Counseling Services

What to Expect

When you first come in, you will be greeted by our front desk staff and asked to complete some paperwork designed to help us better understand your needs and give you more information about our services. After completing the paperwork, you will be given a triage appointment to meet with one of our counselors. Typically, this appointment will take about 30 minutes, and the two of you will discuss your immediate concerns as well as what type of services may be most helpful to you. The goal is to get you connected with the most appropriate services as soon as possible. Please know that the triage counselor may not necessarily be the counselor you are ultimately assigned to work with. Some of the options for services you may be discussing are described below. As a reminder, all of our therapy services are free and confidential.

Group Counseling

You would be meeting with a small group of your peers who are facing similar concerns. Our groups tend to have a particular focus or theme, some of which are more specific than others. You would be meeting with the same group of people and facilitators each week. Group members are encouraged to discuss their difficulties, changes they want to make in life, and how to make those changes. The huge benefit of group counseling is that you can get input from a variety of people, as well as get to hear other peoples' experiences and learn from them. Groups often provide a kind of support and experience that is not possible in other settings. All group members are required to sign an agreement to maintain confidentiality and not disclose anything someone else has said outside of group. To participate in group counseling, typically you will first have a pre-group screening interview where you meet privately with the group facilitator(s) to talk about the group and your goals. Group members are often allowed to continue with the group beyond just one semester, depending on availability. Our groups meet during the Fall and Spring semesters, and a current list of groups offered with meeting times is at the bottom of this page.

Individual Counseling

You would meet with a counselor one-on-one to address your concerns. During the first meeting, you and your counselor will set goals and talk about your meeting schedule. In individual counseling, people will often discuss relationship concerns, family difficulties, feelings of depression or anxiety, academic issues, recovery from traumatic events, or hopes of wanting to better your life.

Couples Counseling

You and your partner would meet with a counselor (or possibly two) to address relationship concerns. It can be used to gain more insight into each other, to learn new and more effective ways of communication, rebuild emotional security, 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.

Outreach and Consultation

Counseling Center staff are available to attend your class, group, organization, or event to present information on a variety of topics. Please visit our Outreach page for more information or to request a presentation. You may also speak with a counselor individually if you need information about a particular issue or would like resources for approaching a student in distress. Please visit our Consultation page for more information.

Spring 2013 Groups

Coed Personal Growth Group (Tuesdays)

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

Facilitators: Carol Fonseca, M.S. (cfonseca@nmsu.edu) and Elizabeth Gosset-Swann, B.A. (egossets@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 (Wednesdays)

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

Facilitators: Joey Hannah, Ph.D. (joeyhann@nmsu.edu) Jessica Magallanes, M.A. (jessmaga@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 Nisha Todi, M.S. (ntodi@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.

Mindfulness Stress Reduction (Mondays)

Mondays from 1:30-3:00 p.m.

Facilitators: Angella Anderson, M.A., L.P.C. (psych82@nmsu.edu) and Justin Boland, M.A. (jboland1@nmsu.edu)

This 7-week course is designed to diminish physical and emotional symptoms of stress & increase a sense of well-being utilizing meditation and yoga movements.

Mindfulness Stress Reduction (Tuesdays)

Tuesdays from 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Facilitators: Elizabeth Gosset-Swann, B.A. (egossets@nmsu.edu) and Eve Adams, Ph.D. (eadams@nmsu.edu)

This 7-week course is designed to diminish physical and emotional symptoms of stress & increase a sense of well-being utilizing meditation and yoga movements.

Mind Over Mood

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

Facilitators: Elizabeth Gosset-Swann, B.A. (egossets@nmsu.edu)

How we perceive struggles/crises or ourselves can sometimes influence how we feel and respond to a situation. This 10-week workshop series teaches methods to manage mood issues such as depression, anxiety, panic, guilt, and anger by exploring the impact of our thought processes and developing coping skills.

Survivors of Abuse, Trauma, or Relationship Violence

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

Facilitators: Karen Schaefer, Ph.D., (kschaefe@nmsu.edu) and Nisha Todi, M.S. (ntodi@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).

Eating and Body Image Struggles

Mondays from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

Facilitators: Angella Anderson, M.A., L.P.C. (psych82@nmsu.edu) and Kristy McPherson, Ph.D.(inspirit@nmsu.edu)

This group is for individuals who wish to transform their body image and relationship with food. The primary goal is to provide a safe, supportive environment where self-confidence can flourish.

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 binging and purging
• LGBT group to provide space for those navigating issues of sexual and gender diversity