Christopher Beckman: Still Clean

Please come or refer students to come.

Catapulted into the national spotlight when he was only 24, artist and former Ralph Lauren model Christopher Beckman’s substance abuse and his homosexuality were tabloid fodder during his stint on MTV’s Real World Chicago. Sober for 12 years now, Beckman will lead a workshop candidly discussing his struggles with addiction, his recovery, and how he deals with the “real world” today in an environment constantly surrounded by temptation. He will share his story—documented in his book Clean: A New Generation in Recovery Speaks Out—and share insights into his future projects, including the book’s sequel, Still Clean.

This workshop will be of great benefit to anyone wanting to better understand addictions and counseling of those in recovery. With ample time for Q&A, this is one of several activities scheduled during Beckman’s April visit to IUP.

When:

• Monday, April 1
• 5:15–6:15 p.m.

Where:

• Room G60, Center for Health and Well Being (across from Folger; go in the main entrance and turn left, or ask at the front desk)

Presented by: Christopher Beckman

Attendance slips for extra credit (if needed for various classes) are available.

Counseling Center

Come out for lunch with us and enjoy a wide variety of low-priced homemade soups and baked goods, or just take a look at our assortment of handmade pottery that will be available for purchase. Additionally, we will be celebrating National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and will have a variety of educational materials on eating disorders and other mental health issues available for you to take with you. We hope to see you there.

Counseling Center 

Please come or refer students to come.

We all need sleep, but sometimes it gets neglected. Restful sleep is as important as diet and exercise, and is essential for maintaining good health, energy, learning, and memory. Come to this workshop to discuss common sleeping problems and learn new ways to get your zzzs.

• When: March 13
  5:15–6:15 p.m.
• Where: Room G60, Center for Health and Well Being
  (across from Folger; go in the main entrance and turn left—or ask at the front desk!)

Presented by: Beth Kincade, Ph.D. and Kate Sowder, M.A.

Attendance slips for extra credit (if needed for various classes) are available.

Counseling Center 

Daniel Barbezat, director of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society and professor of Economics at Amherst College, presented at the workshop.

Barbezat discussed and demonstrated methods faculty and staff can use to infuse contemplative inquiry and experiences into classrooms and other venues. He also stressed the importance of the residential campus as a whole to create and sustain an environment where students can find opportunities to cultivate important, and complementary, reflective and introspective modes of learning. About 45 faculty and staff from a variety of disciplines attended the workshop.

The Mindfulness Living Learning Community (MLLC) began in Spring 2012 and is a cocurricular learning community initiative on campus. It includes faculty, students, and staff members and is committed to providing opportunities for students at IUP to learn basic mindfulness or contemplative skills in order to deepen their capacity for insight and reflection, reduce stress, increase positive feelings, and cultivate a more compassionate attitude towards the world and those around them. For more information about the MLLC and scheduled contemplative activities and events, please visit the Mindfulness Living Learning Community website.

Finding stillness in a distracting world creates a space that is at the core of profound learning and insight. Contemplative practice sharpens concentration to the present moment, deepens a sense of presence, and builds compassion towards others. In this workshop, we will examine together how the whole educational institution can be creating, supporting, and sustaining environments that provide the tools to support students’ ongoing inquiry into meaning, purpose, and values.

Featuring: Dr. Daniel Barbezat

Daniel Barbezat, Ph.D. is professor of economics at Amherst College and director of the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. He has been a visiting professor at Northwestern University and Yale University and has taught in the summer program at Harvard University. In 2004, he won the J. T. Hughes Prize for Excellence in Teaching Economic History from the Economic History Association. Over the past decade, he has become interested in how self-awareness and introspection can be used in higher education and economic decision-making. He has developed courses that integrate contemplative exercises designed to enable students to gain deeper understanding and insight. His approach to these economic classes has been featured in the Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, and on the NPR program Here & Now.

Date:

Friday, March 1, 2013

Time:

8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Location:

Crimson Event Center, Folger Dining Hall

The weekend events will begin with a vegetarian potluck at 5:00 p.m. followed by a public talk on “Meditation: Key to Self-Awareness and Compassion” by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche. In three sessions on Saturday (10:30–noon and 3:30–5:00 p.m.) and Sunday (10:30–noon), he will provide an in-depth teaching on the Four Immeasurables of loving kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity. The weekend will end on Sunday afternoon with the Refuge Vow and Chenrezig Empowerment ceremonies at 4:00 p.m.

