Counseling and Pastoral Care

Just about anyone can benefit. No problem is too big or small. Listed below are just a few examples of some common concerns which bring students to DTS Counseling Services:

• Symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression

• College adjustment issues such as homesickness, academic problems, and long-distance relationships

• Interpersonal difficulties, including roommate conflicts, family problems, romantic relationship concerns, problems with assertiveness, and other issues

• Bereavement and grief related to the loss of a loved one (such as relationship breakups, deaths, parental divorce, or other major losses)

• Questions/confusion about identity, self-image, sexuality, gender, or religious concerns

• Concerns about body image, food, eating, or weight, as well as treatment for eating disorders

• Experience with sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, abuse, or other trauma

• Thoughts of suicide, death, or hurting others

• Behaviors that can be harmful to you, like drug or alcohol abuse or cutting

Our counselors are trained to intervene or provide support for a countless number of issues, far too many to list in any comprehensive way. While counseling might be helpful in numerous situations, there are some conditions in which we would strongly encourage you to seek counseling services:

• You are unhappy on most days or feel a sense of hopelessness

• You worry excessively or are constantly on edge

• You are unable to concentrate on your schoolwork or other activities

• You are unable to sleep at night or constantly feel tired

• You have experienced a change in your appetite or your weight

• You have experienced a loss (e.g., a relationship breakup, a parent’s death)

• You have increased your use of alcohol or other drugs.

• You feel overwhelmed by what is going on in your life

• You are having thoughts about hurting yourself or someone else

1. Define your goals. Think about what you would like to get out of counseling. It might be helpful to write a list of events, relationship issues, or feelings that you think are contributing to your distress. Take time before each session to consider your expectations for that session. Self-exploration and change involve hard work, and sometimes painful feelings are stirred up in the process of healing. Counselors are trained to pay close attention to these issues and will probably encourage you to discuss these feelings openly.
2. Be an active participant. This is your counseling experience, so be as active as you can in deciding how to use the time. Be honest with the counselor and give her or him feedback about how you see the sessions progressing.
3. Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, effort, and patience. All of your coping skills, behavior patterns, and self-perceptions have been learned and reinforced over a long period of time, so change can be difficult and slow at times.
4. Ask questions. Ask questions about the counseling process, any methods used by the counselor, or about any other services at DTS Counseling Services. Your counselor is there to assist you.
5. Follow your counselor’s recommendations. Take the time between sessions to complete any activities suggested by your counselor. Counseling is intended to improve your life in the “real world,” so making efforts to try out and practice new behaviors, approaches, or ways of thinking could be a crucial element to the success of your counseling experience.

If you and your counselor determine that individual counseling at DTS Counseling Services is the treatment recommendation that best meets your needs, you will then be offered the first available appointment that matches your schedule. If you have particular counselor preferences, this might increase the time you have to wait for your first appointment. Your appointment will usually be scheduled within a few days to a few weeks. (Please note that if you are in need of immediate help, inform our staff so that we can connect you to the appropriate DTS Counseling Services resources immediately.)

In your first appointment, your counselor will obtain information about your current concerns, relevant history and goals. Your counselor also will review relevant DTS Counseling Services policies and procedures, such as confidentiality.

For subsequent or follow-up sessions, you will meet with your counselor for 45-minutes, weekly for a specified period of time. If you would like additional counseling beyond what DTS Counseling Services can provide, then we will work with you to find a counselor in the community.

Early on, you will work with your counselor to set goals for your counseling sessions. Establishing clear goals will provide direction as well as help you to monitor your progress in counseling. If you have any questions or concerns about the counseling process, don’t hesitate to bring these up with your counselor, who will be pleased to discuss them with you. The exact direction of your counseling experience will depend on the issues you bring into counseling, your counselor’s perspective, and the goals you set for your work together.

Call the front desk at (214) 887-5175 as soon as possible after you become aware that you cannot come to your appointment. You can leave a message on the voice mail if you are calling outside of business hours.