Counseling Center Hosts Program for First-Year Students

The Counseling Center at AUK hosted its second event as part of the Learn. Think. Become. Program initiative for first-year students. The discussion titled, ‘We Will Fix You’ was led by Jason Sullivan, Director of the Counseling Center. Twenty-five first-year students attended the lecture which focused on the Counseling Center’s unique approach to the therapy process.

‘We Will Fix You’ was an intentional misnomer since the Counseling Center aims to look at the whole person and work with them to achieve their goals. In addressing the misnomer Jason said, “It’s not that we fix them, it’s that we really challenge them to stop running to extremes and find a healthy balance.” He explained to students that therapy at AUK begins with finding an individual’s strengths so that therapists can figure out the best way to help them. He emphasized the fact that each student is unique, so the amount or type of therapy they need differs. By treating each student individually, AUK is able to really help students address their problems.

For Jason, the most important part of the talk was having the opportunity to engage with first-year students and educate them about the Counseling Center so that they feel comfortable visiting. Addressing the taboo that the Center faces Jason said, “Therapy is one of those areas where we’ve been really working to reduce the taboo. It’s sad, because as a team we have a lot of fun, we get along well, and we run more like a family than a department. And taboos, the rumors, come from people who are afraid. But it’s sad, because they miss out on the family side of it.”

The Learn. Think. Become. Program exposes students to resources at AUK. The Learn portion is led by the Office of Student Life and teaches students their rights and responsibilities, the AUK Code of Conduct, and gives an overview of the student clubs and organizations. The Think program is led by the Counseling Center staff and covers a variety of topics from counseling resources, to eating disorders, to depression. The Become program is led by the Office of Alumni Affairs & Career Development where students will learn how to create a resume and how to apply for campus jobs.
 

Counseling Center Director, Jason Sullivan during his talk with the students