All events will take place at the Co-op College Lodge, located at 239 College Lodge Road, Indiana PA 15701. The Friday potluck is free and open to the public. If you wish to attend the potluck, bring a vegetarian dish to share and rsvp to registration@indianacountyktc.org. Tickets will be sold at the door. To preregister, contact registration@indianacountyktc.org. Attendance vouchers will be available for IUP students.

Registration fees for events are:

• Friday Public Talk: $15 general admission or $10 for I-Card holders and seniors
• Teaching Sessions on Saturday and Sunday: General admission
  • $15/session or $40 for all sessions
  • I-card holders or seniors: $10/session or $25 for all sessions
• Refuge Vow and Chenrezig Empowerment Ceremonies: $15

Refuge is a prerequisite for the empowerment on Sunday afternoon. Refuge is a first step on the Buddhist path to enlightenment. The ceremony of the Chenrezig empowerment is given as a blessing and invokes Chenrezig, who is the embodiment of limitless compassion. For those interested in taking refuge, please contact registration@indianacountyktc.org.

Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche is currently the abbot of Karma Triyana Dharmachackra, one of the main Tibetan monasteries in the U.S. Ordained as a monk at the age of 12 at Thrangu Monastery in eastern Tibet, he is one of the few Tibetan scholars that have received the highest levels of training in Tibetan Buddhism. Due to the political situation in Tibet in the late 1950s, he fled his homeland in 1959 through the Himalayas to Bhutan and eventually India. In the following years, he resided at monasteries in Bhutan and India, where he provided teachings and support for Tibetan refugee communities. In 1975, His Holiness the 16th Karmapa acknowledged Rinpoche’s attainment with the title Choje Lama (Superior Dharma Master). At the request of His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, Khenpo Rinpoche immigrated to the U.S. in 1976 to establish and guide the development of Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, located near Woodstock, N.Y. After more than 40 years of teaching on Tibetan Buddhist topics, Khenpo Rinpoche has a prolific body of work published in Chinese and English, as well as dozens of teachings that have been published in Densal magazine and transcripts by KTD’s Namse Bagdzo Bookstore. At age 89, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche still maintains a rigorous international teaching schedule. (See a more extensive biography and list of publications.)

Sponsored by the IUP student organization Friends of Himalayan Buddhism and Karma Thegsum Choling of Indiana (local Tibetan meditation center) and supported by the IUP Mindfulness Living and Learning Community.

For more information, contact registration@indianacountyktc.org or call 724-349-9426.

IUP Counseling Center 

Please come or refer students to come.

This thought-provoking, interactive workshop for women focuses on examining various sexual encounters experienced by college women that are not commonly discussed in traditional sex education. Attendees will have a chance to learn more about hookup culture on college campuses as well as hear the perspectives of other women on the subject. The workshop will discuss the impact of gender and socialization on various types of sexual encounters and give women the opportunity to ask questions about the experience of hooking up and hanging out while at college. It will also give women the opportunity to learn about sexual empowerment and think about what that means for them..

When: Thursday, February 28

5:15–6:15 p.m.

Where: Room G60, Center for Health and Well Being

(across from Folger; go in the main entrance and turn left . . . or ask at the front desk!)

Presented by: Samantha Sciarrillo, M.A. and Becky Pearlson, M.A.

Attendance slips for extra credit (if needed for various classes) are available.

See what’s coming next . . . more information about our workshop series can be found on the Spring 2013 Counseling Center Workshops schedule.

According to the article, we all can be “natural helpers” in our relationships with students. Through both their counseling and teaching experience, Myers and Rosenberger know the importance of “natural helpers”—those outside professional counseling roles who are important resources to students who find themselves in distress. The article demonstrates that natural helpers can learn the basic set of skills widely considered important for helping students in need.

If interested in learning more about this article, please contact the authors.

Attendance vouchers will be provided in case you would like to offer extra credit to students who attend.

Wednesday, February 13

Health at Every Size: Accepting and Loving Our Bodies

Have you ever felt frustrated about being on a diet? Do you ever feel like you are negatively evaluated due to your weight? Are you interested in improving your body image? This workshop will be both psycho-educational and interactive and will discuss dieting myths, the thinness ideal, and the tenets of the Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective. Come and learn more about HAES, which celebrates size diversity and advocates that being healthy does not necessary mean being thin.

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East G 60
• Ashley Kasardo, M.A., and Becky Pearlson, M.A.

