Counseling Office Online
A
Newsletter for the Faculty and Staff of Northeastern Illinois University
Fall 2008
Topics in this issue:
When You're Concerned About a Student...
Helping Students with Their Career Focus
Who's Who in The Counseling Office
When You're Concerned About a Student...
A student submits a reflection paper that contains information causing you to worry about that student's emotional health... A student repeatedly acts inappropriately in class... Students begin to tell you they are increasingly uncomfortable about or frightened by another member of the class. What do you do? Who do you talk to?
Northeastern has several policies that may be applied in these instances. In a matter involving violence or immediate danger, contact the University Police (x5511). In all other cases, the starting point is the same: Contact Michael Kelly, the Dean of Students (x4610) to report your concern. The Dean of Students works with the Counseling Office and University Police to best respond to the situation.
Our overall approach is to determine whether it represents a Dangerous student, a Disturbed/Distressed student or a Disruptive student:
The Dangerous student:
When the student's behavior involves a clear and imminent danger to others, the
Dean of Students will work with University Police to develop a plan to manage or
minimize danger to members of the University community. The may involve
removing the student from campus or involving others off-campus.
The Disturbed or Distressed
student: When
the student's behavior appears significantly disturbed or distressing (for
instance, suicidal threats, self-harm, or difficulties managing life on campus),
the Dean of Students works with the Counseling Office to encourage a referral for
psychological services. This may involve on-campus counseling services or an
off-campus referral, perhaps even a medical leave, depending on the nature of
the difficulties.
The Disruptive student:
If a student's behavior is not predominantly dangerous or disturbed, but is
deemed sufficiently disruptive or inappropriate, the issue is dealt with
according to the Student Conduct Code. Consequences to students are
based primarily on behavioral considerations, with the goal of minimizing
disruption to the university environment.
Even if
your concerns do not rise to the point where administrative action is
appropriate, let us know--more data points help to convey a more accurate
picture of the situation. If in doubt, report your concerns. Again, your responsibility
is to convey your concerns and your observations to somebody in the team:
- Michael Kelly, Dean of Students (x4610)
- John Hoeppel, Director of Counseling (x4650)
- Jim Lyon, Director of University Police (x5511).
We will take it from there.
Don't
cancel that class!
If you won't be on campus for one of your class sessions this coming term, "don't
cancel that class!" Instead of canceling, let the Counseling
Office make a presentation in your class during the time you will be
away. We can make presentations about a variety of topics, depending on
the nature of your class and the needs of your students.
Some topics include:
Stress
and relaxation ~how to identify the signs of stress and how to make healthy choices to
better manage your stress.
Winter
blahs ~recognize
the signs of depression and develop healthy habits and practices to enhance
your mood and maintain emotional balance.
HIV/AIDS
awareness ~the effects of HIV, who's at risk, how to protect yourself from getting
infected.
Career
Decision Making ~what students need to know to make sound career decisions.
Careers
in <your field> ~how to translate your major into a rewarding career.
To explore the possibility of a
Counseling Office presentation in your class, call us at ext 4650 or email us here.
Remember, when you can't be in class, we can
be -- don't cancel that class!
Helping Students with Their Career Focus
Last spring, we reported Career Counseling survey results. The initial surveys indicated that a significant number of students seeking career counseling were seniors (23%), many with more than 120 credit hours (23%). This supports the observation that many advanced students remain unclear about their career goals even though 61% of upperclassmen surveyed had declared majors, Upper-class students at NEIU often wait until late in their college careers before seriously working on refining their career objectives.
With this in mind Counseling Office staff developed three, one-session, in-class presentations to help upper-class students gain and/or refine their career objectives:
Career Decision Making
This interactive session focuses on what one needs to know in order to make meaningful career decisions. The presentation emphasizes the combination of personal characteristics (interests, skills, values and personality preferences) with career information (nature of the work, education and skills needed, job market information and much more) to identify career options. The use of an interest inventory is possible with a second session. Students will use materials that translate their preferred interests into specific job titles.
Enhancing Your Career Opportunities Through Networking
This session emphasizes how students can use networking to better define their career goals, identify internship possibilities, as well as conducting their job search via an information interviewing approach. Two things are accomplished: students get their questions answered and they begin to build a network of professional contacts from which much can happen with regards to part or full-time employment, internship and/or volunteer opportunities.
Career Choices Related to Specific Academic Disciplines
This presentation helps students identify career options related to their academic major; both those that are directly and indirectly related, Written resources will be covered (books and internet sites) as well as people resources As a result of this session students will have a better understanding of how to use resources to help them identify career ideas to explore.
To explore the possibility of including one of these career planning modules into your course, contact David Helfand in the Counseling Office (x4652)
Who's Who in The Counseling Office
John Hoeppel, PhD
...is the Director of the Counseling Office. He received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. His interests include both individuals and couples therapy, the use of meditation and journaling, and understanding men's experiences in psychotherapy.Elizabeth Pullen, PsyD
...is the Counseling Office's Clinical Coordinator. She received her doctorate from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. Her interests include gender issues, relational, feminist and trauma theories and self-psychology. She also studies Buddhism and meditation.David Helfand, EdD
...is the Counseling Office's Coordinator of Career Counseling. He received his doctorate from Loyola University Chicago and has interests in career decision-making and career change in adulthood. David is the author of Career Change, currently in its the 2nd edition.William Speller, MA
...is a Counselor providing general supportive counseling, as well as serving the needs of students who are military veterans. He received his masters degree from the University of Chicago and has interests in minority concerns in higher education.Maryam Ilahi, MA
... is a Psychological Fellow at the Counseling Office She will receive her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. Her interests include multicultural counseling, working with international students, sexual orientation concerns, women's issues, spirituality, existentialism, and groups.
Will Hutter, PsyD
... is the Counseling Office's Outreach Coordinator. He received his doctorate from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Edgewood College. His areas of interest include GLBT issues; relationship and sexual concerns; eating disorders; HIV education; and the implication of dreams.
Dana W. Prechter, MA
... is a clinical Psychology Intern from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where she is working towards a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. Her main areas of interest include contemporary relational theory, Daseinsanalytic theory, and dream interpretation and issues related to feminism and diversity.Francesco Belviso, MA
...is a Psychology Extern from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where he is working towards a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. His areas of interest include life transitions, relationships, losses, and bereavement.Michael McClendon, MA
... is a Psychology Extern from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, where he is currently working toward his doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. His areas of interest include men's issues, identity development and life transitions, and psychodiagnostic assessment with an emphasis in psychoanalytic and psychodynamic theories.
How to contact us
- You can contact the Counseling Office by phone at ext 4650 or 773.442.4650, email or by stopping in to the office (D-024)
- And browse our previous newsletters... Fall 2006 ~ Spring 2007 ~ Fall 2007 ~ Spring 2008
Published Sept. 2008