North Dakota State University

This one-credit graded course helps students make satisfying decisions regarding college majors and careers. Students explore career options by learning how their attitudes, beliefs, interests, skills, values, and lifestyle preferences blend with elements of certain occupations. For schedule and registration information, please consult the Campus Connection under the Education Department course listings.

This is a one-credit graded course that helps students develop skills necessary for successful academic achievement. Course topics include motivation, procrastination, time management, note-taking, textbook reading, test-taking, and stress management. For schedule and registration information, please consult Campus Connection under Education Department course listings.

Active Minds is the nation's only peer-to-peer organization dedicated to raising awareness about mental health among college students. The organization serves as the young adult voice in mental health advocacy on over one hundred college campuses nationwide. In less than five years, Active Minds has grown from a single campus chapter to a nonprofit organization on over one hundred campuses nationwide and in Canada. The organization has been featured in The New York Times , on CNN, Good Morning America, Newsweek , and others for its effective and unique approach to addressing the mental health needs of college students.

Chapters plan events such as panel discussions, Silver Wristband Campaigns for the Brain, movie screenings, keynote speakers, stress-relief activities, and Stomp out Stigma Runs, that follow the four basic tenets of the Active Minds mission:

Work to reduce the stigma that surrounds mental health disorders
Stigma is highly attributable to silence. The fact that people do not, and can not, talk comfortably and openly about mental health issues causes ignorance and misunderstanding. Active Minds’ goal is to break down that wall of silence, and destigmatize mental health.

Educate students about the prevalence of mental health disorders; the risks, signs and symptoms of particular disorders; and available resources for seeking help.Early help-seeking promotes recovery! By educating students about the prevalence and warning signs of mental health disorders, and the fact that many disorders first present themselves within the age cohort of 15- 24, Active Minds encourages students to be aware of their mental health and seek help as soon as help is needed.

Expose students to the “mentally ill”--particularly young adults living with a mental health disorder. By putting a face on mental illness, and showing students that we are all affected, Active Minds normalizes mental health disorders and breaks down the misconception that "the mentally ill" are only the people seen in the movies or on the streets. Our peers, and others we highly respect, may be diagnosed with a mental health disorder. But they are able to live full lives with their diagnosis.

Plan campus-friendly events that attract as much of the school community as possible.

The purpose of Active Minds is to reach all members of the community. It is estimated that 1 in 5 Americans suffer from a mental health disorder at any given time – which means that essentially everyone on campus is somehow affected. The goal is to destigmatize mental health disorders on the whole campus, and promote mental health awareness and good mental health among ALL students!!

Please contact Natalie at 231-7671 for further details, and information on how to become involved!

For more information about Active Minds, go to this website: www.activemindsoncampus.org

Spring semester 2013 meeting time: Mondays at 3:00, (excluding university holidays and spring break).

Note: Even though there are no classes on Monday 4/1/13, meditation group will still be meeting!

The Meditation Group offered by the Counseling Center is a chance to get together with others in the NDSU community to practice mindfulness meditation for increased awareness, presence, and well-being. The group, which has been ongoing since Fall 2001, is open to NDSU students, faculty, and staff, and is free of charge. All levels are welcome! Beginners can learn and practice meditation basics, while those more experienced with meditation can maintain their meditation practice in an informal group environment.

Mindfulness is a way of being that involves bringing awareness to the unfolding of present experience, moment-to-moment, with curiosity, openness and acceptance. Much more than a relaxation technique or concentration skill, mindfulness entails a way of being that can open the door to a whole new way of experiencing and responding to the inevitable "ups and downs" of life.

New members are always welcome, and no advance registration is necessary; feel free to show up any time during the semester if interested! Please wear loose, comfortable clothing and be sure to arrive on time since the door is locked once the meditation begins. Chairs and meditation cushions will be avalable, depending on preference. All sessions are held in the Counseling Center, 212 Ceres Hall, in the group testing room. (Note: Please stop to announce yourself at the reception desk before proceeding back to the room.)

It is not necessary to come to all the meetings in order to attend the group; you are welcome to attend whenever you can. Please note, however, that it is important to arrive on time when you come, as the door is locked promptly at the start of meditation to avoid interruptions.

Please keep watching this site for announcements of updates, cancellations and changes.

View our Meditation & Mindfulness Page, including general information, suggested readings and links to online audio meditations.

Are you concerned that your use of a substance could be causing you difficulties? Have you had treatment in the past and think that additional support here at school would be helpful? If you said yes to either of these questions and want support in making a change, you may want to consider the AODA therapy group. The NDSU Counseling Center offers a therapy group focused on concerns related to substance abuse and dependence facilitated by a counselor trained in mental health and addiction. The group is open to all NDSU students at no charge, and meets this spring semester on Fridays 1-2:30 pm in the Counseling Center, Ceres 212 (group room). If you need further information, please contact Ann at 231-7671 or ann.stark@ndsu.edu.

