What is Counseling?
Counseling helps you define goals, make decisions, and solve
problems. The staff at the Center for Counseling and Consultation,
because of their extensive training in psychology and human
behavior, have a broad range of experience working with many
different situations related to personal, educational, and career
concerns.
Counseling can be simply sharing your thoughts and feelings in
confidence with a trained counselor who is objective and a good
listener. This is often helpful when you have a decision to
make.
Sometimes counseling may help you to change your behavior in order
to deal more effectively with a problem. You may become aware of
strengths and potentials you can use to your benefit.
At other times, counseling may help by giving you certain types of
information, or by teaching you new skills. Counseling may help you
to see yourself and others in a different light.
Counseling is not always easy. Successful counseling may mean that
you will become aware of feelings and behaviors that are not
particularly comfortable or effective for you. But with the help
and support of a trained counselor, you can learn to confront such
feelings and behaviors so that you can make changes that will lead
to a more satisfying life.
When Should I Seek Counseling?
People usually come to counseling because they want to feel better
about themselves or their relationships with others. Specifically,
they may want to work on:
- Enhancing their ability to cope more effectively with anxiety
and stress
- Overcoming feelings of depression
- Dealing with feelings of hopelessness and feeling that life is
not worth living
- Improving relationships with friends, family, and significant
others
- Overcoming loneliness and shyness
- Increasing self-confidence and assertiveness
- Dealing with drug and alcohol abuse
- Clarifying values and priorities
- Dealing with the death of a loved one
- Eating problems
- Health concerns
- Physical or learning disability
- Inability to concentrate and study
- Not knowing where they are going with their life.
What Can I Expect from
Counseling?
You can expect someone who is interested in listening to your
concerns and in helping you develop a better understanding of them
so that you may deal with them more easily and effectively. Your
counselor will take you seriously and be willing to openly talk
about anything you wish to discuss. Although counselors may differ
somewhat in their approaches, there are certain similarities which
characterize the helping relationship. In the beginning stages of
counseling, your counselor will ask you about your concerns to gain
a deeper understanding of you and your issues. As counseling
proceeds, trust between you and your counselor builds and a working
partnership is developed. Using a variety of approaches, your
counselor will help you to explore your feelings, make your own
decisions, and resolve your concerns.
What About Confidentiality?
All information disclosed in counseling will be kept confidential
with the exception of information related to danger to self or
others, or to the abuse of a child or incapacitated adult.
- To schedule an appointment on the Queens Campus call
(718) 990-6384 or come directly to the Center at Marillac Hall,
Room 130.
- To schedule an appointment on the Staten Island Campus
call (718) 390-4451 or come directly to the Center at Flynn
Hall.
How Do I Get Started?
To learn more about counseling, call or stop by the Center for
Counseling and Consultation to make an appointment to talk with a
counselor. Please click here for hours and location. Call for
Summer hours.
Facts and Myths About
Counseling
Myth
Counseling is only for people who have emotional problems.
Fact
While counseling does deal with people who have emotional problems
it can also help:
- Individuals who just want to understand themselves better
- Individuals who have difficulty being assertive
- Students having problems with grades and tests and/or are on
academic probation
- Students having difficulty juggling school, work, or family
responsibilities
- Students trying to "fit in" and adjust to their new
surroundings
Myth
People in counseling are inherently weak.
Fact
There is nothing weak about a person who enters counseling. The
individuals who enter counseling are, in fact, taking the first
step in solving their difficulties. A lot of people would view this
as having strength and courage.
Myth
Change is simple.
Fact
Change is not always simple and may take time and energy to happen.
Counseling is not a "quick fix" cure for your problems.
Myth
The counselor is your "psychic" who tells you what to do with your
life and how to "fix" your problems.
Fact
A counselor is NOT there to TELL you how to solve your problems or
to offer you advice. The counselor IS there to help you achieve the
goals you set and help you resolve your problems.