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INTRODUCTION:
MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of Counseling Services
is to assist students define and accomplish personal and academic
goals.
Counseling at HCC:
Holyoke Community College offers counseling services to all HCC
students to assist in educational, career, and personal/social development.
Counseling Services offers a supportive learning environment to
help students overcome barriers to successful college performance
and grow toward attaining a satisfying and meaningful lifestyle.
A staff of professional counselors assists students in exploring
their educational and career goals, planning their educational programs,
and identifying the various demands and implications of college
life. Services are provided individually, and in groups.
Services such as psychological testing, clinical diagnosis and
treatment, psychotherapy or family therapy are not provided by the
college. Should a student require assistance beyond the scope of
college counseling services, referrals are made to appropriate community
agencies.
The counseling staff utilizes the ethical standards of recognized
professional organizations. Accordingly, each individual’s
right to privacy is maintained.
To make an appointment to see a counselor, contact the Counseling
Services secretary in Frost 233 or call 413-522-2232.
The HCC Counseling Staff maintains strong ties with community
mental health agencies and refers students for
assistance with problems that are outside the scope of college counseling.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Counseling contacts are confidential. This means that any information,
feelings, or opinions that you share with your counselor is kept
strictly private and will not be revealed to others without your
prior written permission.
However, according to state law, there are several exceptions to
this principle of confidentiality of which you should be aware.
These exceptions include the intent to harm yourself or others,
child or elder abuse or neglect, and certain court ordered information.
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HOW TO CONTACT US
STUDENT SELF-REFERRALS
•What services
do counselors provide?
•What are some of
the reasons why students come to see a counselor?
•What should I
do if I decide I want to see a counselor?
•Do I need to tell
the person making the appointment why I want to talk to the counselor?
•Do I have to pay
for this service?
What services do counselors provide?
Counselors can help with a variety of concerns, such as:
•Academic counseling
•Personal counseling
•Time management and study skills assistance
•Assessment of learning styles
•Career counseling and exploration of career paths
•Strategies for personal growth and development
•Adjustment to life crises
What are some of the reasons why students come to see
a counselor?
There are lots of reasons why a student may wish to speak with
a counselor. Some of the personal reasons for seeing a counselor
are:
•Declining interest in activities or in socializing with
others
•Inability to concentrate; reduced ability to cope with stress
•Self-deprecation or blame; exaggerated feeling of guilt
•Behavior that is troublesome to self or others, such as increased
use of alcohol or other substances
•Relationship problems
•Preoccupation with food, excessive exercise or other problems
related to food and eating
•Excessive fears or unusual anxiety
•Excessive absences from classes or failing grades
•Inability to organize and prepare assignments.
What should I do if I decide I want
to see a counselor?
Counseling Services are located in FR 233. Walk-in services are
usually available for situations that require immediate attention.
However, an appointment is preferable.
Students may come by the office to make an appointment or call
552-2232. An appointment can usually be scheduled within a few days.
Do I need to tell the person making
the appointment why I want to talk to the counselor?
No, but the secretary may ask you if it is for a specific problem,
such as withdrawal, class scheduling or a personal issue in order
to allot the amount of time needed for the appointment. You may
just say that you wish to talk to the counselor in person to explain
your need. If the situation is urgent, please let the secretary
know that.
Do I have to pay for this service?
No, there is no extra fee charged for Counseling Services on campus.
However, Counseling Services can provide only short-term intervention.
If long-term psychotherapy is needed, the counselor can help you
find a therapist in the community who can accept payment through
your health insurance or who offers a payment schedule based on
your income.
Link to Counseling Staff
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FACULTY REFERRAL
•What services
do counselors provide?
•What are some
of the reasons for referring a student to Counseling Services?
•How should I
approach a student about seeing a counselor?
•What should
I do when a student’s behavior disrupts the class?
What services do counselors provide?
Counselors can help with a variety of concerns, such as:
•Academic counseling
•Personal counseling
•Time management and study skills assistance
•Assessment of learning styles
•Career counseling and exploration of career paths
•Strategies for personal growth and development
•Adjustment to life crises
What are some of the reasons for
referring a student to Counseling Services?
There are lots of reasons why you might suggest a student see a
counselor, including:
•Declining interest in activities or in socializing with
others
•Inability to concentrate; reduced ability to cope with stress
•Self-deprecation or blame; exaggerated feeling of guilt
•Behavior that is troublesome to the student or others, such
as increased use of alcohol or other substances
•Relationship problems
•Preoccupation with food, excessive exercise or other problems
related to food and eating
•Excessive fears or unusual anxiety
•Excessive absences from classes or failing grades
•Inability to organize and prepare assignments.
How should I approach a student
about seeing a counselor?
•Always address your concerns with the student in private.
•Let the student know your intent is to help her/him achieve
success in college.
•Show genuine human interest while sharing your specific concerns
about the student’s actions or reactions in class.
•Contact Counseling Services and ask to speak with one of
the counselors ahead of time, if desired, to discuss a strategy
for approaching a student.
•You may be able to facilitate the referral by encouraging
the student to call for an appointment while in your office. Sometimes
it is less threatening to the student if the instructor calls to
see if a counselor is available, and then walks over to the counselor’s
office with the student.
•The student can call one of the counselors directly or contact
Counseling Services in FR224 (ext. 2232) to make an appointment.
•Walk-in services are usually available for situations that
require immediate attention. However, an appointment is preferable.
•Keep in mind, a student may not act immediately on your suggestion.
S/he may need time to think about making an appointment. If the
situation does not appear critical, gently inquire about the situation
later.