Thursday, February 28

Beyond High School Sex Ed: Actually Talking About Sex for Women

This thought-provoking, interactive workshop for women focuses on examining various sexual encounters experienced by college students that are not commonly discussed in traditional sex education. Attendees will have a chance to learn more about hookup culture on college campuses as well as hear the perspectives of other students on the subject. The workshop will discuss the impact of gender and socialization on various types of sexual encounters and give students the opportunity to ask questions about the experience of hooking up and hanging out while at college. It will also give women the opportunity to learn about sexual empowerment and think about what that means for them.

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East G 60
• Becky Pearlson, M.A., and Samantha Sciarrillo, M.A.

Wednesday, March 13

Sleep: It Does a Body Good

We all need sleep, but sometimes it gets neglected. Restful sleep is as important as diet and exercise, and is essential for maintaining good health, energy, learning, and memory. Come to this workshop to discuss common sleeping problems and learn new ways to get your zzzs.

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East G 60
• Beth Kincade, Ph.D., and Kate Sowder, M.A.

Monday, April 1

Christopher Beckman: Still Clean

Catapulted into the national spotlight when he was only 24, artist and former Ralph Lauren model Christopher Beckman’s substance abuse and his homosexuality were tabloid fodder during his stint on MTV’s Real World Chicago. Sober for 12 years now, Beckman will lead a workshop candidly discussing his struggles with addiction, his recovery, and how he deals with the “real world” today in an environment constantly surrounded by temptation. He will share his story—documented in his book Clean: A New Generation in Recovery Speaks Out—and share insights into his future projects, including the book’s sequel, Still Clean. This workshop will be of great benefit to anyone wanting to better understand addictions and counseling of those in recovery. With ample time for Q&A, this is one of several activities scheduled during Beckman’s April visit to IUP.

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East G 60
• Chris Beckman

Tuesday, April 2

What is Mindfulness, Anyway?

This workshop will be an introduction to the benefits of the practice of mindful awareness, or mindfulness. This is an age-old practice which can help quiet and stabilize the mind, reduce stress, increase the capacity for happiness, and help one be more connected to life in the moment. This practice helps us achieve a new perspective on ourselves and the world through direct experience and can expand our insight into a greater meaning and purpose for our lives. Now, how can you not be curious about that!

• 5:00–6:00 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East G 18
• Kim Weiner, Ph.D.

Wednesday, April 24

Going Home for the Summer

As the academic year comes to a close, many students have mixed feelings about spending the summer at home. The transition from college life to living at home can be stressful. If you think this might be true for you and/or your family members, come and learn about some of the ways that you might prepare for this change and manage the stress of straddling your life at college and your life at home.

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East G 60
• Rita Drapkin, Ph.D.

Thursday, May 2

Got Stress?

It seems as if everyone is dealing with some form of stress. Learn the most common sources of stress for college students and tools for effectively dealing with stress. Workshop includes mindful medication skills and resources available on campus.

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East G 60
• Dave Myers, Ph.D., and Janessa Nowlen, M.A.

Please come or refer students to come.

Do you ever feel like you are negatively evaluated due to your weight? Are you interested in improving your body image? This workshop will be both psycho-educational and interactive and will discuss dieting myths, the thinness ideal, and the tenets of the Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective. Come and learn more about HAES, which celebrates size diversity and advocates that being healthy does not necessary mean being thin.

• When: February 13
  5:15–6:15 p.m.
• Where: Room G60, Center for Health and Well Being
  (across from Folger; go in the main entrance and turn left, or ask at the front desk)
• Presented by: Ashley Kasardo, M.A., and Becky Pearlson, M.A.

The workshop will include information, interactive activities, and discussion, as well as tips for achieving and maintaining a positive body image.

Attendance slips for extra credit (if needed for various classes) are available.

Counseling Center

The counseling, support, and growth groups listed below are offered at the Counseling Center in G31, Suites on Maple East. These groups usually include five to eight students and are facilitated by one or two of our therapists.

Group facilitators work to provide a safe, confidential environment where members are free to discuss their thoughts, feelings, and concerns as they are comfortable. Participation in these groups requires an initial meeting with the group facilitator(s), usually 30-45 minutes. To schedule this meeting or to ask questions: contact the Counseling Center at (724) 357-2621, stop by G31 Suites on Maple East, e-mail the group leaders (see below) or contact Patti Shaffer at pshaffer@iup.edu. All groups have openings at the start of the semester, but will close to new members after the first group meeting.

