Whether it is the anxiety that
comes from writing a ten-page pa-
per, or the stress that comes from
speaking in front of the class,
college has many ways of putting
the average student on edge. And
for some, this can take a real toll
on their health and state of mind.
But not to worry, because
there is a great place that lends
a helping hand to students who
find it hard getting back on their
feet by themselves. And that place
is none other than Bucks’ own
Counseling Service Center!
It’s not an understatement to
say that the counseling services
provided here are a great way for
a student to unload on their prob-
lems, because that’s exactly what
they are meant to do. Still, taking
that first step can be hard for some
students, but rest assured there’s
nothing to be afraid of.
“We welcome everybody,” said
Dekia Smith, director of the coun-
seling services, whose job it is
to oversee the services and make
sure that services are provided.
She adds that it is about “making
a connection,” to establish an
environment where students and
counselors can talk like friends
and be open with one another, as
she went on to describe some of
the services provided here.
One of the services Smith
described was personal counsel-
ing, in which students can talk
about their personal problems and
help find ways to overcome their
situations. She also mentions that
this type of service branches into
services called Crisis Intervention
and Liaison to Faculty.
Crisis Intervention deals with
more severe issues, issues consid-
ered taboo such as drug abuse and
even self-harm. Liaison to Faculty
deals with problems a student
might be having with a professor,
sometimes leading to an interven-
tion between the two so that both
can resolve their issues and find
ways to better handle each other.
Other services described by
Smith are the career counseling
services which includes aiding the
student in choosing a major and
conducting job searches. There
is another service that is not just
for students, but for the entire
community, called Encore.
What Encore does is pro-
vide support for those looking
to change their careers, those
looking to retrain themselves, or
those hoping to get back into the
workforce. Services provided here
include job hunting tips, resume
writing, interview preparation,
and many more.
There are many more services
provided, so if you or anyone you
know would like to schedule an
appointment with a counselor, you
can call 215-968-8189 or send an
email to [email protected],
or you can drop in at the office,
located near the Rollins Center at
the bottom of the stairs where the
cafeteria is located.
You can also visit the webpage
at www.bucks.edu/resources/
counseling, which not only
provides the service schedule,
but also has a list of emergency
hotlines that can be viewed by
clicking on the sub-menu. And
remember: it’s all confidential!