What should I do when a student’s behavior disrupts
the class?
•Inappropriate behavior can be distracting for the instructor
and students. Students need to be informed of what is expected of
them in the classroom. It is advisable for faculty members to clearly
inform students of behavioral expectations at the beginning of the
semester.
•If a problem arises, speak to the student privately after
class.
•When the problem persists, refer to the Student Discipline
Policy in the HCC Policy Guide.
•In cases requiring immediate action for safety, request assistance
from Campus Police at ext. 2211 or by pressing “0”.
•If you are not sure if a problem is a disciplinary or counseling
issue, please contact us to discuss the situation.
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COUNSELING STAFF
Counseling Services is located in FR 224, (ext. 2232). The office
is open
Monday through Friday, 8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Evening appointments are also available upon request.
The Counseling Staff is a team of people with diverse backgrounds
and interests who are ready to help in whatever ways they can.
Kathleen Keough
Karen Fagan Riedl
Jossie Valentín
KATHLEEN KEOUGH
FROST 238 – 413-552-2375 – kkeough@hcc.edu
Hello.
I join with the HCC administration, faculty and staff in offering
you the services you need to reach your academic and personal goals.
I look forward to supporting and empowering you to meet any obstacle
that may get in the way of your academic success. The experience
I bring to HCC comes for many years of walking with and supporting
students of all ages in meeting the challenges they face in reaching
their personal and professional goals. Six of the best years of
my professional life were spent working with students at the Newman
Center at UMASS Amherst. I have also worked for many years as a
counselor in the field of behavioral health. I join with my colleagues
at HCC in offering you the support you may need to make your community
college experience a positive one. Please stop by Frost 238 and
say hello. I look forward to meeting you.
EDUCATION AND LICENSURE
•Bachelor of Arts, Elms College, Chicopee, MA
•Master of Religious Education (MRE), Seattle University,
Seattle, WA
•Master of Social Work (MSW), Boston College Graduate School
of Social Work, Chestnut Hill, MA
•Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), MA
KAREN FAGAN RIEDL
FROST 234 – 413-552-2786 – kriedl@hcc.edu
Hi, and welcome to the Counseling Services web site.
My name is Karen, and I have been at HCC as an adjunct faculty member
since 1993 and as a counselor since January, 2000. Prior to coming
to HCC, I worked at the Massachusetts Department of Social Services
and a variety of health care agencies as a clinical social worker.
My greatest satisfaction comes from working with students to help
them figure out the best ways that they can succeed in college and
life by using their challenges as assets instead of barriers. I
am particularly interested in working with survivors of abuse and
violence, and military Veterans and their families. Stop by to say
hello or to chat about anything that is on your mind. I’d
also like to hear your ideas about how we can make HCC a better
place to grow and learn.
EDUCATION AND LICENSURE
•Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing Therapy, University
of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
•Master of Arts in Education (MAE) in Counseling, East Carolina
University, Greenville, NC
•Master of Social Work (MSW), University of Connecticut School
of Social Work, West Hartford, CT
•Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), MA
JOSSIE VALENTIN
FROST 236 – 413-552-2829 – jvalentin@hcc.edu
Hola! My name is Jossie and I joined the HCC Counseling Services
department in April 2006. Some of my previous work experiences include
working at the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow, MA
and in a substance abuse residential treatment setting. I am originally
from Puerto Rico and am fully bilingual in English and Spanish.
I meet many of our Spanish speaking HCC students through the language
and culture that we share. My background in substance abuse work
has allowed me to meet with many of our students who are struggling
with alcohol and/or drug addiction and assist them in making some
changes in their lives. After all, my goal is to assist all HCC
students throughout their academic and personal journey in college.
Come by and see me so we can talk about how your time at HCC can
offer you some benefits that you might not know about yet!
EDUCATION AND LICENSURE
•Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Puerto Rico,
San Juan, PR
•Master of Science (MS) in Forensic Psychology, American International
College, Springfield, MA
•Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC), MA
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SELF HELP
Pamphlets:
The link below will take you to the University of Chicago’s
website containing an extensive library of studies and reading material
on a number of subjects relating to academic, personal and mental
health issues. Some of the topics include study problems, time management,
relationship issues, anxiety, substance abuse, and depression, just
to name a few.
However, it should be noted that the material provided should only
be taken as a suggestion and does not replace qualified professional
help. If after reading this material you feel you need professional
assistance, please contact our Counseling Staff.
HCC takes no responsibility for damages caused by the use or misuse
of this information. By clicking this link, you agree to this.
http://www.dr-bob.org/vpc/
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Online Mental Health Resources
National
Mental Health Screenings
This website offers screening tools for several mental
health concerns including depression, anxiety, eating disorders,
and alcohol use/abuse: To access the screenings, use the keyword,
hccscreenings. If the screening identifies any areas of concern,
contact Counseling Services for assistance in seeking support and
treatment. Please note that HCC has no control over the content
and use of this website.
Active Minds
Active Minds is a national organization dedicated to reducing
the stigma of mental illness on college campuses. It supports student-run
mental health awareness, education and advocacy.
Ulifeline
A program of the Jed Foundation, Ulifeline is an anonymous,
confidential, online resource center dedicated to providing college
students with information about mental health and suicide prevention.
Revolution Online
College Mental Health Fair
This website has the latest information on mental health
resources sponsored by 10 national mental health organizations.
Half of Us
This site has mental health resources for college students
featuring videos of real people.
Campus Blues
A site for social networking and informational resources
to foster mental health.
MassResources
A free online resource for Massachusetts residents in need
of housing, food, health care, and other basic services.
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