The Clackamas print., December 01, 2021, Page 3, Image 3

NEWS
3
Counselors offer help
Student visits creep back up toward pre-pandemic levels
STORY BY BELLA VAUGHN
STAFF WRITER
The number of students visiting counselors at Clackamas Community
College is down 20 percent since before the pandemic, despite all
the stress of living through a pandemic. The Clackamas Print had
the privilege of sitting down for a virtual interview with the college’s
chair of the counseling department, Esther Sexton, and her cat Eve.
We talked about the counseling department and what counselors
have to offer.
The Clackamas Print: What got you interested in mental health and
helping students?
Esther Sexton(she/her/hers): I grew up in Texas, in an area that has a
lot of lower-income areas and some struggles with mental health. So,
I got to college, and the idea of counseling and being able to find help
to manage all that stuff was kind of a revelation to me. I changed my
major and went into psychology.
TCP: Do you think that your department is underutilized, or do you
think enough students know that we have these services?
Sexton: A fair number of students know that we have counseling
services. There is a lot of stigma around mental health, and walking
into counseling, sometimes folks believe that you must be crazy
to come to counseling. The number of students that we are seeing
dropped by 50 percent at the beginning of the pandemic. It has come
back up since then, but it is still around 20 percent below what it
needs to be in-demand.
TCP: What are some things students can practice at home, some
stress management skills that we can practice?
Sexton: There are lots of great free apps out there. I would say, think
critically about what’s happening to you when you ’re spending time
in online spaces. If it’s one social media platform that feels rpally
good, and another makes you feel like you’re not good enough, spend
more time on the one that’s making you feel good. Write something
to pay attention to your world and your body. Just really think about
what you’re doing and how it impacts you.
TCP: Is there anything you want to add?
Sexton: The biggest takeaway and thing I’ve been implying throughout
our talk is that you do what works for you. It’s okay if w e’re not the
right people. There are a lot of different ways to be connected and get
help in the world, and what really matters is what fits you best and
what makes you feel like you are living your best quality of life.
This interview has b'een edited for length and clarity.
TCP: That’s interesting because it has been a crazy year and a half. I
was wondering if students can reach out about personal issues or is
counseling just for help with school?
Sexton: Mental health is anything that’s going on. If students have
really intense stuff going on, they probably need more than we can
give them, so there are other kinds of mental health resources that
we would connect them with. We can help with questions like, “What
works well for me in the academic environment?” and “How do I talk
to my instructor about not doing well'in their class?”
TCP: If you had one specific thing you wanted a student to know about
your services, what would it be?
Sexton: We’re- here to help, and what that looks like is based on what
someone needs. We have a really broad range of skills. We also have
a bunch of different kinds of counselors. We have counseling in
Spanish, and we have a counselor who specializes in rehabilitation
counseling. I am one of the folks with a specialty in substance abuse.
No matter what’s going on, w e probably have a counselor that has
experience with working with what’s going on in your world.
The Clackam as Print
th e c la c k a m a s p rin t.c o m
D ecem b er 2021