Student Guide

Counseling Center

Counseling Center Mission Statement

The mission of the Houghton College Counseling Center is to meet the psychological needs of its students by providing counseling, education, consultation and crisis intervention. 

We consider counseling to be a growth process that can be beneficial to most students at some time during their college experience.  Some typical problems that students present when coming for counseling are:

·         Feeling depressed or sad

·         Self injury

·         Friend or family member being emotionally upset

·         Have trouble concentrating

·         Being tired and having no energy

·         Feeling guilty

·         Getting too emotional

·         Having same thought over again

·         Sexual concerns (behavior, orientation)

·         Spiritual concerns (doubts, confusion)

·         Perceiving self as not on same spiritual "wavelength" as others

·         Having problems with parents

·         Alcohol/substance use/abuse

·         Having difficulty because of past experiences

·         Concerns about a relationship

·         Having poor eating habits (eating disorder)

·         Feeling inferior

·         Feeling lonely

·         Dealing with grief or loss

Perhaps you have thought similar things but haven't considered that the Counseling Center might be a resource for you. One or two conversations might enable you to face these issues more effectively than before.

Sometimes unexpected present difficulties or fallout from events of the past may leave one with emotional baggage that requires more extensive counseling. These situations are often characterized by a student who is "getting by" but who is also suffering considerable emotional pain or confusion. We don’t consider students who use our services as being sick.  Rather we see students in counseling as being in a process, the process of making the sometimes shaky move into adulthood.  The challenges an individual encounters when making this move, along with facing the normal stresses of college life, can be formidable.  In addition, unforeseen present and past events can create further obstacles to this transition into adulthood.  Assisting you with this transition is the main purpose for our existence.

Finally, the Counseling Center periodically provides group experiences for growth.  In the past several years groups have been offered on grief work, relationships, body image, and physical or sexual abuse. These groups are normally offered on the basis of need or popular request. The center’s staff members are all professionally trained counselors with considerable experience in working with college students. They can be reached by calling extension 6220. You can make an appointment to meet with any one of the Center's counselors. All counseling information is confidential and will not be used without your consent. The Counseling Center is located on the main floor of the Campus Center, in the left hallway on the quad side.