Spring Break
Students have problems putting pieces together
Counseling Center can help more than they are currently reaching
Michael Sheffield
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: News
Counselors know that putting the pieces of college life together can be quite a challenge, therefore ETSU'S Counseling Center is offering to help students find exactly where those pieces fit.
"Solving the Puzzle of Life," HDAL 2350, is a three-credit course offered each semester. "We help students find out who they are and learn grasp with their identity," says Dr. Steve Brown, director of the Counseling Center and former president of the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors.
"They learn how to fit into relationships and effective thought control," he said. "We push students to say what is important to them so they can understand themselves."
Students learn methods for relaxation and stress relief, lifestyle choice assessments and even self-hypnosis.
The primary goal of the class is for students to better understand their lives and who they really are, says Brown, who served as director of counseling and testing for more than 20 years at the University of Georgia prior to working at ETSU.
Although the Counseling Center offers a number of outreach programs, as well as affordable and regular hours for ETSU students, it only reaches a small portion of the campus community.
"We only reach about 3 percent of the student population," Brown says.
"We would love to treat more of the population. We can do this through expansion of our class."
The course would be useful as part of the university's core curriculum, Brown says. High school students are not sufficiently prepared to deal with the real world or the transition into college life.
"We need to give students the resources to deal with their issues," Brown said. "Everyone should take this class."
Although Brown believes this class would be beneficial to all students, some students may not feel it should be a part of a curriculum. "If I had the time to take the class I probably would," said Melissa Metcalf, an ETSU sophomore. "Although it would be a help to students and is positive, I don't think it should be part of the curriculum. Not all schools would require this."
"Solving the Puzzle of Life," HDAL 2350, is a three-credit course offered each semester. "We help students find out who they are and learn grasp with their identity," says Dr. Steve Brown, director of the Counseling Center and former president of the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors.
"They learn how to fit into relationships and effective thought control," he said. "We push students to say what is important to them so they can understand themselves."
Students learn methods for relaxation and stress relief, lifestyle choice assessments and even self-hypnosis.
The primary goal of the class is for students to better understand their lives and who they really are, says Brown, who served as director of counseling and testing for more than 20 years at the University of Georgia prior to working at ETSU.
Although the Counseling Center offers a number of outreach programs, as well as affordable and regular hours for ETSU students, it only reaches a small portion of the campus community.
"We only reach about 3 percent of the student population," Brown says.
"We would love to treat more of the population. We can do this through expansion of our class."
The course would be useful as part of the university's core curriculum, Brown says. High school students are not sufficiently prepared to deal with the real world or the transition into college life.
"We need to give students the resources to deal with their issues," Brown said. "Everyone should take this class."
Although Brown believes this class would be beneficial to all students, some students may not feel it should be a part of a curriculum. "If I had the time to take the class I probably would," said Melissa Metcalf, an ETSU sophomore. "Although it would be a help to students and is positive, I don't think it should be part of the curriculum. Not all schools would require this."