A letter from the Campus Counselor
Dear Student:
It is said that the one thing in life that’s constant…IS CHANGE! Whether you are a first-year student, sophomore, staff, or faculty, you know that life often presents us with challenges. Sometimes having a safe place to take those challenges makes all the difference in how we cope. Hesston College Counseling Services is there for those times.
If you would like to know more
about Hesston's counseling services or you want to schedule an appointment,
call me at ext. 8238 or drop by my office in Student Life Services,
Erb Hall, room 119. My office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Molly Simmering
Campus Counselor
Why talk with a counselor?
Hesston College offers a variety of counseling services. These services can assist students in developing a greater understanding of self and help them resolve conflicts which may interfere with personal growth development and goal attainment. Persons talk with a counselor for different reasons, such as:
- Alcohol or other drug abuse
- Anxiety
- Body image
- Concern about a friend
- Depression
- Difficulty in setting priorities
- Dissatisfaction with major
- Eating issues
- Family issues
- Feeling overwhelmed or confused
- Loss of interest in school
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship problems
- Test anxiety
- Unclear career goals
What counseling services does Hesston College offer?
In addition to individual counseling services, group sessions are offered based on need and interest. Group sessions offered in the past have focused on issues of personal growth and body image.
What happens in a counseling session?
Counseling sessions involve the sharing of information about an issue of importance to the student. The problem doesn’t have to be anything more than a concern. It is the counselor’s role to listen, clarify the issues, and aid the student in developing strategies to successfully work with the problem. Emphasis is given to the development of a well-balanced lifestyle, including spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.
What about confidentiality?
The question of confidentiality is often raised, particularly if a student is referred by a faculty or staff person. In the case of referral, the Campus Counselor confirms whether the student has kept the appointment. Other information is not shared with anyone without the consent of the student. The only exception to this is when the student may be dangerous to himself/herself or to others. In this case, people who are directly involved with the student are advised. The counselor will do this with the student’s knowledge of who is being talked with and what is being said.
To schedule an appointment or make a referral, contact:
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Molly Simmering, Campus Counselor Student Life Services in Erb Hall, room 119 620-327-8238 or x8238 (if on campus) mollys@hesston.edu Office hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday |
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Additional counseling is provided by: Tony Brown, Campus Counselor Smith Center, room 134 Smith Center 620-327-8285 or x8285 (if on campus) tonyhb@hesston.edu |
Other Counseling Resources
Prairie View Inc. of Newton offers individual counseling and group counseling for: chemical dependency, anger management, survivors of sexual abuse and other issues.
24 Hour Hotline: 800-362-0180
Internet resources:
www.freedomfromfear.org—On-line screening. Visit this site to see if you may suffer from a clinical form of depression or anxiety. You may then choose to schedule an appointment at the Counseling Office to go over your results.
www.twu-edu/o-sl/counseling/selfhelp.html—A self-help library from the Texas Woman’s University offering some excellent tips on a variety of issues pertinent to college students.
www.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets—good information about a range of mental health disorders, eating disorders, symptoms, treatment, etc.