Some Things You May Not Have Known about Ship’s Counseling Center
By: Morgan-Victoria Johnson
Wellness Center, located behind Naugle Hall
I used to think that the Counseling Center was only for people who were going through something deeper than they could handle. Although that may be true in some cases, it is not the only problem that the Counseling Center helps with.
I had the pleasure to interview with one of Shippensburg’s Licensed Psychologist, Linda M. Chalk, Ph.D.
I asked her a few basic questions that I thought would be beneficial to people that were curious about the counseling center like myself.
What services does the Counseling Center offer?
Mostly individual counseling with students, couples counseling and has group counseling different times during the semester.
Is seeing a counselor beneficial?
Its professional advice
Do you think people who don’t think they need help should still get counseling?
There are students who only come because of their parents or professors. Dr. Chalk explained that “It is okay if the idea originates from someone else, but it is hard to have a good or healthy experience if you don’t put any investment in it. If someone doesn’t want to change or doesn’t feel at all interested in being there then it’s not likely to help.” According to PyschCentral …”Hostile clients do not serve the client or the therapist. Our job is not to fix people; it is to support people who want to heal by reflecting their own strength back to them. There are clearly some clients who are 99 percent against changing their behaviors or thoughts, but it takes 1 percent, some thread of interest or hope, for the process to be successful.”
A lot of people know that counseling is confidential, but what are the limits to that confidentiality?
“We operate very much like a medical clinic, we are bound by the same laws regarding confidentiality that I would be if I was working at a doctor’s office. When students come here, I can’t tell anyone else that they even made the appointment, let alone discuss their situation with anyone. In order for that to happen they have to give me specific permission to talk to someone. They do that by signing a release of information form.” (Sometimes they had a counselor at home and want counselors to be able to share that information)
Areas of exception: If someone says something that may lead counselor to think they are in immediate danger, trying to commit suicide, or trying to kill somebody else, then this information has to be shared because counselors are bound by law to try to prevent these things. If child abuse is brought up and they can identify who, then this information can be shared. A Judge can also request for a release of record.
What can people expect their first counseling experience to be like?
Broad ranging, the counselor is trying to get to know the student. They explain how counseling works, explain confidentiality because many people do not know. They usually start by asking what brings them to the counseling center and ask questions about how they are feeling, how is their social life, academics, day to day things like sleeping, eating, going to classes and getting school work done, their mood, substance use, thoughts of suicide (because this is a very important assessment.) They want to get as much information as they can so they can begin to help the student in the best way. They try to generate goals for their lives. And then talk about future meeting plans.
Do a lot of college students take advantage of the Counseling Center?
“Yes! I believe we have a good reputation with students on campus so people see this as a safe place to come, a helpful place, they know they can come there with no money out of pocket because the cost is already covered by their fees they pay and because you can come here for free, then if you do not want to use your health insurance and don’t want your parents to know, they’re not going to find out” Everyone at the center knows about student life and the stressors that come with it. It is a specialized service, even better than going to a psychologist in the community. Even little things like struggling to find a major.
The Counseling Center operates mainly on an appointment basis. Walk-in services are for urgent situations that come up during the day, and on-call coverage is for emergencies after hours. The center can also do consultations with people that call for advice for others or even parent concerns.
Relay for Life is April 8th and the Wellness Fair April 13. The UCC is participating in Relay for Life, and is the co-sponsor of the Wellness Fair. Come out and learn more about the counseling center and even more health related topics!