Our Services

Individual Counseling

Sometimes, students need support to help sort through feelings, expectations, and alternatives that arise from academic or personal challenges of the college experience. The Counseling Center is not a place where ready-made answers or decisions are handed out. Rather, it is a place where students and counselors discuss concerns, and, in a safe, undemanding setting, work out a plan to deal with them. Some students resolve their concerns in one session, while others continue on a regular basis for several weeks.

Individual counseling provides an opportunity to explore any personal problem or concern. Often students' concerns involve issues related to:

• relationships
• identity
• self-esteem and self-confidence
• sexuality
• family
• depression
• anxiety
• victimization
• grief and loss
• socialization and isolation
• food and body image
• chemical use

Group Counseling

Therapy groups are offered in response to student need and interest. Some of the groups offered in the past have focused on topics including:

• developing healthy relationships
• coping with grief
• body image and eating disorders
• surviving sexual assault and abuse
• gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender concerns
• growing up in an alcoholic home
• depression

If you are interested in a particular group, talk with one of the counselors to talk about your interest.

Group counseling can be an excellent way to obtain help for person concerns. Groups provide a safe, confidential way to talk with others bout your concerns. Groups at Gustavus are facilitated by a professional from the Counseling Center who is trained in the practice of group counseling. Group counseling has some advantages over individual counseling. A few of the potential advantages include:

• learning that you are not alone with your thoughts, feelings, and experiences
• obtaining support from others and offering support to others
• learning and practicing new skills and behaviors in a safe, confidential environment

Consultation

While maintaining confidentiality, counselors are available to consult with students, faculty, administrators, resident hall staff, and parents. If you are concerned about a friend, students, or son/daughter, you can consult with a member of our staff to obtain support and ideas about how to handle the situation.

Programs and Workshops

The Counseling Center offers a variety of programs and workshops throughout the year. Additionally, individuals or groups of students can request a specific program or topic to meet their particular needs.

Referrals

Students are referred to other campus offices for specific help in various areas. The Counseling Center also provides referrals to off-campus professionals or agencies for services not available at the college.