Sometimes students aren’t sure they want or need counseling services, or have questions about what we do, or are looking for information for a class or how to help a friend. We invite you to set up a consultation session with us to address those questions and we will help you to the best of our ability.
Most of the reasons students at Cornish don't use our services is often rooted in beliefs about counseling, uncertainty about how we can help, and because the support system of friends and family seems to suffice. One surveyed, students often say they didn't use Cornish Counseling Services out of a belief that "I should be able to solve my problems on my own." Our response? Seeking counseling support is a way people solve problems on their own. A counselor won't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, but may help you sort through your own ideas of what you can or can't do and help you gain perspective on your choices and abilities. Another reason people say they don't use our services is a fear that we will see them cry or that seeking help is a sign of weakness. These are beliefs often passed down through families and reinforced among peers sometimes. Our response is that the level of vulnerability that it takes to be honest with oneself about feelings, and emotional expression that often results, is an act of courage. We know from personal experiences how scary it can be to be vulnerable, especially to people we just met. It is not uncommon for first time users of our office to feel a bit nervous. We're prepared to address that with you and any fears or questions you have about the counseling process. Finally, a very understandable concern shared by some students is a concern that counselors will not be sensitive to their intersecting identities. Our staff is committed to creating an anti-racist environment and we engage in frequent professional development and personal growth opportunities to understand the myriad of ways microaggressions and white privilege impact our community members.
How Does Counseling Work?
At the core of counseling is listening with an open heart and open mind to the concerns of another. In this busy world, we are often so busy trying to think of how to respond, that we miss the message. In our work with students, we slow down and take the time to really get to know you and the concerns you present to us. The most meaningful ways counseling "works" is by students having their feelings validated and having the sense that they are being fully heard and understood. We believe that students are best served when we can help them develop new skills to manage stress, cope with various mental health symptoms, develop insight into their beliefs and behaviors, and communicate with others more effectively.
There are techniques counselors may use based on their theoretical orientations. What works for one person may be very different for another, so counselors employ several techniques to help students meet their counseling goals. Some examples are using "thought records" in cognitive behavior therapy in which a student learns to identify unhelpful thoughts grounded in untrue beliefs and reframe their thoughts to be more helpful. Another counselor may use guided breathing exercises to teach clients to reduce uncomfortable symptoms of anxiety. Recording journal entries might be useful to another client. Some counselors may have specialty areas. For instance, the current Director, Lori Koshork, is trained in Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET) to treat PTSD symptoms.
What research finds is that, regardless of which techniques are used, the most reliable predictor of counseling success is the rapport between client and counselor. Early on, we seek to build trust with our student clients because this becomes an important part of building rapport. If a client or counselor feels that this is not being established, this becomes a valuable conversation to have which can either help build the missing rapport, or help the client connect with a different counselor with whom a student may have a better "fit." It is not a realistic belief that all counselors can treat all people; there are just too many variables in regards to personality, beliefs, areas of knowledge, etc. But we are lucky that in addition to two professional counselors, at Cornish Counseling we also have a Clinical Mental Health master's level intern from Antioch University to whom we can assign clients. Most colleges of our size do not have more than one choice of counselor, so if you wish to switch, this may be an option for you.