Body Image Group

Wednesdays 11:00 a.m.–noon

This support-based group is for female students. Likely topics of discussion include frustrations about dieting and dieting myths, being negatively evaluated due to weight, societal pressures of the thinness ideal, and improving body image. This group will be a safe place to discuss body image concerns and explore how these concerns are influencing self-esteem and interpersonal relationships. This group will focus on improving self-acceptance.

Facilitated by Ashley Kasardo, M.A. (gfvq@iup.edu) and Becky Pearlson, M.A. (wgvq@iup.edu)

Graduate Student Group

Tuesdays 3:15–4:30 p.m.

A support-oriented group, topics of discussion are likely to include the demands of graduate study, anxieties about competition and career, self-care and coping, support for writing a thesis or dissertation, student/faculty relationships and boundaries, and healthy interpersonal relating within the stressful context of graduate study.

Facilitated by Rita Drapkin, Ph.D. (rdrapkin@iup.edu) and Janessa Nowlen, M.A. (qhpr@iup.edu)

Interpersonal Group

Wednesdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.

This co-ed student group will focus on relationships (family, friends, dating, and professional). Loneliness, lack of confidence in social settings, self-esteem concerns, and anxiety may also be discussed. Members often learn to be more comfortable with themselves and more confident interacting with others. This group is a safe place to explore how current interpersonal styles may be affecting relationships.

Facilitated by Dave Myers, Ph.D. (dmyers@iup.edu) and Kate Sowder, M.A (k.l.sowder@iup.edu)

Men’s Group

Wednesdays 10:00–11:00 a.m.

This group is for male students who would like to explore what it means to be a college-aged man. Developing and holding onto healthy friendships and relationships, family issues, societal expectations, and dealing with societal pressures are themes that are likely to be discussed in this group. This will be a small group (up to six members), with a focus on self-awareness and personal change.

Facilitated by Michael Lute, M.A. (fhvq@iup.edu) and Laura Gilman, M.A. (sgpr@iup.edu)

Mindfulness Group

Wednesdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.

Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention in the present moment, on purpose, without judgment. Scientific research has demonstrated that this practice can improve concentration, help control negative emotions, and increase positive emotions. Students in this group will learn basic mindfulness and meditation practices. It is ideal for students who struggle with anxiety, procrastination, moodiness, and can help increase a sense of well being.

Facilitated by Kim Weiner, Ph.D. (kweiner@iup.edu) and Rachel Posner, M.A. (djpr@iup.edu)

Not Just Straight Group

Thursdays 2:30–3:30 p.m.

Whether you are out, questioning, or not even sure, this group is for LGBTQA students to confidentially discuss and explore aspects of gender identity and sexual orientation. The group is support-based and is designed to encourage open discussion about coming out, sexuality, gender, relationships, family, community, and other areas of your life that may be difficult to discuss elsewhere.

Facilitated by Tom Wahlund, M.A. (hfvq@iup.edu) and Samantha Sciarrillo, M.A. (pjpr@iup.edu)

Women’s Group

Time to be determined

Finding Our Way: This group is for six to eight female IUP students. It is a place for women to discuss common concerns about such things as academics, relationships, families, body image, self-esteem, and other common concerns with a focus on self-awareness and change.

Facilitated by Beth Kincade, Ph.D. (ekincade@iup.edu)

The Counseling Center recognizes that figuring out adulthood can be difficult and college life can be stressful. We help IUP students explore options, learn new personal and interpersonal skills, grow personally, and address ongoing issues.

Students can use our walk-in hours or can make an appointment. Students who have previously seen a counselor and wish to continue services should contact the Counseling Center as soon as possible. Check the Counseling Center website for more information.

All workshops will take place at the Center for Health and Well-Being (CHWB), at the Suites on Maple East. For more information, call the Counseling Center at 724-357-2621.

Healthy Relationships and Boundaries

Wednesday September 26

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East, G-60
• Eric Rosenberger, Ph.D.
• Looking to improve your relationships? Feeling isolated, alone, or left out? Ever wonder how to build trust, or how to better protect yourself from being hurt by others? Looking for deeper or more intimate connections? In this workshop, we will discuss different kinds of relationships, healthy ways to connect with others, and the self-protective purpose of boundaries in relationships.

