Tech’s Counseling Center is holding a support group for coping with current events every Friday from 10-11 a.m. in RUC Room 387.
“There is a lot going on in the lives of our students personally, but there is a lot going on in the world that could really impact their stress levels,” Dr. Christina Mick, host of the group and counselor at Tech, said.
The group will discuss current events going on in the Cookeville community, on campus or in the world.
“The group is really about current events, and when I say current events, anything talking about the tornado that went through in 2020 – several students are still impacted by that. COVID-19 is still a current event. I have had students impacted by natural disasters this year like the Waverly floods, and then we have the conflict currently going on in Ukraine that is impacting students,” Mick explained.
The group is open to anyone who wants to destress or talk about how current events are affecting them. They plan to meet every Friday for the rest of April.
The counseling center also offers walk-in, scheduled and rapid access appointments.
“I have been working here for 10 years, and that last month of school for everybody is extra stressful. So, we are doing what is called rapid access appointments,” Mick said.
Rapid access appointments are drop-in appointments at the Pinkerton classroom every Monday and Wednesday during the month of April between 1-2:30 p.m.
“That last month is stressful, and sometimes it’s hard for some students to get an appointment when they need it. Sometimes it can be two weeks out until a student can get an appointment,” Mick said.
Students can go to the appointments to discuss the stresses of the closing semester, plans after graduation or anything that the students feel they need to talk about. Those needing urgent care or crisis appointments will need to go to the counseling center for a normal appointment.
Many students are supportive of what the counseling office is offering.
“I think the support group is a good idea because maybe some students are afraid to go to a one-on-one appointment because it sounds scary to them,” Macey Rector, a nursing student, explained. .
When the counseling office is closed, there is an after-hour student hotline that anyone can call at 931-372-3331. WellTrack, a self-guided therapy app, was created for Tech students.
For more information regarding resources from the counseling center, visit Tech’s website at https://www.tntech.edu/counsel/index.php.