Counseling center offers help, support to students
Unknown to many students, NDSU harbors an untapped resource of help and support — the NDSU counseling center.
The counseling center, which also offers disability services, is a place where NDSU students can go to find emotional counseling, career counseling and to learn study skills, if they are suffering from academic problems.
On campus for more than 30 years, the counseling center is a stronghold of NDSU.
Marlys Borkhuis, assistant director and counselor at the center, said the reason they are there is “to help support students to have an enriching experience in our university so that they can reach their full potential.”
Peggy Gaynor, director of the counseling center, said the center is beneficial to students because “it’s convenient, confidential and the price is right.”
The price is right, as it is free to have any number of sessions with a counselor.
The center offers convenience for students by making it easy to line up a counselor.
If a student wants to meet with a counselor, they can call the center during office hours to make an appointment or just walk in.
A 24-hour emergency line is also available for students to call if they are in a crisis and need to meet with someone immediately.
Borkhuis said the standard procedure for a new incoming student is to meet with a counselor, who will get some general background information and also gather information on the problem the student is experiencing.
The student is then put with the counselor that works best with them and the student comes back for as many sessions as needed.
Borkhuis said most students end up coming for about eight to 10 sessions, but that it varies with each person.
Besides offering counseling to students, the center also offers programs such as assertiveness training and study skills classes.
The center also has multiple screenings during the school year to test for problems students may face.
The most recent screening was for depression and the upcoming screenings are an eating disorder screening in February and an anxiety screening in March. There is also an alcohol abuse screening available on the Counseling Center Web site at all times.
The center will also be hosting a “survival theme day” at the end of November or the beginning of December.
The event is taken up by many NDSU organizations and features activities to help students relieve the stress of finals. Students are also given “survival tools” to help them through the remainder of the semester.
Gaynor said the center is a great resource for students because “the staff is caring and students are experiencing a caring, helping environment and the staff is committed to give students the best they have.”
She said the staff loves working in a place that offers the satisfaction of being helpful to other people, but their greatest regret is that not many people are aware the center exists.
Gaynor said the reason for students not knowing about the center is when people are happy they don’t pay attention to news that a place exists where they can find help if they need it.
Then when the time comes when a person is in need, they are desperate for a place to go to find help and support.
She said they do their best to make it known to the student population that there is a place directly on campus for them to go when they need help, and they can only hope that people will remember the information when it is needed.
If in need, students can go to Ceres 212, where the Counseling Center is located. Hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, but there is always staff on-call for emergencies.
For more information or to make appointments by phone, call 231-7671 or visit the Web site at www.ndsu.edu/counseling.