Health at Every Size: Accepting and Loving Our Bodies

Wednesday October 3

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East, G-60
• Ashley Kasardo, M.A. and Becky Pearlson, M.A.
• Have you ever felt frustrated about being on a diet? Do you ever feel like you are negatively evaluated due to your weight? Are you interested in improving your body image? This workshop will be both psycho-educational and interactive and will discuss dieting myths, the thinness ideal, and the tenets of the Health at Every Size (HAES) perspective. Come and learn more about HAES, which celebrates size diversity and advocates that being healthy does not necessary mean being thin.

What is Mindfulness, anyway?

Wednesday October 10

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East, 402
• Kim Weiner, Ph.D. and Kate Sowder, M.A.
  
• This workshop will be an introduction to the benefits of the practice of mindful awareness, or mindfulness. This is an age-old practice which can help quiet and stabilize the mind, reduce stress, increase the capacity for happiness, and help one be more connected to life in the moment. This practice helps us achieve a new perspective on ourselves and the world through direct experience, and can expand our insight into a greater meaning and purpose for our lives. Now, how can you not be curious about that!

Got Stress?

Wednesday October 17

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East, G-60
• Dave Myers, Ph.D. and Mike Robb, M.A.
• It seems as if everyone is dealing with some form of stress. Learn the most common sources of stress for college students and tools for effectively dealing with stress. Workshop includes mindful meditation skills and resources available on campus.

What is Mindfulness, anyway?

Wednesday November 7

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East, 402
• Kim Weiner, Ph.D. and Laura Gilman, M.A.
  
• This workshop will be an introduction to the benefits of the practice of mindful awareness, or mindfulness. This is an age-old practice which can help quiet and stabilize the mind, reduce stress, increase the capacity for happiness, and help one be more connected to life in the moment. This practice helps us achieve a new perspective on ourselves and the world through direct experience, and can expand our insight into a greater meaning and purpose for our lives. Now, how can you not be curious about that!

Home for the Holidays

Wednesday November 14

• 5:15–6:15 p.m.
• CHWB/Suites on Maple East, G-60
• Rita Drapkin, Ph.D.
• As the semester winds down, we head toward Thanksgiving break and then the long semester break. For many students, the transition from life at college to life back home is stressful. If you think this might be true for you and/or for your family members, come and learn about some of the ways that you might prepare for these visits and manage the stress of straddling your life at college and your life at home.

Participation in these groups requires an initial meeting with the group facilitator(s), usually 30–45 minutes. To schedule this meeting or to ask questions: contact the Counseling Center at 724-357-2621, stop by G31 Suites on Maple East, e-mail the group leaders, or contact Patti Shaffer at pshaffer@iup.edu.

The following groups have openings, but will close to new members after the first group meeting. See below for dates and times:

Graduate Student Group

• Tuesdays 3:15–4:30 p.m.
• A support-oriented group, topics of discussion are likely to include the demands of graduate study, anxieties about competition and career, self-care and coping, support for writing a thesis or dissertation, student/faculty relationships and boundaries, and healthy interpersonal relating within the stressful context of graduate study.
• Facilitated by Rita Drapkin, Ph.D. (rdrapkin@iup.edu) and Ashley Kasardo, M.A. (gfvq@iup.edu)

Interpersonal Group

• Wednesdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.
• This co-ed student group will focus on relationships (family, friends, dating, and professional). Loneliness, lack of confidence in social settings, self-esteem concerns, and anxiety may also be discussed. Members often learn to be more comfortable with themselves and more confident interacting with others. This group is a safe place to explore how current interpersonal styles may be affecting relationships.
• Facilitated by Dave Myers, Ph.D. (dmyers@iup.edu) and Kate Sowder, M.A (k.l.sowder@iup.edu)

Men’s Group

• Fridays 10:00–11:00 a.m.
• This group is for male students who would like to explore what it means to be a college-aged man. Developing and holding onto healthy friendships and relationships, family issues, societal expectations, and dealing with societal pressures are themes that are likely to be discussed in this group. This will be a small group (up to six members), with a focus on self-awareness and personal change.
• Facilitated by Michael Lute, M.A. (fhvq@iup.edu) and Eric Rosenberger, Ph.D. (rosey@iup.edu)

Not Just Straight Group

• Mondays 4:00–5:00 p.m.
• Whether you are out, questioning, or not even sure, this group is for LGBTQA students to confidentially discuss and explore aspects of gender identity and sexual orientation. The group is support-based and is designed to encourage open discussion about coming out, sexuality, gender, relationships, family, community, and other areas of your life that may be difficult to discuss elsewhere.
• Facilitated by Tom Wahlund, M.A. (hfvq@iup.edu) and Becky Pearlson, M.A. (wgvq@iup.edu)

Women’s Group

• Time to be determined
• Finding Our Way: This group is for six to eight female IUP students. It is a place for women to discuss common concerns about such things as academics, relationships, families, body image, self-esteem, and other common concerns with a focus on self-awareness and change.
• Facilitated by Beth Kincade, Ph.D. (ekincade@iup.edu)

IUP Counseling Center

We have six faculty members who are licensed psychologists and experts in college student psychological, psycho-social, and developmental concerns. The Center offers individual and group counseling to students as well as consultation to faculty and staff regarding student issues and concerns.

