Take advantage of the classes: it’s all covered
The Counseling Center here at North Dakota State offers a plethora of events and groups to help you through your years spent on campus. Take advantage of the offerings, everything is covered from student fees.
Mindfulness Workshop
Calling all beginners, this workshop is for you. According to Psychology Today, mindfulness is defined as, “to live in the moment and reawaken oneself to the present, rather than dwelling on the past or anticipating the future.”
With our minds constantly thinking of large projects due at the end of the semester, life changes, financial stress and what we plan to do after graduating, mindfulness can be hard to accomplish but, taking this workshop will help reel you back to the present and help you focus. If you find yourself needing to focus more on the present, this 3-week workshop is for you.
The mindfulness workshop will implement breath awareness, meditation, exercises in radical acceptance, self-compassion and the discussion of being emotionally aware in the classes.
Destress in the Dirt
The Counseling Center puts on ‘Destress in the Dirt’ every semester. The most recent class let students build a terrarium, learn about destressing techniques and how to manage “day to day stress.”
Students left the class with their very own terrarium to brighten up their living space.
Equine (horse) Therapy Group
It’s a known fact therapy involving animals can increase focus/attention, reduce anxiety and increase trust. If you think being around horses will brighten your day, this therapy group is for you.
Emotional Fitness Workshop
The NDSU Counseling Center’s website states that this workshop is for, “Focusing on skills for social anxiety, panic attacks, and general anxiety and worry, skill-building and understanding depression.” This workshop is also a 3-week course.
Pawsitive Relaxation
Miss your dog from home and a bit stressed? You won’t be anymore if you find yourself at the one-hour pawsitive relaxation event. Pet one of the counseling centers therapy dogs and learn healthy ways to manage stress. The next event is scheduled for November 15.
Advance registration is necessary for this event.
Understanding Self and Others (USO) Group
One of the groups that meet weekly at the Counseling Center, USO allows you to develop a greater understanding of a multitude of challenges a person may face. Some of these may be, learning stress management, personal growth, the building of self-confidence, how to deal with loneliness and adjusting to NDSU.
Art Therapy Group
This group meets once a week on Tuesdays from 3-5p.m., the materials are provided and people are invited to express themselves through the creation of art. Through the medium of creating art, one can learn things about themselves and a wider version of self can be realized. The art therapy group stresses that beginners are welcome, and people don’t have to necessarily have artistic talent. Everybody is welcome, including the great stick figures I can draw.
Graduate Student Support Group
A unique group offered to graduate students, in this space people meet to talk about the struggles surrounding graduate programs, life around higher education, etc. The group description states, “offering support to fellow graduate students across academic disciplines.” The group meets on Wednesdays from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Health Concerns Discussion
If day to day activities are hindered by a chronic medical condition or other health changes, this is a support group that is offering a shoulder for you to lean on. This group meets on Tuesday from 1-2:30 p.m.
Don’t find yourself wanting to talk about it in person?
On the Counseling Center’s website, there is a multitude of links for self-help. Some of the things discussed are grief and trauma, long-distance relationships, study skill tips and homesickness.
A college student’s mental health has been a longtime growing concern on college campuses across the United States. Don’t ever be afraid to reach out for help, there are people at NDSU here to help you. If the support groups and events aren’t your things, individual appointments can be scheduled. All information is provided on the Counseling Center’s website with the dates and times of support group meetings.