Individual Counseling 

Often, students experience challenges that leave them feeling alone and unsure about where to get the support they need. Individual counseling can help students explore, understand, and work through these difficulties on a one-to-one basis.  Often, simply having an objective person with whom to discuss things brings about a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of strength and confidence.  Other times, the process helps students recognize different options.  Here are a number of ways in which individual counseling can be helpful:
Personal Concerns:

•     Struggles with depression
•     Suicidal thoughts
•     Severe anxiety
•     Adjusting to College
•     Recovery from Abuse and Trauma
•     Grief and Loss Issues
•     Disordered or Disruptive Eating Issues

Of course, there can be a variety of other difficulties that manifest themselves in the form of behaviors that cause distress or disruption in a student’s life.

Interpersonal Difficulties:

•     Shyness
•     Romantic Relationship Concerns
•     Roommate Issues
•     Problems with Anger
•     Difficulty Keeping Friends
•     Family Conflicts

As with individually distressing concerns, there may be other difficulties in forming and maintaining relationships.  Many times, while struggles with interpersonal concerns can be addressed in Individual Counseling, Group Counseling may be more immediately applicable.

Social Environment Difficulties: One example of social environment difficulties involves dealing with cultural pressures that are common at Duke.  Trying to gain acceptance in particular social circles and trying to succeed in certain academic areas that are unusually competitive or demanding can be cause distress for even the most successful students.   Also, there are problems in our overall society cause pain for individuals or communities.  These include, but are not limited to, the various –ism’s and oppressions that exist in our world.

•     Dealing with racism
•     Facing sexism or sexual harassment
•     Facing homophobia
•     Experiencing religious persecution or disrespect

For all the challenges described here, there is support in the context of individual counseling.  Seeking that support is a sign of a resourceful student, one able to know when it's time to take action in order to move through the challenges of life here at Duke.