College can be a freeing time. It is the start of your adult life; a time to stand on your own two feet and decide what you want to do with your life. You are learning how to make decisions without as much or any guidance from your parents or guardians and your professors seem to expect a lot of you. You also have to make sure to get to class on time as well as your job, if you have one, and figure out transportation to both (if necessary).
It can be scary and a lot of students begin to struggle in different ways. It can be especially difficult if your mental health starts to slip or if you stop going to a therapist at home. But it is perfectly normal to struggle a little, as long as you get the proper help.
I started to struggle my freshman year and went to the on-campus Counseling and Psychological Services, or CaPs. It is something that has helped me throughout my almost four years at Cabrini and will be missed when I graduate.
The best part is that the services are free to any Cabrini student and are located a short walk from any building on campus, in Grace Hall, one of the central buildings on Cabrini’s campus.
The counseling services on campus are very helpful as they offer different opportunities to go and speak with a counselor. There are walk-in hours Monday through Friday between 12pm and 1pm. The walk-in hours are 15-minute conversations that will help direct students to more help as needed, to get thoughts off their chest, and more. Appointments can also be scheduled, the office is open from 9am to 4pm each weekday. You can also go to counseling once a week, biweekly, once a month or on a schedule that you and your counselor decide on.
Personally, I found it helpful to go once a week or on a biweekly basis because between school stresses, social stresses, home stresses, and everything in between, it can be difficult to find time to decompress. It is also helpful to have someone to talk to as the year progresses and different situations arise that can be hard to go through alone. Having a safe space on campus such as the counseling center is so helpful and can help you succeed and thrive.
If you are a current Cabrini student interested in learning more about Cabrini's counseling services or would like to schedule a visit, please contact Jennifer Gorman at jennifer.gorman@cabrini.edu or 610.902.8561.
If you are having a medical or mental health emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the suicide hotline: 1-800-273-8255.