New Professionals Round Table

Facilitators: Jessica Walker, PhD (University of North Carolina-Charlotte Counseling Center), & Grace Chen, PhD (California State University-East Bay CAPS)

 

The New Professionals roundtable was an engaging experience, with contributions from a diverse group of counselors. A major theme that initially emerged was the need for new professionals to connect with a support network. We explored ways that individuals find helpful peers and relevant mentors both on and off campus. Variables such as state licensure requirements and University size came into play as we considered the complexity of establishing and maintaining a support system. The second major theme that developed compared college student presenting problems with grassroots community mental health service delivery. We reflected on what inspired us to join the field, and how to conceptualize and frame our passions within the college setting in an effort to maintain commitment to this field despite relatively low financial rewards. Overall, the participants seemed to gain knowledge and inspiration from one another. We encourage ACPA to continue this roundtable topic next year!
 

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Mid-Level & Senior Professionals Round Table

Facilitators: Ben Locke, PhD (Pennsylvania State University Counseling & Psychological Services), & Vivian Barnett (North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Counseling Services)

 

The session started with introductions and how participants defined themselves regarding their levels.  Discussion focused on movement from one professional level to the next and about being mentored into various positions in a counseling center.  The group also discussed ways to make needed changes in one’s administrative role as well as the importance of connecting with the campus at-large.  Some of the discussion focused on what keeps professionals in these roles and the positives and negatives about counseling centers.  The session ended with participants reflecting on the importance of networking and striving to have a balanced life.

 

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Suicide Issues Round Table

Facilitators: Matt Torres, PhD (Johns Hopkins University Counseling Center), & Tom Berry (Utah State University Counseling Center)

 

The Suicide Prevention Round-table had an active discussion and exchange of ideas among its 16 participants.  Participants included an assistant VP, a dean of students, counseling center staff, representatives from residential life, and graduate students from a variety of institutions.  Topics discussed included identifying students at risk, facilitating communication among appropriate university officials and responding to suicidal students.

 

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Self-Care Round Table

Facilitator: Phyllis Weatherly, PhD (Southern Polytechnic State University Career & Counseling Center)

 

Self-care is not an “emergency response plan” to be activated when stress becomes overwhelming.  Instead, healthy self-care is an intentional way of living by which our values, attitudes, and actions are integrated into our day-to-day routines.  The need for “emergency care” should be an exception to usual practice.
 
Approximately 15 individuals attended the session on Self-Care.  They represented counselors, graduate students and chief student affairs officers expressing a need to explore ways to better care for themselves.
 
Conversation began with everyone sharing what they wanted from the session and ways they fail to care for themselves now.  Recognizing that counselors often fail to observe the basic guidelines for personal health and wellness, the discussion focused on exploring ways to care for ourselves and obstacles that can get in the way.  We revisited the “wellness dimensions” and talked about how often our lives are out of balance.  The struggle to set boundaries is always a factor and we talked about the need we have to set healthy boundaries by learning to say “no”. “NO” is a complete sentence!  The roundtable ended with individuals committing to one action to implement in their lives after leaving the session.

 

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Counseling Issues in Small Colleges

Facilitator: briana R. Sevigny (Assumption College Area Coordinator)

 

The CCAPS Round Table for Counseling Issues in Small Colleges was a small, but successful dialogue. With participants from New York, Massachusetts and Georgia from a variety of functional areas, our conversation addressed several topics. These topics included how people who do not work in Counseling Centers but doing supporting work can connect and align themselves with Counseling departments, how campus offices can communicate about issues that are occurring for students on campus without violating confidentiality, and how to help the silos in student affairs to connect in terms of the counseling that each area provides.

 

While the group was small and the meeting time was early, the think tank atmosphere promoted an open discussion that produced ideas for everyone to bring back to their campuses. I would like to thank my co-planner Cindy Stroschein, who couldn't be with us in Atlanta, and the participants who braved the first session of the last day to contribute to their colleagues and the field. I hope to see you next year in Metro D.C.!