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Students who are registered in the Accessibility Services Office may be referred to or may request counseling services that are available on campus. The Counseling Department is part of the Student Services Division. Services are provided by professionally trained counselors, who believe that education is a developmental process integrating educational, personal and social development.
Counseling takes the form of individual personal counseling, group counseling, crisis intervention and/or referral. The outcome of counseling is movement toward understanding one’s thoughts and feelings, interests and aspirations; increasing autonomy; relating meaningfully with others; and integrating one’s personal and social responsibility.
Counseling is working on personal growth and understanding, problem solving, decision-making, and goal setting. Most of us are struggling or have struggled with something, and it’s often helpful to talk with someone about it. Sometimes, these personal issues block us from reaching our full potential. Counseling is an opportunity to benefit from working on issues with an experienced, professional helper. The counseling relationship is one that is objective, non-judgmental, understanding and confidential. It is always focused on the individual’s concerns.
Some of the concerns counseling may address are: developing life, career and educational plans, including college transfer; problems in personal and family relationships; academic issues including developing study skills and dealing with stress in school; referral to outside agencies; issues relating to anxiety and depression, alcohol and drug abuse, spousal or partner abuse, or HIV/AIDS. The counselors see students, potential students, alumni, faculty and staff.
Counselors teach, conduct workshops and give classroom presentations, both on and off the campus. They schedule all new full-time students, provide English and math course placement services, and administer the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator.
The Counseling Office is located in the Student Services Wing of Warren Hall. Counselors are available Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Evening hours are Monday – Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and hours for the Saratoga County Extension Center in Wilton are posted. Appointments can be made in person in Warren Hall with the Counseling Secretary or by calling 743-2278.
In a crisis, a person may simply walk in and indicate the immediacy of his or her need.
If students are uncertain whether counseling is what they would like, introductory appointments may help them decide. The decision to seek counseling is always up to the individual. Counseling sessions and their content are confidential, consistent with the legal and ethical obligations of the counselor.
Consultation with other counselors or faculty will occur only with permission of the student. At all times the student should be both at the center of the process and in control of the flow of information from the counseling sessions.
The counselors adhere to the American Counseling Association’s definition of confidentiality, which states “confidentiality is an ethical responsibility and a professional duty that demands that information learned in private interaction with a client not be revealed to others. Professional ethics standards mandate this behavior except when the counselor’s commitment to uphold confidences must be set aside due to special and compelling circumstances.” |
