Student Counseling Services is a program free or of low cost to students run out of Illinois State University’s Student Health Services. Several counselors work in this program with the main goal of ensuring students aren’t just surviving college, but are happy and in a healthy mental state. Below are the services the counseling staff offer and how to utilize these services:
Student Counseling Services
Group Sessions
These sessions are open to any person who is a student at ISU. These sessions tend to consist of a 8:1 or 10:1 student to trained professional ratio and run about 90 minutes in length. They can be helpful to those who think they are alone, that no one understands the feelings they’re feeling, and that there aren’t ways to unlearn the unhealthy habits they’ve developed. From listening to others’ stories to supporting your group members with help from a counselor, there are many ways group sessions can be beneficial to mental health and growth. “This interaction encourages individuals to develop new ways of behaving and learning more about how they interact with others” (Group Counseling | Counseling - Illinois State).
Relaxation Room
This is available for all students who need to decompress and focus their attention inward. If you are struggling to concentrate, overthinking, or simply stressed or anxious, this resource is available for you to utilize upon request. There are also licensed professionals in this room to guide you through relaxation techniques and different exercises to calm your mind and body.
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Individual Sessions
This is a more individualized approach to counseling offered by Student Counseling Services. These sessions are pay-per-session, with your first 10 sessions free if you are a current student at Illinois State University. You are given an available counselor for these sessions based on your initial appointment.
Special Interest Group Sessions
Several types of sessions are available to ensure that students of all backgrounds are supported. The Student of Color Process Group, “ is designed to provide space for students to openly engage in dialogues around issues and concerns related to what it means to be a student of color in an academically rigorous and predominantly white environment.” While other groups have a more general focus and a traditional group session design, the Student of Color Process Group and Graduate and Non-Traditional Students Group have a more specific focus.
To enroll in group sessions or to learn more about what they entail, call (309) 438-3655 to learn if group therapy is the best option for you.