Counseling Center

Counseling Services

Individual Counseling

Please schedule an appointment if you have relationship concerns, family difficulties, feelings of depression or anxiety, academic issues, experienced a traumatic event, or hopes of wanting to better your life.

What to Expect

When you first come in, we will ask you to complete some paperwork to help us better understand your needs, give you more information about our services, and assign you to an intake counselor.

Couples Counseling

Couples counseling is designed to assist couples with their relationship problems. It can be used to gain more insight into each other, to learn new and more effective ways of communication, and to learn how to solve problems. At least one partner of each couple needs to be a NMSU student to be eligible for services.

Group Counseling

Worried? Stressed? Special concerns? Need for change? Want support? Our groups can help!

Each semester we offer a number of groups on issues such as:

• Stress
• Eating Disorders
• Sexual Abuse
• Interpersonal Issues
• Alcoholic Families
• Gender
• Sexual Orientation
• and Others

Groups often provide the support and experiences that are not possible in any other way.

What to Expect

Discuss your difficulties, figure out what changes you want to make in your life, and how you want to make the changes. A bonus of group counseling is that you get to hear other peoples' experiences and learn from them, too. Plus, members are asked to maintain confidentiality and not disclose anything someone else said outside of group. Some groups require a pre-group screening interview.

How to Learn More

For further information call 646-2731 or stop by the Counseling Center at Garcia Annex, Room 100. The Counseling Center will be offering the following groups during the Spring 2012 semester:

Coed Personal Growth Group (Wednesdays)

Wednesdays from 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Facilitators: Chaunce Windle, Ph.D. (cwindle@nmsu.edu) and Joey Hannah, Ph.D. (joeyhann@nmsu.edu)

This group is for people who feel unsatisfied with surface-level relationships and would like to make more meaningful connections with others. Members will have the opportunity to share their struggles and concerns in a safe and confidential space, and can benefit from receiving multiple perspectives, support, encouragement, and feedback from leaders and other group members.

Coed Personal Growth Group (Thursdays)

Thursdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Facilitators: Corey Vas, Ph.D. (cvas@nmsu.edu) and Summer Garcia, M.Ed. (sgarcia6@nmsu.edu)

This group is for people who feel unsatisfied with surface-level relationships and would like to make more meaningful connections with others. Members will have the opportunity to share their struggles and concerns in a safe and confidential space, and can benefit from receiving multiple perspectives, support, encouragement, and feedback from leaders and other group members.

Graduate Student Support Group

Fridays from 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Facilitators: María Arizaga, Ph.D. (marizaga@ad.nmsu.edu) and Joey Hannah, Ph.D. (joeyhann@nmsu.edu)

Pursuing a graduate degree can be an exciting experience, and also present unique challenges. This group is intended to offer graduate students a safe and confidential space to share feelings and concerns, and receive and provide support/feedback with their peers. Topics discussed in the group will vary by the needs of the members, which may include: personal and professional relationships, academic concerns and demands, adjusting to graduate school, identity and role development, juggling multiple roles, coping with stress, and confidence/self-esteem.

Healthy Relationships

Tuesdays from 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Facilitators: Diana Sánchez-Lira, Ph.D. (sdiana@nmsu.edu) and Denise Haselwood, M.S., M.A. (dhhaselwd@nmsu.edu)

Having healthy relationships are an important part of our mental health. This group is designed for women and men who would like to learn more about themselves and how they can maintain healthy relationships. Each week we will discuss important topics such as characteristics of healthy relationships and how to improve our communication skills. As we discuss aspects of healthy relationships, participants will be encouraged to learn more about themselves in a supportive group environment.

Mindfulness Stress Reduction

Mondays from 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Facilitators: Eve Adams, Ph.D. (eadams@nmsu.edu) and Robert Yoder, M.A. (yoderr@nmsu.edu)

This 7-week course is designed to diminish physical and emotional symptoms of stress and increase a sense of well-being. Instructors will teach members how to cultivate more awareness, increase relaxation and learn about mindfulness (via meditation, yoga, qigong) to manage stressful times.

Social Skills Training

Wednesdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Facilitators: Mindy Moellmer, M.S. (moellmer@nmsu.edu) and Summer Garcia, M.Ed. (sgarcia6@nmsu.edu)

Many students worry about how effective they are in making and keeping relationships. They wonder, "How can I make new friends at NMSU?" "Could I be better when interacting with peers or professors?" If you have any of these or similar concerns, then this 8-week workshop is for you. It is designed to help you build your confidence in social situations so that you can feel more successful in college.

Survivors of Abuse, Trauma, or Relationship Violence

Fridays from 1:00-2:30 p.m.

Facilitators: Karen Schaefer, Ph.D., (kschaefe@nmsu.edu) and Mindy Moellmer, M.S. (moellmer@nmsu.edu)

This group is for women who as children experienced abuse directly or witnessed family violence. It is also for individuals who have experienced sexual assault or relationship violence as adults. The focus of the group will be on identifying the short- and long-term effects such experiences have had on the survivor. Group members can also explore how to deal adaptively with current emotions, behaviors, beliefs and thoughts that relate to past trauma(s).

Coping With Negative Emotions and Stress

Tuesdays from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Facilitator: Natasha Ali, Ph.D. (natashaa@nmsu.edu)

Strong emotions like anxiety, depression, anger and guilt are painful. They can result in unproductive/destructive actions. They can also provide insight into personal values and motivate extraordinary accomplishment. This group explores perceptions, thoughts, feelings, values, behaviors and alternatives in stressful situations. It offers support, understanding and tools for being empowered rather than overpowered by emotions.

Handling Anger Constructively

Mondays from 4:00-5:30 p.m.

Facilitator: Natasha Ali, Ph.D. (natashaa@nmsu.edu) and Robert Yoder, M.A. (yoderr@nmsu.edu)

This 8-week group is a safe and supportive environment where students will gain a better understanding of the natural emotion of anger, how to constructively vs. destructively express anger, and learn how to constructively handle conflict with others.

The Possibility of Additional Groups

Additional groups are available upon staff availability and student requests. These groups may include the following:

• Student veterans
• Healthy Eating group for those struggling with eating issues like bingeing and purging
• LGBT group to provide space for those navigating coming out or being out