Student Counseling Services Promotes World Mental Health Day

• Student Counseling Services offers counseling, an emergency hotline and Celebrate Recovery programs for students struggling with their mental health.
• In addition to celebrating World Mental Health Day, Counseling Services also raises awareness during Suicide Prevention Month in September and bulling on Oct. 24.

Student Counseling Services celebrated World Mental Health Day Tuesday, Oct. 10 by setting up a table in the Montview Student Union and raising awareness of the services available to students.

According to Michael Trexler, the director for Student Counseling Services, one of the reasons the center participated in World Mental Health Day was to help reduce the stigmas associated with mental illnesses.

“That’s part of our mission statement,” Trexler said. “We want to reduce stigma.”

At the table, Trexler distributed cards with information on the services the center provides. Trexler also displayed flyers with information on the effects of living with depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, recovery from substance addiction, psychosis and suicidal behaviors. The flyers also gave students statistics and tips for combating the conditions.

“Anyone can benefit from counseling,” Trexler said.

Trexler believes mental health should be promoted and valued as much as physical and spiritual health and said all aspects of health work together and affect each other.

“We learn skills everybody needs,” Trexler said.

Trexler said counselors learn how to listen to people and ask them questions to help them “go deeper for self-exploration.” He said the counselor-client relationship plays a significant role in helping people to recover.

Student Counseling Services offers brief, individual counseling and psychological testing as well as referral to outside agencies or other departments on campus such as the Liberty University Shepherds Office, the Career Center and the Academic Success Center.

In addition, the center provides group counseling sessions, including Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step program support group that meets on Thursday evenings, according to Trexler. Brief couples counseling and family therapy are also available to students.

Student Counseling Services provides on-call mental health crisis services 24/7. Student Counseling Services has liaisons who work with each school within the university to help connect with students who need counseling services. Trexler said both residential and local online students can benefit from the services provided by Student Counseling Services for free.

According to Trexler, the psychological testing services have been added in the last couple years. Previously, students had to do evaluations off campus, Trexler said Student Counseling Services now has five people trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing. Trexler said the promotional prevention events have also been added in the last couple of years.

“We’re always looking to get further training,” Trexler said.

Trexler said some counselors are currently receiving grief training, and he is hoping some counselors will gain specializations in dialectical behavioral therapy, eating disorders and nutrition. Currently, the center works with the university dietitian for advising nutritional needs.

Trexler said Student Counseling Services also provides internships for Liberty students studying counseling at the graduate level. Trexler said eight students are currently interning with the center.

Each month, Student Counseling Services hosts an event that corresponds with the national or international awareness or prevention of the month. Trexler said since September was Suicide Prevention Month, they hosted a table and talked to students about suicide prevention.

According to Trexler, Student Counseling Services will host tables with information about bullying prevention Oct. 24 in the Montview Student Union and in the Tilley Food Court.