Located on the fifth floor of Miguel Hall, the Manhattan College Counseling Center offers a wide range of support for students. The counseling staff can provide assistance for psychological issues, personal concerns, interpersonal issues, or crisis intervention. Whether you have concerns with adjusting to life in college or struggle with your mental health, the Counseling Center will have resources available to guide you.
I did not know much about the Counseling Center as a freshman. In fact, I didn’t even know that we had one. It wasn’t until later in the school year that I found out about it. Just a few weeks into my freshman year, I received a call from a close friend at home. He let me know that one of my closest friends had passed away that morning. I didn’t know how to begin reacting to this news, and I didn’t know who I could possibly talk to about this. All of my friends who knew him were in another state.
The next morning I was sitting in my bed, unsure of what to do or how to feel. One of my friends offered to take me to the Counseling Center. I was nervous to go for the first time knowing I would be talking to someone that I never met before about such a difficult topic. My friend convinced me to go anyway, and she walked me to the Counseling Center. As I walked in, I was immediately greeted with a warm smile. A kind woman at the front desk asked how she could help. I had made no appointment, and I wasn’t sure if anyone would be able to talk at that time. I asked her if there was someone I could speak to and briefly explained my situation. She told me to have a seat and went to see who was available. Within minutes, another woman called me back to her office.
I’ll never forget how overwhelmed I felt as I walked into her room. My hands were shaking, and I was trying my hardest to not break down crying in front of this stranger that I had never before seen. She began speaking calmly and made it easy for me to talk to her. I explained what happened, and she sat and listened. When I finally started crying, there was not an ounce of judgment in her voice. Instead, she continued to listen, and she handed me a box of tissues without even breaking eye contact. She went above and beyond to make me feel comfortable in such a difficult time.
A few days later, she sent me an email to schedule another appointment. I was surprised when she reached out to me. With all of the students that she speaks to, I couldn’t believe that she remembered a student that she spoke to just once for less than one hour.
There is often a negative stigma around mental health and reaching out for help. The Counseling Center offers a safe space for students that a lot of us do not have in other places. They make it easy to schedule an appointment by going in person or calling 718-862-7394. Needing or wanting extra support is normal for everyone. The Counseling Center has countless resources for students regarding various issues that we might face. I know that whenever I could use someone to talk to, I do not hesitate to go to Miguel Hall 501.