Two doctoral students have come to IU Southeast to help the Counseling Center and students through outreach, educational programs and individual counseling.
Amanda Wyrick, University of Louisville alumna, and Valerie Fallon, Spalding University alumna, are doing their practicums at the Counseling Center.
“I will be seeing individual clients and I will also be leading a group,” Wyrick said.
They said they will be trying to reach out to students in different ways and plan to cover topics affecting students on a daily basis.
Wyrick said some of those topics might be stress management or general information about being in relationships.
“We also might do something about drug and alcohol awareness,” she said.
Wyrick and Fallon will be working with Michael Day, personal counselor, to develop the educational and outreach programs.
“It’s a collaborative process,” Fallon said. “We’ll talk with him and give our ideas and he’ll give us his ideas, and we’ll decide what we want to do. I think we will do three or four a year, probably. If students have suggestions I’m sure we’ll take that into account too.”
The Counseling Center will also be working with other organizations already on campus to provide educational programs.
In addition to the outreach and educational programs, the two doctoral students will be seeing clients individually. Family and group counseling is also available to students.
“Typically students come in and see a counselor, such as myself, and they have options for hour sessions one time a week,” Wyrick said.
Fallon said she understands why some students would need help.
“College is a stressful time,” Fallon said. “I’ve sort of been a career student so far, so I know a lot of the pressures students face, so I have personal experience in that area that can be helpful.”
They both said they feel they have knowledge to offer students, drawing upon their own college experiences.
“There’s just something about a college campus that I love, being a part of student life,” Wyrick said.
Sessions are normally short-term and will last three to five sessions.
Students can expect confidential meetings that will help them find better coping strategies with the problems that they are facing.
The new counselors said they will try to make each student feel as comfortable as possible.
“The first time is when we’ll gather a lot of information about them and let them learn about us,” Fallon said. “And, get to know each other to start out with, and hear their problems and what they want to work on.”
Appointments are usually available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. An appointment can be set up by calling 812-941-2244 or by e-mailing Day at micaday@ius.edu.
The two doctoral students will be doing a one-year internship out of state after they finish their practicum at IU Southeast.
Fallon said she hopes to go into private practice when she finishes her internship.
“I sort of enjoy working with everybody,” Fallon said. “I like having a mixture of adults and children and adolescents. It might take a while to get there.”
Wyrick said she wants to help students as they go through one of the most crucial developing points in their lives.
“This developmental period in the lives of college students is so important and students are just beginning to find out who they are as individuals,” Wyrick said. “I feel that it is such an honor to be on that journey with them.”
Counseling sessions are kept private and confidential.
Wyrick said she hopes students will reach out for help.
By KATHERINE PITELLKO
Staff Writer
Kpittelk@ius.edu
