Counseling

There are times in our lives that we may be temporarily “stuck” in working out a problem. During these times, it can be helpful to have another person listen and help us talk through the problem. Some of the reasons LCC students come to see us include: feeling depressed or anxious, friend or family concerns or conflicts, academic stress, self-esteem issues, relationship struggles or break-ups, eating and body image concerns, insomnia, difficulty focusing or concentrating, loss/grief, self-harming thoughts or behaviors, chronic illnesses and other life challenges. 

Students seeking counseling may have a variety of other individual reasons as well. All concerns and questions are welcome to be voiced and discussed.

Yes! We take confidentiality seriously! We recognize that a safe and confidential space is important for the counseling relationship. Your information will not be shared with your professors, with the Residence Life staff, your parents or with anyone else without your consent. 

The only exception to confidentiality is if the counselor believes a student’s life or health is in danger or there is a risk of someone else’s safety. If you have questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to speak to the counselor about your concerns. 

We also recognize that LCC is a small campus and we may see each other outside of the counseling session. In those instances, we will not mention the counseling sessions, but treat you with the anonymity that you desire. 

 There is no cost for currently enrolled LCC students. 

You can fill out the counseling form here, which is sent directly to the counselor. You can mark all or any counselors as your preference in the counseling request form, but the counselor who will reach out to you may not always be the one you initially requested. Counselors’ availability and workload will determine which staff member will contact you. The counselor will then send you an email to set up an appointment. Due to current high demand for services, if we do not hear back from you in 1 workday, your appointment time may be given to another student. Typically an appointment is 45 to 50 minutes.  

The first session is a time for your counselor to gain a better understanding of your life and where you feel stuck. You will together with the counselor talk through goals and make a plan for the improvement of your situation. The expectation is that you will continue to meet with that counselor until your goals are met.

 We view counseling as a partnership. This means that we want to help you set goals and help you develop the skills for creating your own solutions. Our desire is to help you develop resilience, which is the ability to “bounce back” and grow in the midst of difficulty. According to the American Psychological Association, there are 4 components of resilience. The first is to have relationships with understanding people. Next is the practice of wellness, which includes taking care of your body and avoiding masking pain with things like  alcohol and drugs. Finding meaning through purpose is also important to thrive in challenging circumstances. Finally, developing healthy thoughts is crucial; after all, our outlook and perspective matter! (Building your resilience (apa.org)   

Research shows that people engaged in counseling services show the most improvement when they actively participate outside of sessions in their own growth and change process. Thus, we expect you to work on the goals and skills outside of the counseling session through different “homework” tasks.

Counseling sessions may be weekly, biweekly or monthly based on your needs and the counselor’s availability. After 6 sessions, you and the counselor will evaluate the progress made towards your goals.

Being late will result in a shorter counseling session.

Counseling services are in demand, so please respect yourself and the counselor’s time by keeping your appointment. If you are unable to keep the appointment, please email your counselor 24 hours in advance. This will allow the counselor to give that hour to another student.   

Due to high demand for counseling services, failure to show up for 2 appointments, without communication, will result in losing counseling opportunities for the given semester, unless it is a psychological emergency.

If you are dissatisfied with your counselor, please start by talking with your counselor to talk through your dissatisfactions and other options. Just disappearing from sessions is not a healthy way to terminate therapy.

 We are available for consultations if you are concerned about a friend who may need help. During this consultation, it is not necessary to reveal the identity of your friend.   

• Actively engage in practices that support your mental wellbeing. This may include using your coping skills toolbox. Be intentional and take time to do things for fun.
• Eat regular meals throughout the day. Fuel your body with healthy food.
• Get 7-9 hours of sleep per night, with a consistent bedtime routine. Practice good sleep hygiene.
• Move your body every day, whether through stretching, dancing, walking or going to the gym.
• Spend time in nature. Studies show that time spent outside restores and improves our cognitive abilities, decreases our stress levels and increases positive emotions. Even 2 hours a week makes a difference!
• Engage in prayer and/or meditation.
• Avoid activities that lead to numbing, whether that is social media scrolling or substance misuse. Here is a list of activities that ground you and are helpful in helping you pay attention to what you may need in this moment.

• Spend time with people who are life-giving and encouraging, including in face-to-face interactions, each day.
• If you are living with others, find ways to communicate openly about expectations. Also be sure to have fun times together as a way to develop a positive environment.
• Talk with a counselor when you need additional support.
• Help someone else! Studies show that reaching out to others helps improve our own mood. Volunteer for a cause you believe it or simply smile at others. Don’t forget to set healthy boundaries along the way.

• Breathing Zone: This app provides guided breathing exercises  Google Play.
• CBT-i Coach: A structured program to help improve sleep and alleviate the symptoms of insomnia Google Play or App Store. 
• Mindshift: Based on Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) strategies, this app helps you relax, utilize more effective ways of thinking and take charge of your anxiety Google store.
• Moodnotes: A tool to help you track your mood, become aware of thinking traps and grow in well-being. Based on the principles of CBT App Store.
• Headspace: A tool that includes guided meditations and mindfulness techniques to help you relax and gain anxiety relief  App Store,  Google Play. 
• Smiling minds: meditation app  App Store, Google Play.
• Virtual Hope Box: an app that provides you with tools to cope, relax, distract or inspire when facing stress or anxiety App Store, Google Play.

• Moodnotes: a tool to help you track your mood, become aware of thinking traps and grow in well-being. Based on the principles of CBT App Store.
• Virtual Hope Box: an app that gives provides you with tools to cope, relax, distract or inspire when facing stress or anxiety or depression App Store, Google Play.
• Calm Harm: A tool to track and resist self-harm App Store, Google Play