Counseling Center
To New Students and Parents,
I am happy to welcome you to Washington College and introduce you to the Counseling Center staff and services. Please view an introduction to each of our staff members.
Center staff are available to all new students and parents by phone, email or letter to answer questions related to mental health resources, adjustment to college life or academic success. Students and families can meet with a staff member when you’re here for your Summer Advising Day. Call 410 778-7261 or email vanderson2@washcoll.edu to make an appointment. We will also respond to calls and contacts throughout the summer.
College students seek counseling services for many reasons. Common concerns include:
- adjustment issues
- difficulty coping with emotions (e.g. depression, anxiety, anger)
- interpersonal and relationship difficulties
- health-related concerns (sexuality, alcohol, problems with eating or sleeping)
- concerns about academic issues (e.g. poor motivation, concentration problems, test anxiety)
- stressful /traumatic experiences (e.g. financial/legal problems, conflicts among roommates, friends or family members, death of friend/family members).
Depressed mood, stress, anxiety, and problems with academic performance are the most common concerns students report to Counseling Center staff. For over 90% of the students we see, their personal problems have at least a moderate impact on their studies, even when academic concerns are not the main issue for which they sought help.
Counseling helps students learn new coping skills, set goals, solve problems, make decisions, and manage stress, but it also provides a safe and structured environment in which students can explore various aspects of their emerging adult lives - independence, values, personal goals, intimacy and friendship.
To assist students Counseling Center staff members collaborate with other campus departments (e.g. Academic Resources, Career Services, Residence Life, Health Center) when appropriate and with the student’s permission. Students wondering whether their concerns are appropriate to bring to the Center are strongly encouraged to make an appointment to talk with one of our staff.
Our professional staff is experienced in helping students who are depressed, anxious or have other psychological disorders. But, although we help with these issues, we also work with many students who have other concerns. No problem or issue is “too small” to discuss. If something is big enough to bother a student, it’s big enough to talk about with a counselor. For example, we work with students who are lonely or homesick, who experience stress, who have concerns about their families, and who want help in better managing their time. We work with students about relationship issues, assertion, eating and body image concerns, trauma and many other issues. And we work with students who just want to safe place to “vent”!
All services are provided without charge to students and are confidential. All information remains in the Center and is not shared with parents, faculty or other staff of the College without written permission from the student.
I welcome an opportunity to meet or hear from you during this exciting time as you plan to attend Washington College.
Bonnie Fisher, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Director
Washington College Counseling Center
(Thanks to the Counseling Center Staff at Pace University for their brief description of the scope of College Counseling Centers.)