Throughout the year, we offer short workshops open to the entire IUP community. We are looking forward to offering a vibrant series of workshops this year, including (but not limited to) mindfulness, stress and relaxation, body image concerns, and others of interest to the community. The faculty and trainees of the Counseling Center are also available to present on psychological and psycho-social issues in classrooms and other venues. For students who are interested in mental health awareness, we have a highly regarded chapter of the national student organization, ActiveMinds.

If you are interested in finding out more about us, how to meet with our psychologists/therapists, or just want to check us out, please visit the Counseling Center website, or call us at 724-357-2621. Feel free to refer students, friends, and family to our website for information about the Counseling Center as well as for updated schedules for group counseling and workshops. And, make sure to view our video and browse through our self-help materials.

The center is open on Wednesday for administrative purposes only.

Students can make appointments by calling (724) 357-2621 or stopping by G-31 Suites on Maple East.

We are living in a culture which bombards us with continuous distractions and promotes multitasking and digital communication. How is this affecting our ability to manage stress, regulate our emotions, and develop relationships? Learn why neuroscience is telling us that meditation is good for our brains and our health. The workshop will include learning basic mindful meditation skills.

For more information, e-mail Kim Weiner (kweiner@iup.edu).

Future Workshops Include:

• April 3: Grief and Loss, 5:30–6:30 p.m., in Room G60, Suites on Maple East
  
  Many college students experience a significant loss while they are in college, whether it’s a break up, the loss of a friendship, or the death of someone they know. Come and learn more about the process of loss and grief to help you better understand your own or others’ experiences in dealing with this life experience.
• April 11: Relationships 101, 5:00–6:00 p.m., in Room G60, Suites on Maple East
  
  Do you have trouble communicating with the important people in your life? Are you confused by what others want from you? Relationships 101 involves communication skill building, determining expectations and boundaries, and learning about individual communication styles. Learn the skills to build healthy relationships and the red flags for unhealthy relationships.
• April 25: Got Stress?, 6:00–7:00 p.m., in Room G60, Suites on Maple East
  
  It seems as if everyone is dealing with some form of stress. Learn the most common sources of stress for college students and the tools for effectively dealing with stress. The workshop includes mindful meditation skills and resources available on campus.

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center at the Center for Health and Well-Being is offering a series of workshops to talk about issues that commonly affect college students.

The workshops will cover a variety of topics. You are not required to attend all of the workshops. Attendance vouchers will be provided.

For more information about any of these workshops, e-mail Eric Rosenberger (rosey@iup.edu).

Future workshops include:

Body Image

February 28

5:00–6:00 p.m.

This workshop addresses body image. Topics explored include standards of beauty and attractiveness, perceptions, and understanding how society creates unrealistic expectations of both men and women. Workshops involve discussion about individual perceptions of attractiveness, cultural standards, and how each impacts how people look at one another.

Grief and Loss

March 27

5:30–6:30 p.m.

Many college students experience a significant loss while they are in college, whether it is a break-up, the loss of a friendship, or the death of someone they know. Come and learn more about the process of loss and grief to help you better understand your own or others’ experiences in dealing with this life experience.

The Revolution of Mindfulness

March 28

5:00–5:50 p.m.

Learn why neuroscience is telling us that mindful meditation is good for our brains.

Relationships 101

April 11

5:00–6:00 p.m.

Do you have trouble communicating with the important people in your life? Are you confused by what others want from you? Relationships 101 involves communication skill-building, determining expectations and boundaries, and learning about individual communication styles. Learn the skills to build healthy relationships and the red flags for unhealthy relationships.

Got Stress?

April 25

6:00–7:00 p.m.

It seems as if everyone is dealing with some form of stress. Learn the most common sources of stress for college students and tools for effectively dealing with stress. Workshop includes mindful meditation skills and resources available on campus.

