This one-credit, pass/fail 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 the fall 2009 semester, one section of the course will be offered: Thursdays from 11:00-11:50 (class # 2331) in CI Nelson 102. Please consult the registration schedule for further registration information.
One section of Study Skills Class (section 01, class # 2323) will be offered through the Counseling Center for fall 2009. This is a one-credit, pass/fail class that helps students develop skills necessary for successful academic achievement. Course topics included motivation, time management, note taking, textbook reading, test taking, stress management, and information processing. Meets weekly from 1:00-1:50 on Wednesdays in Nelson 102. For further registration information, please consult the registration schedule. (Other sections to be offered by the TRIO office for SSS students only, and by the Office of Orientation and Student Success; please consult the registration schedule, or the TRIO office and Office of Orientation and Student Successfor information on those sections).
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
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.
Summer meeting time: Weekly on Mondays at 2:30 p.m. through August 17. Fall 2009 weekly meeting be Mondays at 3:30 p.m., beginning August 24 (excluding university holidays). Please check back for updates and/or changes.
New members are always welcome, and no advance registration, special clothing or equipment is necessary; feel free to show up if interested! 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. If you have any questions, feel free to call the Counseling Center at 231-7671.
View our Meditation & Mindfulness Page, including general information, suggested readings and links to online audio meditations.
Read "Meditation: It's Not What You Think," an article about meditation and mindfulness by author Jon Kabat-Zinn.
The purpose of this group is to help group members develop their understanding of emotions and learn skills to help them manage overwhelming emotions. The group runs for ten sessions and starts on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 3:30 PM at the NDSU Counseling Center. There will be a charge of $15 for the group which covers the cost of the book, "The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook", which will be used extensively in the group. Books will be ordered through the center to ensure a reduced cost for the books.
Open to clients of the counseling center; if interested in joining, please call the Counseling Center at 231-7671 to schedule an initial consultation appointment, or ask for Marlys Borkhuis for further information.
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 Tuesdays from 3:15-4:45 p.m. from September 22nd through November 10th in the Ceres 312. Advance registration is necessary before 5:00 p.m. Friday, September 11th 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. 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
This workshop series is designed to provide students with information, skills and tools to help promote all aspects of their health, learn to create and maintain balance in their life here at school, successfully manage stressors as they arise, and better understand transitional challenges they may face. Students can expect content on self care, maintaining life balance, healthy sleep, and many other interesting topics in this series.
Sessions are open for drop-in attendance, and will meet on the first Wednesday of the month from 4-5 pm begining 9/2/09 at the following locations:
If you need more information, feel free to call the Counseling Center at 231-7671
Are you concerned that your use of a substance could be causing you difficulty? 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, 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. The group is open to all NDSU students at no charge. The group will meet Tuesdays from 5:30-7pm beginning September 1st in the fall semester. If you are interested in attending, contact Ann at 231-7671 for more information.