From time to time most of us have some difficulty managing our emotions or stress, especially when life gets hectic. If you are currently looking for ways to improve your mood and manage your stress, please consider attending our Managing Your Mood Workshop. We will be meeting on Thursdays at the NDSU Counseling Center (Ceres Hall 212) from 3:00-4:30pm all semester long, beginning on 2/7/13. The Workshop is free and open to any NDSU student. For more information, please contact Jaryn at 231-7671 or jaryn.allen@ndsu.edu.

Open to any NDSU graduate student. Group focus is to provide a safe place for students to meet one another, discuss challenges and struggles they may be experiencing while working in their graduate program or within the personal life, and to be able to build friendships and offer support to fellow graduate students across academic disciplines. 

For more information, contact Amber Bach-Gorman at 231-7671 or by email at amber.bach@ndsu.edu.

Free 8-week workshop at the Counseling Center for NDSU students, faculty, and staff!

According to author Jon Kabat-Zinn, "Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and without judgment." (Kabat-Zinn, J. ,1994, Wherever you go, there you are: Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. New York: Hyperion.p. 4). 

Mindfulness is a way of being in which you bring awareness to the unfolding of present experience, moment-to-moment, with curiosity, openness and acceptance. Much more than a relaxation technique or concentration skill, mindfulness entails a way of being that can open the door to a whole new way of experiencing and responding to the inevitable "ups and downs" of life. 

This workshop is geared towards those who are either brand new or relatively new to mindfulness. It can either stand alone, or serve as a precursor for those who would like more familiarity with mindfulness before attending the Counseling Center's ongoing weekly Meditation for Stress Management Group (see above). 

Each week will address a different facet of mindfulness through the use of discussion, readings, handouts, and a variety of experiential mindfulness meditation practices. The goal of the workshop will be to plant seeds from which participants can grow their own mindfulness practice and start to apply mindfulness in their daily lives.

The weekly topics are as follows:

Week 1) Introduction/Automatic Pilot
Week 2) Mindfulness of the Body
Week 3) Mindfulness of the Breath
Week 4) Radical Acceptance
Week 5) Mindfulness of Thoughts
Week 6) Mindfulness of Emotions
Week 7) Vipassana (Insight) Meditation
Week 8) Metta (Loving-Kindness) Meditation

This free  8-week workshop will meet weekly on Thursdays from 2:30-4:00 p.m. from February 14^th  through April 11^th (no meeting on March 14^th during spring break) in 118 Ceres Hall, downstairs from the Counseling Center.  Advance sign-up is necessary before 5:00 p.m. Friday, February 8^th  in order to plan appropriately for the number of participants.

Register by calling the Counseling Center front desk at 231-7671. When you call to register, you will be asked for your name and e-mail address, as any correspondence regarding the workshop will be done via e-mail. Registration is limited to 12 participants, so please call early to reserve a spot, as the workshop tends to fill up very quckly! (If the workshop is already full when you call, you may ask to be placed on the waiting list to be notified in the event someone cancels their registration for the workshop.) 

Please note that attendance at the first session is mandatory in order to attend the remainder of the sessions, since the first session introduces mindfulness, and is the foundation on which all the following sessions will be based.  It is also highly recommended that you commit to attend all the following sessions, both because each session builds on the next, and also because group discussions will be an important part of the workshop--so each member’s participation adds to the benefit of the group experience.

Please also note that in order to participate in the Intro. to Mindfulness Workshop, you must be part of the NDSU campus community (student, faculty, or staff member).

For further information on mindfulness and meditation, please see our Meditation and Mindfulness Page

Eight-week workshop meeting weekly at the Counseling Center on Mondays from 11:00-12:00 from February 25 - April 22. Advance registration is required by calling the Counseling Center front desk at 231-7671. For further information about the group, ask for Mun Yee or Allie.

Meets weekly at the Counseling Center.  This group is intended for any student who would like a safe and confidential space to discuss concerns that may be impacting their emotional well-being.  Free and open to any NDSU student, no pre-registration necessary. Meets every Monday from 2-3 at the Counseling Center from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Not earning the grades you had hoped?? Well, come brush up on your textbook reading, note-taking, test preparation, memory, organization, and time management skills! This Workshop is designed to help you identify your study skills weaknesses and learn strategies to strengthen them and hopefully raise your grades as a result! We’ll also cover test-taking strategies, managing stress, and managing test anxiety.  The Workshop is free and open to any NDSU student. Questions? Email jaryn.allen@ndsu.edu or call 231-7671 and ask for Jaryn.

FEB. 7: Time Management & Organization

FEB. 14: Effective Note-Taking & Textbook Reading

FEB. 21 & 28: Test Preparation & Test-Taking

MAR. 7 & 14: Learning Styles

MAR. 21: Effective Writing

MAR. 28: Motivation & Procrastination

APR. 4: Concentration & Memory

APR. 11: Effective Writing

APR. 18: Stress Management

APR. 25 & MAY 2: Test Preparation & Test-Taking