Research has shown that group counseling is as effective as individual counseling. Talking with other students who have similar experiences provides support and perspective. The following counseling, support, and growth groups are offered at the Counseling Center in G31 Suites on Maple East. These groups usually include four to nine students and are facilitated by one or two therapists. Group facilitators work to provide a safe, confidential environment where members are free to discuss their thoughts, feelings, and concerns as they are comfortable. Participation in these groups requires an initial meeting with the group facilitator(s), usually 30–45 minutes. To schedule this meeting or to ask questions, contact the Counseling Center at (724) 357-2621, stop by G31 Suites on Maple East, or contact Patti Shaffer at pshaffer@iup.edu.

Graduate Student Group

• Wednesdays 10:15–11:30 a.m.
• A support-oriented group. Topics of discussion are likely to include the demands of graduate study, anxieties about competition and career, self-care and coping, support for writing a thesis or dissertation, student/faculty relationships and boundaries, and healthy interpersonal relating within the stressful context of graduate study.
• Facilitated by Rita Drapkin, Ph.D., and Sarah Ryan, M.A.

Interpersonal Group

• Thursdays 10:00–11:00 a.m.
• This co-ed student group will focus on relationships (family, friends, dating, and professional). Loneliness, lack of confidence in social settings, self-esteem concerns, and anxiety may also be discussed. Members often learn to be more comfortable with themselves and more confident interacting with others. This group is a safe place to explore how current interpersonal styles may be affecting relationships.
• Facilitated by Kim Roberts, M.A., and Adrianne Fuller-St. John, M.A.

“Not Just Straight” Group

• Tuesdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.
• The group is an all-inclusive place where students who are questioning their sexual or gender identity or identify as LGBTQ+ can turn for confidential sharing and support. The group is designed to be a safe space where concerns related to exploring sexuality, coming out, relationships, families, and community can all be discussed. Students do not need to be “out” in order to participate in this group, or need to have a firm sexual or gender identity. The group is limited to eight to ten undergraduate or graduate students who commit to meeting weekly. Once the group, begins new members will be asked to wait until next semester to join the group.
• Facilitated by Justin Harms, M.A., and Joanne Petursson, M.A.

Women’s Group: Finding Our Way

• Thursdays 4:00–5:00 p.m.
• This group is for six to eight female IUP students. It is a place for women to discuss common concerns about such things as academics, relationships, families, body image, self-esteem, and other common concerns with a focus on self-awareness and change.
• Facilitated by Beth Kincade, Ph.D., and Kara Goldmann, M.A.

Future workshops will cover a variety of topics. You are not required to attend all of the workshops. Attendance vouchers will be provided.

For more information, e-mail Justin Harms (j.harms@iup.edu) or Joanne Harms (vxzp@iup.edu).

Gender and Sexuality: Not Just Straight

February 15

3:15–4:15 p.m.

We will discuss the various continuums along which gender and sexuality can be understood, with an emphasis on a broad and inclusive view of how we define ourselves as gendered and sexual beings.

Future Workshops Include:

Expanding Your Comfort Zone

February 23

3:00–4:00 p.m.

Feeling too confined by your “comfort zone?” Wish you had the confidence to do more things, get more involved? Our comfort zones tend to both protect us and limit us, and finding ways to broaden the boundaries of our comfort zones can make our lives more fulfilling and satisfying. Find out how to create a healthier balance in this workshop offered by the Counseling Center.

Body Image

February 28

5:00–6:00 p.m.

This workshop addresses body image. Topics explored include standards of beauty and attractiveness, perceptions, and understanding how society creates unrealistic expectations of both men and women. Workshops involve discussion about individual perceptions of attractiveness, cultural standards, and how each impacts how people look at one another.

Grief and Loss

March 27

5:30–6:30 p.m.

Many college students experience a significant loss while they are in college, whether it is a break up, the loss of a friendship, or the death of someone they know. Come and learn more about the process of loss and grief to help you better understand your own or others’ experiences in dealing with this life experience.

Relationships 101

April 11

5:00–6:00 p.m.

Do you have trouble communicating with the important people in your life? Are you confused by what others want from you? Relationships 101 involves communication skill-building, determining expectations and boundaries, and learning about individual communication styles. Learn the skills to build healthy relationships and the red flags for unhealthy relationships.

Got Stress?

April 25

6:00–7:00 p.m.

It seems as if everyone is dealing with some form of stress. Learn the most common sources of stress for college students and tools for effectively dealing with stress. Workshop includes mindful meditation skills and resources available on campus.

