Counseling for College Students

While the college years can be a time of fun, self-exploration, and learning, they can also bring a host of unexpected challenges.

 

Maybe the pressures of classes are starting to become overwhelming.

 

Maybe it has been harder than you thought to be away from your family.

 

Maybe you find yourself drinking more to cope with the stress.

 

Maybe you find yourself experiencing periods of depression or anxiety for the first time.

 

Maybe a traumatic experience happened to you while on campus.

 

Maybe some of your high school friendships or relationships are ending and you feel lost.

 

Or maybe you are having difficulty adjusting back socially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

You are not alone. Get the relief you need today.

 

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How common is it to experience what I am experiencing?

 

According to researchers at Boston University, depression has increased 135% and anxiety has increased 110% from 2013 to 2021 amongst college students. Additionally, they found that the number of students who met the criteria for one or more mental health problems in 2021 had doubled from 2013. (source: https://www.bu.edu/articles/2022/mental-health-of-college-students-is-getting-worse/)

 

The college years are a key development period and most mental health conditions begin exhibiting symptoms between the ages of 18-24. The COVID-19 pandemic, amongst other challenges, have only increased the severity and prevalence of these symptoms among college students. 

 

You are certainly not alone and deserve help to learn the skills to thrive not only during college, but also for the years to come.

 

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This is college, isn’t it normal to be stressed with classes?

 

The transition into college classes from high school, or if you took a couple years in between high school and college, can absolutely be stressful. The quality of work expected may be higher, you may not have as much help from professors, and the academic pressures may be intense.

 

Mild to moderate occasional amounts of stress is not necessarily a negative thing and can actually help motivate us to succeed. However, prolonged exposure to high amounts of stress can have a detrimental impact on your mental, and even physical, health.

 

If this is the case for you, then it is time to question your circumstances. Together, we will work together to explore ways to reduce the stress you are experiencing. For stress that is unavoidable, we will teach healthy stress and time management strategies to reduce the impact that the stress is having on your mental health.

 

 

Isn’t drinking in college normal?

 

Going out to parties with friends is often a common experience in the college years. At these parties, alcohol and other substances are often present in large quantities. You may feel pressured to drink either verbally by peers or subconsciously feeling the need to fit in.

 

You may black out for the first time or make decisions that you regret in the morning. You may wake up the next day with a bad hangover, unable to function normally during the day. You may find yourself drinking more and more nights per week to keep up socially or to manage the never-ending stress.

 

Substance use is so normalized on college campuses, but this does not mean that it is healthy. Just because everyone around you is doing it, does not mean that it is right for you. If you are beginning to have negative impacts on your relationships, well-being, or classes as a result of substance use, it is time to question your substance use.

 

Here at Flourish Counseling Services, we are here to help. We can help you to navigate your college experience while making different choices in regards to substance use (either reducing the frequency/amount or choosing not to use substances at all). This is ultimately your decision as to what changes you want to make and we are here to support you every step of the way.

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My relationship with my family is suffering since I have not been living at home, is this normal?

 

It is common for the relationship between parents and children to change upon leaving the home and entering college. You may develop new beliefs, new friend groups, and new ways of looking at the world. This can create challenges if these new beliefs do not align with the beliefs of your family members.

 

This can be a difficult and stressful change to navigate. Here at Flourish Counseling Services, we are here to walk alongside and support you in this journey. You are not alone.

 

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Do you offer teletherapy or a remote option?

 

We do. Teletherapy sessions will offer you the flexibility to schedule sessions around your busy schedule and save time on a commute.

 

Ready to start?

 

You can call us at 804-203-2778 or email us at jenna@flourishcounselingservices.org at any time. We are happy to address any outstanding questions or concerns to get started in the counseling process. Give us a call today!