COUNSELING AND YOU: WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

Welcome to CAPS! During our lives, we all experience change. At times, change is orderly and understandable. At other times, it can be chaotic. Understanding, coping, and planning for these changes in our lives is not always easy. The staff at CAPS welcomes you to our center with the knowledge that counseling has helped many of your peers.

So, what is counseling?

Counseling is any relationship in which one person or group is helping another person to better understand and solve some problem. Friends and relatives provide a type of counseling, as do clergy, academic advisors, teachers, and many others. The staff at CAPS are different from others who may offer counseling because of their extensive training in psychology and human behavior and their objectivity. CAPS staff provide opportunities for you to discuss your issues in a confidential atmosphere of safety and respect. All individual, couples and group counseling services are free. There are nominal fees for psychological tests, diagnostic services and for some workshops.

OK, does counseling really work?

Research conducted has shown that students experience substantial benefits from counseling. Analyzed measures of students' overall sense of well-being showed that our clients experienced large gains in their overall quality of life. These gains occurred in the time of a single semester, and the improvement in functioning was substantial enough to be perceived not only by the clients themselves but by significant others in their lives. Also, students who receive counseling were found to be much more likely to have graduated or still be in school two years later than students who had not received counseling. So, yes - counseling appears to really work.

If I go to CAPS, does it mean that there is something wrong with me?

No! Most students face normal developmental concerns and academic pressures while at UCD and may feel anxiety, anger, sadness, or depression. For the most part, the over 2,000 students who use our services yearly are interested in their personal growth and adjustment to the world around them and are demonstrating courage and wisdom by seeking another, objective perspective. CAPS staff are trained to help you think about alternatives to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to help you develop ways to deal more effectively with the world around you.

What can I expect from the staff at CAPS?

You can expect someone who:

• will maintain the highest ethical and legal standards of confidentiality,
• is interested in listening to your concerns,
• is interested in helping you develop a better understanding of these concerns so that you may deal more easily and effectively with them,
• will take you seriously,
• will be open to discuss concerns,
• will be willing to answer question about the therapeutic relationship and their approach to counseling,
• will help you explore options and discover strategies toward change,
• will help but will not do for you what you are capable of doing for yourself.

All permanent staff members have doctorates or masters degrees and have experience working with a diversity of students and issues. Because counselors have different beliefs about how people change, they differ on how much talking they do in sessions, whether they ask you to do any homework, and their focus of discussion. If you have any questions about what is going on, by all means ask.

How do I go about seeing astaff psychologist?

• Call 752-0871 or stop by 219 North Hall.
• Ask the Receptionist to schedule you for an appointment.
• You and the staff member will decide which CAPS or other campus community service would be most helpful for you. If CAPS services are selected, you may then be scheduled for individual or couples counseling, group counseling, or a workshop.

What sort of time commitments do I need to make for counseling?

The amount of time you spend in counseling is determined by your own needs. Within your first couple of sessions, you and your counselor will determine the type and amount of counseling that will best assist you in resolving your concerns. You counselor is committed to providing services that meet your needs in a timely and effective manner. On average, studentsmake significant progress and wrap up services within 5 counseling sessions. Individual and couples sessions are generally 45-50 minutes in length, but this is negotiated between and may vary slightly from session to session.

What are the common hurdles that I may face in counseling?

One of the most difficult steps in counseling occurs before you even see a counselor. Deciding to seek counseling is the first courageous step in change. Once this decision has been made, the mechanics for change have been set in motion. In the process of changing the way you think, feel, or behave, you usually try out new ways of thinking or doing things. This can make you anxious or frustrated. Also, in the course of counseling you may come to realize that things you once thought of only in a positive or negative way may be viewed a bit differently. The challenges of pushing on your limitations may also cause you frustration, but with commitment, practice, and support from your counselor, family and/or friends, you will find that you can stretch your limits and find new strengths and hope.

What can I do to benefit most from counseling?

• Be ready to focus on a specific problem or issue.
• Set clear and specific goals.
• Attend your sessions regularly and take an active part in them.
• Let your counselor know if you will be late or are unable to attend a session.
• Talk about what is bothering you as openly and honestly as you can.
• Complete any tasks or homework assignments which you may be asked to do.
• Be open to trying new or different approaches to dealing with your concerns.
• Talk openly with your counselor about your progress in counseling. Your counselor is most interested in you benefiting from counseling.
• Apply your new insights and growth in your daily activities.

Developed by Iowa State, Adapted by UC Davis CAPS