The Haven Project, in collaboration with the Counseling Center, would like to remind all IUP employees that we are available for consultation at 724-357-2621, Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Employees can also refer students to the Counseling Center or the Alice Paul House (724-349-4444).

Various members of the IUP community have expressed concerns about how they should respond if they become aware of sexual abuse of minors. The Pennsylvania Department of Welfare also has a 24-hour hotline, “Childline,” available to receive reports or answer questions about suspected child abuse. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-932-0313.

The title of the poster was “Motivational Interviewing as a Framework for Rogerian Theory: Putting Theory into Practice.”

Dr. Myers is the substance ase and abuse specialist at the IUP Counseling Center.

IACS is an organziation that encourages and aids counseling agencies to meet high professional standards through peer evaluation. The Counseling Center underwent its fifth year review and site visitation/evaluation in Spring 2011.

The IUP Counseling Center was evaluated against high standards of counseling practice and was found to offer competent and reliable professional services to the university community. Approval by IACS is also dependent upon evidence of continuing professional development as well as demonstration of excellence of counseling performance.

The IUP Counseling Center first gained accreditation in 2006. We are pleased to continue to offer quality counseling, workshops, and programs to IUP students and effective consultation to the IUP community.

This semester, there are four groups available. For more detailed information, check out the Counseling Center website.

• Graduate Student Group: Wednesdays, 10:20–11:30 a.m.
  Facilitated by Rita Drapkin, Ph.D.(rdrapkin@iup.edu) and Sarah Ryan, M.A.(s.e.ryan2@iup.edu)
• Interpersonal Group: Wednesdays, 10:00–11:00 a.m.
  Facilitated by Dave Myers, Ph.D.(dmyers@iup.edu) and Kim Roberts, M.A (k.c.roberts@iup.edu)
• Queer Group: Wednesdays, 3:15–4:15 p.m.
  Facilitated by Justin Harms, M.A.(j.harms@iup.edu) and Joanne Petursson, M.A.(vxzp@iup.edu)
• Finding Our Way: A Group for Women Students- Mondays 4:15–5:15 p.m.
  Facilitated by Elizabeth Kincade, Ph.D. (ekincade@iup.edu) and Kara Goldman, M.A.(k.m.goldman@iup.edu)

These groups include four to nine students and are facilitated by one or two therapists who work to provide safe, confidential environments where members are free to discuss their thoughts, feelings and concerns. Participation in these groups requires an initial meeting with the group facilitator(s), usually thirty to forty-five minutes.

To schedule this meeting or for more information, contact the Counseling Center at 724-357-2621, stop by G31 Suites on Maple East, e-mail the group leaders, or contact Patti Shaffer at pshaffer@iup.edu.

We offer individual counseling, couples counseling, consultation, and a variety of counseling and support groups. For additional information about the center and our fall programs, please see the Counseling Center website.

The Counseling Center’s mission is to help students navigate emotional, personal, and academic difficulties while pursuing their studies at IUP. We are located across from Folger Food Court at the Suites on Maple East G31 (in the Center for Health and Well Being).

The Counseling Center has six licensed psychologists, as well as a number of master’s-level therapists. We also have counseling/psychological specialists in violence issues and substance use and abuse issues.

Counseling Center faculty psychologists are available to the IUP community for consultation about student psychological and developmental concerns. All our clinical services are confidential. Please feel free to contact us!

Please call us at 724-357-2621 during working hours (8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.), and we will arrange an appointment for you with a counselor.

Counseling Center

The text focuses on specific feminist therapy skills as well as the history and philosophy of feminist therapy and counseling.

Previous feminist therapy texts focused on theory and philosophy and presented feminist therapy as primarily for women. This text presents clearly identified skills in feminist therapy and advocates feminist therapy as a treatment of choice for all genders.

The book is published by Sage publications. In keeping with the principles of feminist therapy, all authors equally contributed to the text.

Drs. Susan Seem (SUNY Brockport) and Kathy Evans (University of So. Carolina) are the other authors.

Check out our selection of homemade soups and pottery, and receive free resources for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week.

Active Minds is an organization composed of students and faculty members who strive to increase awareness among IUP students about issues of mental health, symptoms of mental illness, and available resources in and around the Indiana community.

IUP Counseling Center

Group Offerings for Spring 2011

• Women’s Group
• Graduate Student Group
• Interpersonal Group
• Vets’ Group
• Mindfulness Group

Select for details about these Counseling Groups for IUP Students.