Transcript Slide 1

Tuttleman Counseling Services
1810 Liacouras Walk
(Main Campus)
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Walk-In Clinic
Mon., Tues, Thurs. & Fri.
10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Wednesday – 9 a.m. to 12 noon
215 204-7276
www.temple.edu/counseling
Free and Confidential
Congratulations!
Student Transitions
• Making new friends
• Moving away from home
• Making their own
schedule
• Making their own
decisions
• Starting new romantic
relationships
• Academic decisions
• Managing money
• Coping with STRESS
Homesickness
• Common during their initial adjustment period.
• Phone calls home usually help students adjust.
• Encourage students to get involved!
• Usually passes in three or four weeks.
• The “cold turkey” approach is not usually helpful.
Parent Transitions
• Should we rent their room
out?
• Less laundry & less
cleaning up.
• Can we really vacation
alone?
• More time for socializing.
• What were those things
we wanted to do?
• Getting your car back.
Challenges and Expectations
• Expectations about…
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Communication
Academic performance
Vacations and visits home
Finances
• Concerns about …
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Drugs and alcohol
Sex & STIs
Adjustment issues
Academic failure
Communication
• Talk to your student in advance about what your
expectations are about when and how often they should
call or e-mail.
• Ask your son or daughter to give you the cell phone
number of a college friend and/or roommate in case of
emergency.
• Try to be open and empathetic about their challenges
and encourage them to find solutions on their own.
• Talk to your students about expectations when school is
not in session.
Listen for the underlying message…
• If they are calling to discuss a problem, they want your
help.
• Convey caring and confidence in their ability to manage
the situation.
• If you are able to help them see the potential
consequences of their actions, they may decide to
change their behavior.
• Asking about what your student thinks might help solve
their problem and often can be productive.
Mistakes Happen!
• Some students will experiment with drugs and/or alcohol,
though less than half will. (not mine!)
• Some students will begin or continue to be sexually
active. (not mine!)
• Some students will fail a class. (not mine!)
• Some students will decide to change their major from
pre-med to art history. (I can deal with that…)
Encourage your student to seek
counseling services if ….
• You notice a change in
mood.
• You suspect drug or
alcohol problems.
• Their academic
performance is poor.
• They are not solving
problems.
• They are not adjusting
well.
• You have any other
concerns or suspicions
that something is wrong.
Counseling….
• Involves helping students to learn to make healthy
decisions, explore options, look at themselves and an
honest and open way and make positive changes in their
behavior.
• Does not involve the counselor telling students what to
do.
Common Problems
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Relationship conflict
Anxiety
Depression
Loss issues
Adjustment issues
Sexuality related
concerns
• Drug and alcohol
problems
• Eating disorders
• Self-esteem issues
• Gambling and other
financial concerns
• Suicidal thoughts
• Self injury
• Marijuana abuse
• Concern about someone
else
• Stress
Who uses
Tuttleman Counseling Services?
• Last year approximately 2500 students came in for
counseling services last year.
• Students also attended a variety of workshops and other
events throughout the year.
• 350 students used psychiatric services.
(If you live nearby, please continue to have your
student’s physician manage their psychiatric medications
and reserve TCS for emergencies.)
Some things to consider…..
• Flexibility is good.
• Listening does not mean agreeing.
• Guide rather than pressure.
• Physical distance is not the same as healthy separation.
• Don’t over burden your student with your emotional
issues.
• Stay connected; be interested but not intrusive.
A Few More……..
• Explore and clarify boundaries.
• Give advice, but only when requested.
• Encourage greater independence.
• Encourage use of campus resources.
• Don’t be surprised if you don’t see much of them the first
time they come home.
A Few More……..
• When your son or daughter calls home with a problem,
they are not asking you to solve it; practice being a good
listener.
• Growth requires making mistakes.
• Limit changes that make it seem as if you are continuing
your family life without them.
• Be a consistent, non-intrusive presence during the
freshman year with letters, goodies, little gifts, money,
and a few phone calls.
Final thoughts……
• Be willing to listen, slow to react.
• Be supportive, listening, non-judgmental.
• Be a consistent, non-intrusive presence during the
freshman year with letters, goodies, little gifts, money,
and a few phone calls.
• Trust that your son or daughter is well prepared and that
you did a good job.
Questions?
Tuttleman Counseling and
Prevention Services
1810 Liacouras Walk
(Main Campus)
Monday – Friday
Office Hours 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Walk-In Clinic 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
215 204-7276
www.temple.edu/counseling
Free and Confidential