After seeing the eye-opening data from the past week’s article (Stags Finding Solace, Pt. I), I conducted further investigation into the Counseling and Psychological Services branch of Fairfield University’s support network.
After making an appointment with a Counselor, something that is strictly confidential, “the first visit is like an interview,” says Dr. Susan Birge, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services. “In order to understand the student, we get some background information from them and explore the reason why he or she is seeking help.”
From the perspective of the Counselors here, the therapy session is not just about giving advice, encouraging words, or “listening”.
It is about actively identifying goals, gaining insight, and developing strategies to achieve those goals. By taking a proactive approach to counseling, it seems to be less of a reaction to a situation and more of a means to avoid a potentially harmful situation altogether.
Counselors at Fairfield are genuinely committed to individual success and “facilitating the gaining of insight, tools, and making changes to improve [the students’] lives”, says Dr. Birge. “The relationship between the student-client and the therapist is one of trust, openness and confidentiality.”
Even furthering the commitment to individual success and results is the fact that counselors are trained in semi-specific fields; their training requires them to be able to adopt numerous, different treatment approaches in order to best aid the student and set them on the road to recovery, in some respects.
In the more serious cases, students can also seek help from a professional psychiatrist, Dr. Morgan. In the 2009-10 school year, 85 students were referred for psychiatric evaluation; 57 were deemed to be in need of further treatment, which they received, according to the “Counseling and Psychological Services (C&PS) Annual Report for 2009-10”.
Numerous outreach efforts to aid students were conducted throughout the year. These outreach programs ranged from mood disorders to eating disorders, from sexual assault programs to programs specifically designed to heighten awareness of issues and the resources available. On top of that, two mental health screenings were held for students who desired to be screened.
While these programs seem to be “intense” or frightening, Dr. Birge insists that participation is wholly up to the student. “Whether a student wishes to continue meeting with a counselor or our psychiatrist is completely up to the student,” she assures.
By taking a “hands-off” approach in regards to attendance, the counselors and psychiatrist will not mandate that you continue to seek help or guidance.
Taking Fairfield’s involvement in the field of mental health on college campuses one step further is its involvement in the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, a study conducted by 68 colleges across the country and the world, involving 28,000 students to provide “anonymous, aggregate, high-quality data”.
The findings showed significant correlation between the stress of school and charts regarding the “academic distress” of students, such as having lower GPA.
The findings positively reported that students who sought counseling had exponentially higher rates of progress, and even higher school were the rates among students who were marginally unstable before their college lives even started.
While at Fairfield, it is comforting for we Stags to know that there is always someone to turn to. In nonjudgmental, confidential, and supportive manners, counselors are willing to work with students to facilitate the steps for success, regardless of situation.
Using a variety of treatment methods, progressive plans are made for the individual student, providing a personal, caring, and supportive atmosphere.
The offices at Dolan Hall are just another resource at the fingertips of students – because sometimes, Stags just need to find solace.
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