Services
01.
All workshops are 90 minutes and held virtually. Each features an educational component, a skills component, and an experiential or practice component. At this time, workshops are limited to 10 participants each to help students feel more comfortable participating. Active participation and practice outside of the workshop will help strengthen skills and confidence.
The Anxiety Management and Managing Failure workshops are foundational and address skills that will be helpful for future workshops. It is recommended students participate in these first as the skills will be referenced in later workshops, but is not required.
Anxiety Management
The number one reason college students seek mental health services on campus is anxiety. While some students might have a diagnosable Anxiety Disorder, many experience anxiety as a normal part of life. Taking 15 credits, working, joining clubs, making friends, worrying about finances, and being independent for the first time are difficult things, some anxiety is normal!
In this workshop we explore the difference between “good” and “bad” stress along with some skills to head off anxiety before it starts to impact your academics or social life. We’ll also have the opportunity to practice some of the skills in the workshop together.
Failure and Resilience
Everyone will fail at something at some point in their lives. It could be failing a class, getting fired from a job, a friendship ending, or not winning the club president election. We often put immense pressure on ourselves to succeed, but no one succeeds 100% of the time. The question isn’t, will I fail, it’s what do you do after you fail? Do you give up? Do you fall apart? Do you do something different and try again?
In this workshop, we look at what defines failure and success and what that means for how we view ourselves. We discuss skills like building resilience and engaging in self-compassion and how they encourage participants to strike a balance between allowing ourselves to feel disappointed or upset, but not letting failure make us afraid to try again.
Problem Solving
As students move into this next phase of their lives, there are choices they have to make like picking a major, deciding to study abroad, or what clubs to join. Throughout their time on campus they will be faced with crossroads and problems. The ability to look at a situation, evaluate the potential outcomes, and feel confident in choices and solutions are necessary skills for success.
In this workshop we’ll discuss the steps to take when problem solving and learn the skills needed to make informed choices. We’ll also discuss how to use these skills in less than ideal circumstances and how to feel comfortable with managing negative outcomes.
Difficult Conversations
Finding your voice is an important part of discovering who you are. As we enter adulthood, we need to learn to advocate for ourselves to get what we need. This can include asking for extra help in class, discussing chores with a roommate, or setting a boundary with a romantic partner. Sometimes those conversations are hard, and that’s ok! Communication is a skill.
In this workshop we review what makes communication effective and the skills needed to be assertive with people in our lives, including those who hold power and authority. We will also get a chance to practice these skills with peers in the workshop.
Making Connections
While academics are the primary reason students attend college, growing socially is another huge part of the experience. Unfortunately, it’s the thing that today’s college students struggle most with. A strong social support network is more than just opportunities for fun. Peer connections can be protective of mental health, which can help students stay focused on their classes.
In this workshop we will look at the ways and places on campus where students can connect. We will also discuss skills for how to start meaningful conversations and how to be a good friend to someone else. We will also have the opportunity to practice some of these skills with peers in the workshop.
Navigate Changing Relationships
Whether it’s going to a different school than a best friend or significant other or living away from parents and siblings for the first time, relationships will look different once college begins. Sometimes these changes can make it hard to stay present on campus and connect with your new peers.
In this workshop we’ll discuss how relationships can change over time and that change isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We’ll also discuss skills for maintaining strong relationships with the people you want in your life, while also being invested in becoming a part of your campus community.
Skills for Independence
Do you know where your insurance card is? What your social security number is? Who your doctor is or what medications you’re taking? Do you know how credit cards work? If you had to get on a bus, would you know what to do? Would you know where to start looking for the answers to these questions?
In this workshop we’ll talk about some of the most common life skills that young adults struggle with and how to prepare for being more independent. We’ll discuss the things students should be thinking about before they leave for campus and what skills they should try to master before arriving, like doing laundry or calling to schedule a doctor’s appointment.
Making Meaning Outside the Classroom
One day you won’t be a student anymore, so who will you be? You don’t have to answer that question any time soon, your college journey is just beginning! That may be true, but when our entire identity is wrapped up in being a student and focusing on academic performance, we can miss out on other valuable aspects of life like friends, clubs, or hobbies. It can also make struggle or failure more difficult to bounce back from when self-worth is determined by academic performance.
In this workshop, we’ll discuss what are some of the things outside the classroom that make life enjoyable. We’ll work on a plan for how to balance academics with these other priorities to help create a well-rounded college experience that will focus on student growth rather than just achievement.
02.
I know you probably came here first…
You saw “one-on-one” and thought, “I would much rather do that than be in a group setting. I don’t want to have to interact with other people.”
But building new skills is all about one thing… PRACTICE!
Challenge yourself and join a workshop. It isn’t group therapy, you don’t have to talk. However, you will get more out of the experience if you push yourself to try. Take the first step toward making a real change and try Anxiety Management to build a foundation.
Now, if you’re already doing workshops and you want some additional support and accountability, virtual one-on-one coaching may be the right fit!
I am a counselor, but coaching is not therapy and this is not treatment. This is also not academic preparedness. This is an opportunity to work on the socio-emotional skills young adults need to thrive.
Coaching sessions are 45 minutes each and are a collaborative space to talk about what skills you’ve tried, what’s working, and what isn’t. One-on-one coaching lets us tweak the skills to work best for you and develop a more tailored action plan for your specific campus.
Remember, coaching isn’t going to create change, YOU are!
03.
Students aren't the only ones that struggle with the transition to campus life. Families need support and guidance too. Join one of our family-oriented workshops to learn how to support your child in their next exciting chapter!
Promoting Your Child's Independence
Your child is getting ready to go to college! This is likely a bittersweet time, while celebrating an amazing milestone you are also navigating a major life change and the reality of your child becoming an adult. The support you give your child now will give them the best opportunity to succeed on campus and in the rest of their lives.
In this workshop we’ll discuss the changing relationship between you and your child and how that will impact the family. We’ll also look at ways to support your child and shift from a caretaker role to a mentor role in their lives. There are still many things you can teach them, so let’s talk about how to do that while fostering their independence and self-efficacy.