other, parents, instructors, or the world. Appointments last 50 minutes and are scheduled based on your needs as often as once a week, for up to 12 sessions per academic year. To learn more about the counseling process see, "What is Counseling?".
We provide services for students who feel they are struggling with issues related to alcohol, drugs, food (including body image issues), gambling or overuse of the Internet. Your counselor will discuss with you the extent of these issues, and collaboratively you and your counselor will evaluate the consequences they may be having in your life. We offer assessment testing for these issues at the Counseling Center, as well as an anonymous online screening tool for alcohol and eating disorders. Often students are seen at the Counseling Center in conjunction with an outside support group such as AA or may be referred for formal evaluation in the community or to a treatment program for additional services.
Couples counseling is available to BSU students and their partners, if both are currently enrolled BSU students. Married, unmarried and same sex couples are all welcome to utilize this service. In couples counseling the couple is the client, rather than either of the individuals. Couples counseling focuses on problem solving, communicating about difficult topics, and/or learning skills to communicate better or work as a team. It is vital that both parties are invested in the counseling process, and are willing to make changes and do the work necessary to learn to grow as a couple.
Group Counseling involves a small group of students (5-10), dealing with similar issues, who meet together along with one or two counselors on a regular basis. The counselors act as group facilitators that help the group members get to know each other, encourage them to interact, and promote productive, respectful communication within the group.
One of the many benefits of group counseling is that it is a safe supportive environment in which you can work through issues along with peers. In the group setting people often realize they are not alone in their difficulties and benefit from the insights and the successes of other group members. In turn, group members feel good about being able to help other people in the group by offering support or ideas.
There are several types of groups that meet at The Counseling Center and that your counselor might recommend you consider participating in. They include:
