Supporting students and their mental health is what Director of Student Counseling and Supportive Services Matthew West, LPCC-S does best. West recently took some time to talk about the counseling staff and its services.

Wittenberg: What does the Counseling Center do on a day-to-day basis, and what services are typically offered in the Counseling Center?

West: The Counseling Center handles all on-campus referrals for general mental health issues, problems, and consultations. Daily, we answer all student inquiries on getting access to mental health counseling. Most of our students contact the center via email and by calling the front desk. All students are contacted within the following business day of their first connection and are booked with a counselor for a consultation sometime within a week. The counselors are all trained and capable of working with students that are experiencing anxiety, mood disorders, relationship issues, trauma, combating stress, and other general mental health concerns.

Wittenberg: Regarding the college students on this campus, what do you believe to be the state of mental health here for a typical student?

West: Most of the students that we serve in the Counseling Center are dealing with high amounts of anxiety and stress. Typical issues relate to homesickness, performance anxiety in athletics or academics, navigating new relationships in residential settings, economic difficulties, limited emotional supports, and dealing with disconnection because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Wittenberg: How does COVID-19 correlate with mental health? Have you seen a spike of mental health cases because of it?  

West: Yes, I believe that COVID-19 has had a strong correlation with affecting the daily lives of our students. Students are struggling with limited emotional support and resources, missing important milestones to their emotional development and problem-solving skills during low access to social connections because of limited in-person outlets/activities, unknowns about their immediate future, and grief. All the students have experienced some type of loss over the past two years.  

Wittenberg: What can you say about the staff and the environment of the Counseling Center?

West: I am very proud of the staff that we have at the Counseling Center. The team is open, curious, compassionate, and often express high satisfaction in the experiences of working with the student population at Wittenberg. They meet the student where they are at emotionally and are flexible in adapting to the student's genuine experience and needs.

Wittenberg: Lastly, do you have any messages for students who may be curious or afraid to come to the Counseling Center?

West: The Counseling Center prides itself in responding to student inquiries in a timely manner. We work hard in making sure students feel seen and heard, and if we are not able to help them directly with their individual need, we will make sure they are given other mental health service referrals as options. We can provide both in-person and telehealth services, depending on the student's preference. We saw 145 different students in the Counseling Center during fall semester 2021 for a variety of issues - some situational and brief and others more chronic. I believe students would be surprised about the number of fellow students who use the center. Accessing the center is a good opportunity for a student to take some time to attend to their mental wellness during challenging moments on their college journey.

For more information, visit the Tiger Counseling Services web page or email counseling@wittenberg.edu or call 937-327-7946. The Tiger Counseling Center provides individual, couples, and group counseling, as well as crisis services, consultation, and referrals. Offered to currently enrolled Wittenberg students, all services are provided at no charge.

Story put together by Zora G. Shakhan, University Communications