Beginning in early to mid-February, Counseling Services will offer therapy sessions in a group-based setting for students. Director of Counseling and Health Needs Dr. Bruce Lynch said in an email interview that he hopes group counseling services will help address a variety of students’ concerns through the groups.
The three groups being offered in spring of 2019 are Helpful Habits to Build Your Mental Strength, Triptych: Exploring Loss Through Art-Making and Spectrum. All three of the groups are hosted by a counselor in Counseling Services to create an environment in which diversity is affirmed in a confidential setting.
Along with aid from a counselor, students will be able to learn and support each other. Lynch said that students will “feel less alone as shared concerns are discussed and addressed.”
Helpful Habits to Build Your Mental Strength is offered from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesdays.
This is a psychoeducational group with mental health topics provided by the counselor leading the group. Discussions will be facilitated by the counselor to allow students to help each other in applying the information to their daily lives and students will then be able to talk among themselves.
Lynch described the group as incorporating topics that “include developing perspectives and skills to facilitate self-compassion, resilience, gratitude and perseverance.”
A positive environment will be enforced to ensure that students can address concerns regarding their mental health as well as feel supported and uplifted by their peers.
In Triptych: Exploring Loss Through Art-Making, students will be able to express themselves artistically to cope with the impact of a devastating loss.
Within the group, Lynch said, “students support and learn from each other while having similarities and differences regarding the types of loss they have experienced.”
As part of this group, students will be able to cope with their loss, express themselves and their emotions through art and support each other when handling the difficulties of loss. This group counseling service will be offered from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays.
Spectrum is a group offering an affirming safe space for students who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Students will meet together at 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays.
Discussions will entirely be led by students in attendance as it is largely based on student interest.
Lynch describes the goal of the group as giving participants the ability to develop connections with other students and move toward their own personal goals for general well-being.
All in all, the goal of each group is to help students in their journeys through college as well as in coping with issues that they may face throughout their time at Elizabethtown College.
Counselors leading the groups hope to provide a safe space for students in which they can help themselves as well as others. Each group addresses an individual concern for students at the College.
All students interested in any of the groups offered this semester are recommended to contact Counseling Services as soon as possible since meetings will begin in early to mid-February.
More information can be provided by contacting Counseling Services at 717-361-1405 or visiting Counseling Services at Suite 216 in the Baugher Student Center. Services offered by Counseling Services are free of charge, as they are included in students’ tuition.
