By Cara Hedgepeth > Junior > Journalism > University of Maryland, College Park

College can be an incredibly exciting time filled with new friendships, experiences and opportunities. Along with all of the positives, however, comes the sometimes overwhelming stress of balancing academics, relationships, a social life and other responsibilities. While many students choose to manage the stress on their own, others decide to seek help from trained professionals on campus.

 The University of Maryland Counseling Center sees between 1,500 and 1,600 students per semester for a variety of different reasons, although assistant director Jonathan Kandell, says anxiety, depression and difficulty concentrating are some of the most prevalent issues seen in students.

Junior Rachel Adams* said it was her social anxiety that brought her to the counseling center last spring. Like most students who seek the help of the counseling center, Rachel attended an intake appointment with a senior staff member to evaluate the feelings she was having. According to Dr. Kandell, the intake appointment is usually when students are feeling the highest level of distress because all of their feelings, fears and anxieties have been building up until this point. After her evaluation, Rachel decided group therapy would be the best choice.

Like all of the sessions offered by the counseling center, Rachel’s weekly meetings were facilitated by a counseling psychologist. Nearly everyone on the center’s staff is either a counseling or clinical psychologist. There are also a few interns and graduate students.

Rachel’s group consisted of seven other students who were all experiencing similar anxiety-related symptoms. She said the sessions were nice because everyone could relate to one another and no one held back.

“We really just put everything out on the table,” she said.

While Rachel said she enjoyed the sessions, she’s unsure as to how much they actually helped her overcome the anxiety.

“I think that for who I am…I don’t know if it necessarily did [help].”

Dr. Kandell said that in the same way that the specific issues troubling students differ from person to person, the number of sessions and time they need at the counseling center also varies. The center does follow up with evaluations three or four months after the initial appointment, in order to receive feedback from the student.

The counseling center’s services are not limited to counseling and psychotherapy. The center also offers disability assistance, help with time management and parent/child services aimed at helping the children of faculty and staff. The center also conducts research and collects data. 

If you are feeling stressed out or upset, make an appointment at your school's counseling center.

*name has been changed

photo from http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01050/health-graphics-20_1050165a.jpg