Counseling is a collaborative process which involves the development of a unique,
confidential, therapeutic, helping relationship. In this relationship, the therapist
acts as a facilitator in helping the client to understand more accurately him/herself
and the world around him/her; to better understand their feelings and behaviors; and
to assist students in their interpersonal relationships. Discussion of whatever is
important and impacting someone's life can enable an individual to grow towards greater
freedom in making mature choices and taking responsible action.
The staff of the Grambling State University Student Counseling and Wellness Resource
Center consists of Marriage and Family Therapist, Counseling psychologist, Social
Worker, and Counseling Education who have all earned either a Doctorate or Master's
degree in a Clinical or Counseling Psychology.
I’m stressed out!
I’m not doing well in school.
I don’t like myself.
I’m having problems in a relationship.
I have questions about my sexual identity.
I’m not enjoying myself as much as I did in the past.
I am interested in learning more about and improving myself.
I’m concerned about the way I eat.
Someone close to me has a problem with alcohol/ drugs.
I feel troubled with my thoughts.
I’m so anxious that I cannot study or take tests.
Sometimes I wonder if I have a problem with alcohol or drugs.
Life just doesn’t seem as worthwhile anymore.
This is not a comprehensive list of reasons why a student may come to the Counseling
Center. Our experienced staff works to provide you with a supportive, systemic, non-judgmental
environment in which you may work through these or many other issues.
We understand that you may feel anxious about coming to the Counseling Center, and
our aim is to help you feel comfortable so that you may successfully achieve your
counseling goals.
Counseling will be a different experience for different people, as we strive to meet
your individual needs based on your unique set of circumstances. In your first session,
which is called an "intake" appointment, you will be asked basic, informational questions
and work with your therapist for you to establish goals for the therapeutic process.
Goals or recommendations may include a referral for group counseling, couples counseling,
signing up for a workshop, and/or a referral to another organization on- or off-campus.
What happens during the course of your counseling experience may differ over time,
based on your situation, progress, or changes in your life. Your therapist may at
times suggest exploring potential solutions such as relaxation training, mindful techniques,
journaling, role-playing, talking with relevant individuals, reading assignments,
referral when needed, or even “homework.” How the therapeutic process will progress
depends on your needs and goals.
Group counseling may be an alternative or supplement to individual counseling. It
may be the best option for students who are coping with relationship or interpersonal
concerns, but may also be appropriate for students dealing with issues such as depression
or anxiety. The opportunity to meet with other students can provide you with peer
support as you learn ways to cope. If your therapist recommends that you join a group,
you will likely schedule a meeting with the staff member who leads the group for a
“screening” appointment, during which time you will learn more about the group. It
will also give the group leader a chance to learn more about your needs and how the
group may be able to help you achieve your goals.
Along with groups, there are also workshops that focus on specific topics, such as
anxiety or stress management. These workshops typically meet for a brief time period,
and are more educational in nature than a therapy group.
The Counseling Center staff members follow the professional, legal and ethical guidelines
of LPC Board and AAMFT for state of Louisiana. This means that information about your
counseling sessions is not shared with anyone without your expressed written permission.
There are some exceptions to confidentiality, however. If there is the possibility
of harm to the client or another person, or in cases of child or elder abuse, Counseling
Center staff are mandated to report certain information to the appropriate authorities.
Please ask your therapist for more information about confidentiality.
The frequency of therapy is mutually agreed upon by you and your therapist and is
largely based on your presenting issues and the goals of treatment. Group counseling
and workshops usually meet weekly, though this may also vary.
It is very important that you arrive early or on-time for your scheduled appointments.
Regular, timely attendance of your counseling sessions will help you to achieve your
therapeutic goals. If for some reason you are unable to make it to your scheduled
session, please call the Counseling Center in advance, preferably 24-hours ahead.
Many problems can be dealt with in a brief period of time, but this is not always
the case. There is no magic number or formula to determine how long it may take. Depending
on your therapeutic goals, you may engage in brief counseling (between 3-5 sessions)
or longer-term counseling (up to 15 sessions per year). If your counseling needs exceed
our session limits, your therapist may make a referral to community resources for
continued care.
Your therapist will speak with you regularly about your progress. Eventually you and
your therapist may determine that you have met your therapy goals. At this point,
you may discuss your need for continued therapy. You may also bring up this topic
at any time during your sessions.
Again, there is no set timetable for how long it will take until you feel better.
Relief may come from a variety of sources, including making changes in your thoughts,
behaviors, relationships, and choices, and may take time to achieve. However, many
students report that counseling can be helpful even after the first session. This
may be because of the relief that comes from deciding to seek help, or an opportunity
to speak about problems for the first time with someone who is impartial and nonjudgmental.
Please remember: it is important that you share with your therapist if you are not
experiencing any improvement after working in therapy for some time, so the two of
you may determine what changes may need to be made.
What are some common myths about counseling?
Contrary to this belief, it takes a great deal of emotional strength to seek help
for problems that may be too overwhelming to manage alone.
The goal of counseling is not for someone else to “fix” your problems. We are here
to help you to identify those concerns and to set goals for yourself. Solving those
problems may involve working with your therapist to explore where you are mentally
and behaviorally. In doing so, you can explore your options and make a decision for
how to best achieve your goals. YOU are the best one to fix your problems!
We agree that each individual is unique, and to achieve a complete understanding of
one’s situation is very difficult. However, our staff members have been trained to
learn about being sensitive to clients, and respectful of the unique experiences of
each client. Those experiences may include concerns related to gender, age, cultural
background, racial/ethnic differences, sexual orientation, gender identity, family-of-origin,
or socioeconomic issues.
