Counseling Center, Richard Jacks, 22 percent of the Whitman student body was seen in some capacity by a counselor last year. That’s a little over 300 students. Students at rigorous schools like Whitman often complain of the stress of college life, so the question is why more aren’t taking advantage of the mental health resources offered to them. In most cases it seems to be because no one knows what these resources actually are.
First-year Lissa Erickson heard about the Counseling Center “during opening week, mostly about sexual misconduct.” When asked what she knew was offered there, she replied “I know there’s counseling for free.” She’s referring to the half-hour sessions students can get with a therapist, eight per semester free of charge. The Counseling Center currently employs four clinical psychologists and one religious counselor.
One senior, who asked to be quoted anonymously, pointed out that eight free sessions is sometimes not enough.
“Whitman does not, in my experience, do a satisfactory job in accommodating low-income students (or middle class, as we’re known in the real world.) This unfortunately extends to my not being able to afford more than the eight free sessions per semester.”
This particular student had been seeing Dr. Jacks to help manage depression he had recently
developed. He added, “I do realize [the free sessions] are still a lot better deal than I would get at any other counseling office.”
The point remains that both of these students, and presumably many others like them, are not being made aware of the other services the Counseling Center offers. Listed on the Web site and in literature available in the office are the following (in this case taken from an office pamphlet):
*Individual, confidential counseling
*Group counseling, specializing in sexuality and grief
*Workshops on self-esteem, hypnosis and body image
*A Resource Library of books, handouts, videos and tapes available for check out
*Referral program for students or staff members concerned about someone close to them
*Open hour, when students who need to be seen immediately may walk in without an appointment
*Lights for Seasonal Affective Disorder therapy
*Confidential Peer Listening with another Whitman student
The Center also accepts suggestions for how to improve their offerings.
Students who do visit the Center enjoy their time. A member of a group of senior women, who also asked to remain anonymous, said, “The Counseling Center is the cornerstone of Whitman’s mental health system.”
Another added, “It’s actually the only part of Whitman’s mental health system.”
Both felt that the Center was adequate, saying “everyone here would be cuckoo bananas if there were no Counseling Center.” The two present who had been inside described the Center positively, calling it “really nice inside, and the staff is great.”
Some Whitman students would like to make regular appointments with counselors but can’t due to time constraints. One senior said she hadn’t gone yet in her time at Whitman despite wanting to because she knew, “There are only four counselors, and I feel like if I went I would be taking time from someone who needs it more.”
When told about the more readily available peer listening option, another student present said, “No one uses that. Why would you do something like that at a school this small?
Everyone knows everyone and [the listener] would know all the people you mentioned.”
As in any counseling center, all information passed through the office at Whitman stays entirely confidential and is only released to specified sources through written student consent. Counselors at Whitman can also refer students to other professionals in the area.
Whitman’s Counseling Center is located at 502 Boyer Avenue, and can be contacted at (509)527-5195 or at whitman.edu/content/counseling
