Counseling Center offers help to students

The Texas A&M University-Commerce Counseling Center opened its doors this past week to allow students a sneak peek of their facility.

The Counseling Center in the Halladay Student Services Building provides services to students in need of help personally or academically. The services provided by the center cover a whole spectrum of problems, including culture shock of the college lifestyle.

"The transition from home to college is really hard for some students to deal with," counselor Marty Marsh Jacobs said. "The problems that arise from this change can range from panic attacks, to time management problems to home sickness."

Students feeling the academic crunch are welcome to use one of the Counseling Center's massage chairs, listen to some soothing music or watch a relaxing movie anytime they feel a need to clear their minds. If a student wishes to seek out more help, they can ask for a personal counseling session.

"Students who wish to speak with us for more personal problems such as self-confidence issues, depression and eating disorders can do so in our 45 minute personal counseling sessions," Jacobs said. "Everything that a student says is kept between the counselor and the student; however, that rule is thrown out the window when a student appears to be suicidal or homicidal."

The Counseling Center has many options to help students out with their troubles such as Sand Tray Therapy. This therapy allows students to act out their problems through children's toys in a tray full of sand. The counselors also have brought back their Biofeedback program this year. Biofeedback uses a computer videogame that a student can play to lower their blood pressure. The center is looking to expand its services even more in the future.

"The center is looking to have some more group sessions this year," counselor Dr. Rhonda Dalrymple said. "In a group session, students can meet people who have the same issues as them and they don't have to feel alone."

The Counseling Center helps many students during the counselor's office hours and even afterward if need be. The center has an after-hours crisis intervention that can be set up by calling the University Police Department and requesting to speak to a counselor. The counselors advise to never be afraid to seek out help, because students are not alone.

"We saw at least 79 students last week, and sometimes we see even more than that," counseling center secretary Bettie Kennedy said.