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Thank you for contacting us. I can appreciate that
you would feel hesitant to come to the Counseling and Student
Development Center due to your high visibility on campus. Given what you
have described as your concerns, I want you to know that seeking
counseling would be one helpful way to make things better for yourself.
Many students who do come to the Counseling and Student Development
Center have similar issues, and they, too, struggle with feeling
self-conscious about having emotional troubles. Thus, the issue is often
one of finding the personal courage to take that initial step of coming
in, even if people see you. I would encourage you to take that risk,
despite your high visibility. Doing so would not only be important for
you, but would also send a powerful message to other students: Getting
help for emotional problems is okay!
In addition, I want to stress that confidentiality is a priority at the Counseling and Student Development Center. Outside of rare situations involving imminent harm to oneself or others, or ongoing child abuse, nothing about your presence in our office can be released to anyone without your written consent, even the fact that you did come in. In addition, if you are concerned about being seen by other students who are coming to the Counseling and Student Development Center, there may be ways to minimize this likelihood, and you and your counselor can discuss these possibilities. I understand that this may be asking a lot, so I would like to offer you some other options. You can visit our website at www.niu.edu/csdc/csdchome.htm and browse our “Free Screenings” section, which would allow you to assess yourself in relation to various psychological disorders. In addition, there are also links to internet self-help resources that you might find helpful. Another option would be to consider the potential value of speaking to a campus psychiatrist in the university health service regarding the value of medication for helping you with your symptoms. If you would like to contact the University Health Service, you can call 753-1311, and arrange an appointment with a psychiatrist. Finally, you should know that there are several private mental health practitioners in the DeKalb area, as well as the surrounding suburbs, who would be willing to meet with you. While counseling services on campus are free, private therapy services require a fee. Sometimes student insurance can help defray the costs of private therapy. Our office would be happy to help you find an appropriate off-campus private therapist. You can call the Counseling and Student Development Center, 753-1206, and ask to speak with a counselor confidentially on the phone regarding a referral. The counselor will speak with you about your concerns and make a recommendation based on the information that you provide. I hope you find at least one of these options helpful. I do want to stress the overriding importance of finding someone who can help you. Sometimes people get better on their own, without therapy. However, the longer you have these concerns, especially if you are feeling worse, the more likely it is that you will continue to sink into a sense of demoralization, and the harder it becomes to work your way out of this without help. This is one risk we don’t want you to take. Good luck, and take care of yourself. Sincerely, Barb Wired |