Counseling and Career Services contributes to the mission of Dalton State by aiding in student retention and academic success. We provide student-centered support to currently enrolled Dalton State students. We are focused on improving and promoting mental health and well-being. Our contribution is achieved through the use of short-term individual and group counseling for personal, career, and academic-related concerns, by providing individual and campus-wide crisis intervention, and by making referrals to campus and community resources when appropriate. The services offered by counseling staff are conducted with an appreciation of diversity, respect for others, and compassion for the students we serve.
INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP COUNSELING IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO CURRENTLY ENROLLED DALTON STATE STUDENTS
Office Hours:
Monday and Wednesday, 8 am – 6 pm
Tuesday, Thursday, and
Friday, 8 am – 5 pm
Location for Counseling and Career Services:
Academic Resources , Pope Student Center, lower level
Contact Information:
706-272-4429
counseling@daltonstate.edu
For after hours emergencies, contact Dalton State Campus Safety:
706-272-4461
CONFIDENTIALITY
All counseling/therapy sessions are treated with the strictest of confidence. Any personal information you share with your counselor will not be divulged to any third party, including parents, faculty, staff, or other students, without your written permission. Under certain circumstances, there are some exceptions where confidentiality may not be guaranteed. These exceptions include, but are not limited to, serious and imminent threat to your life or welfare, or to the life or welfare of another person, or to the college community. Full disclosure and applicability of confidentiality is provided during the first appointment. For more information, please contact Counseling and Career Services.
ABOUT COUNSELING
Counseling is about creating a safe place to talk with a professional about concerns or problems, no matter how minor or serious, which might interfere with personal growth and academic achievement. Counseling services are conducted by appropriately trained and credentialed counselors who are experienced in working with college students of all ages and backgrounds. Our trained counselors utilize two methods to help students – individual counseling and group therapy. Regardless of the method, the focus of counseling is on personal, career, and/or academic issues.
- Individual Counseling – A collaborative process in which a unique, confidential helping relationship is developed between a counselor and a client (student). Counselor and client work together to help the client understand him/herself and the world around him/her more accurately. The counselor and client explore the client's feelings and behaviors, relationships with others, and choices and decisions, as well as the client's current situation.
- Group Counseling – Group therapy typically involves one therapist and six to twelve participants with related issues. Group therapy is a powerful venue for growth and change and is the treatment of choice for some student concerns. Not only do students receive tremendous understanding, support, and encouragement from others facing similar issues, but they also gain different perspectives, ideas, and viewpoints on those issues. Most students report that the group experience was helpful far beyond their expectations. Examples of types of group counseling include alcohol and substance misuse, career exploration and planning, anxiety and stress management, depression, eating problems, and relationship issues.
Personal Counseling
The goal of personal counseling is to work on resolving personal issues that may be interfering with academic progress or personal pursuits. Personal Counseling is commonly sought out for, but is not limited to, the following concerns:
- Adjustment to college
- Relationships
- General personal and family concerns
- Substance abuse
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Sexual assault
- Eating disorders
- Anger problems
Career Counseling
Career counseling assists Dalton State students with their career development, beginning with choosing a major or career path. We help students explore and evaluate their education, training, work history, interests, skills, and personality traits to help aid in making career decisions. We also work with students to develop job-search skills, resume development, and interviewing skills. Additionally, we provide support to students who have experienced job loss, job stress, or other career transition issues.
Academic Counseling
Many students experience academic difficulties of some kind during their college years. The primary focus of this service is to help each student reach his or her academic and career goals. Dalton State students can meet individually with a counselor to discuss their academic difficulties and learn strategies to help them become better students. Academic counseling addresses issues such as preventing semester withdrawals, improving poor grades, managing test anxiety, adapting to learning disabilities, improving study skills, and more.
Counseling or Advising?
Individual counseling is not the same as academic advising. There are some similarities in that both services help students reach educational goals. The primary difference is that while counselors can, and do, provide some academic advising, academic advisors are not trained to provide professional counseling.
- Counselors are professionally trained and often licensed by the state to address personal issues, resolve academic anxieties, assist students in choosing career fields and majors, and problem solve other academic difficulties. With students on academic or financial aid probation, counselors work to develop individual success plans, which address the specific issues inhibiting academic success.
- Advisors specialize in matters pertaining to student educational programs. This includes, but is not limited to, college policies, placement/assessment test interpretation, degree requirements, course transferability, schedule planning, and graduation checks.
If you’re not sure what kind of assistance you need, when you request an appointment, our office staff can direct you to the appropriate service.