Location: Individual Counseling - When To Seek Help
When Should People Seek Counseling
Almost half of all UCSB students will at some point utilize the
counseling services offered at Counseling Services before
graduating. Students commonly seek counseling when they encounter a level of
distress which they feel unable to handle alone. In the past, students have
most commonly sought individual or group counseling services at Counseling Services to
address the following issues:
| Anxiety/Persistent Worry/Panic Attacks |
Depression/Apathy/Low Energy/Poor Motivation |
| Relationship Issues/Difficulty with Intimacy |
Eating Disorders/Episodic Binge Eating/Restricted Intake |
| Family Issues |
Sexual Problems/Dysfunction |
| Low Self-Esteem |
Anger |
| Sexual Assault/Abuse |
Loneliness |
| Sleep Disturbance |
Abusive Relationships |
Please visit this list of links
to self-help information regarding these topics. Students typically
attempt to work with these issues on their own for some time before
reaching-out for assistance. Some discuss their concerns with family, friends,
or perhaps even faculty, but sometimes this isn't enough. By seeking the
assistance of a professional counselor, you can find non-judgmental acceptance,
and a level of expertise and objectivity that others who are closer to you may
not be able to provide.
Many students report significant improvement in functioning following the
completion of one to five sessions with a professional counselor from Counseling Services.
For others, a positive experience with short-term individual counseling
provides students with the confidence to pursue other sources of support such
as group therapy, support group attendance, or open-ended individual counseling
with a therapist in the local community.