If
a student is reluctant to seek professional help
Many people believe that only very disturbed
people seek therapy, so your referral might be interpreted as a comment on the
severity of the problem. Reassure the student that therapists at the Counseling
Center work with people with a wide range of concerns. Problems need not reach
crisis proportions for students to benefit from professional help. In fact, it
is much easier to work on problems if they are addressed before they reach crisis
level. Normalizing the process of seeking help may be especially helpful for
international students whose countries may not have similar views of psychological
counseling.
Reluctant students might also be relieved to know that they can speak with a
therapist on a one-time basis without making a commitment to ongoing therapy.
Furthermore, any contact and information shared by the student is kept strictly
confidential and will not be disclosed to parents, faculty, other University
departments, or even you, except with the student’s (written) permission.
Finally, it is important to acknowledge, validate and discuss the student’s
real fears and concerns about seeking help. It takes considerable courage to
face oneself and acknowledge one’s limitations.
In some cases, you may find that the student has already sought counseling services
at BAC, or elsewhere, and was unsatisfied with the experience. There are many
reasons why counseling may not be successful in a given situation. Please encourage
the student to consider giving counseling another try, perhaps with a different
counselor.
Except in emergencies, the option must be left open for the student to accept
or refuse counseling. If the student is skeptical or reluctant, express your
acceptance of this decision. Give the student time to consider your suggestion–do
not rush. If a student feels too much pressure, this may close the door to future
communication with him/her. If the student emphatically says no, respect that
decision.
While it is important to care about the emotional well-being of students, we
cannot make their decisions for them, and counseling is always a personal choice.
Occasionally, even your best efforts to encourage a student to seek counseling
will be unsuccessful. If the student resists referral and you remain uncomfortable
with the situation, contact the Center at:
704-829-7080 to discuss your concern.
If
a student is reluctant to seek professional help
