Students stressed out by school, relationships or life in general might find help at the University Counseling Center.The center, located in the Student Services Building, offers a variety of services, such as sit-down therapy, workshops, for-credit classes and general therapy groups. The workshops focus on test taking, test anxiety and study skills, but the therapy groups range in topic: anxiety; managing my so-called life; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered issues; women of color and surviving and succeeding in graduate school, a group that helps students cope with writing theses and dissertations.The services are also available to staff and faculty and come with a small fee. The first visit is free, and it is $10 per visit after that, or $5 for each group session. “It’s a huge resource, and it’s a good resource,” said Kris Nelson, assistant clinical director. “What we’re trying to do is respond to the needs on campus.”Nelson urges students to look at the Web site to learn about all of the services, found at www.sa.utah.edu/counsel.”We’ve got a well-researched, nationally recognized Web site,” Nelson said, “We encourage people to come in, but this is something that we have.”The Web site offers online screenings for depression, anxiety, alcohol and eating disorders, and has a comprehensive list of other online resources.All services are confidential, so students currently using the center’s services could not be interviewed. But many other students are at least partially aware of what the Counseling Center offers.”They asked for our input to see what we (dancers) needed help with,” said Ali Moore, a freshman in ballet. “When I get closer to graduating, I’m going to need it.”Edward Pultar, a graduate student in geography, said, “It’s good to have that kind of resource on campus.”The Counseling Center also operates the Testing Center, Tutoring Center, Student Wellness Center and the Learning Enhancement Program, all of which can be found on the fourth floor of the Student Services Building.
Ryan Perkins