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Student Information
The Counseling Services staff provides both personal counseling and career counseling services for the OTC community. Our services are primarily provided in a private office setting, meeting one-on-one with a counselor, although some services may also be provided in a small-group setting. Staff also works closely with our Academic Advising staff to provide advising/educational planning services.
Personal and career counseling services are available to currently enrolled post-secondary students and OTC staff. Career counseling services are also made available on a limited basis to prospective (not currently enrolled) OTC students. (NOTE: For information about counseling and career assessment services available to OTC's Career Center students, please visit the Career Center website.
"Personal counseling" (sometimes referred to as mental-health counseling) is sought by individuals (or small groups) who have issues in their lives which are interfering with their life satisfaction. Common examples of "personal counseling" issues may include (but are not limited to) struggles with anxiety (test, performance, and/or generalized anxiety), depression, stress, relationship communication, abuse, grief, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Counselors are available to work with minors (under the age of 18) for personal counseling issues. However, a minor will need to obtain parent or guardian permission if he/she wishes to participate in more than one personal counseling session.
Online Mental Health Screening
Referrals
Self-Help Articles
Self-Help Links
Mental Health First Aid
Most have heard about Red Cross First Aid and CPR. Did you know that the same exists for mental illness? Mental Health First Aid is a program that was the fruition of Betty Kitchner and her husband Anthony Jorm from Melbourne, Australia who in 2001 decided there is a need for help recognizing signs and symptoms of mental illness. Mental Health First Aid helps individuals to recognize some of the signs and symptoms of mental illness. Mental Health First Aid also provides individuals with the knowledge of how to dispell stigmas associated with mental illness, offer hope to those who may be experiencing a mental illness, and many resources to help individuals in crisis.
Did you know that approximately 11.8% of young adults 18-24 years of age were enrolled in two-year colleges and 27.6% in four-year colleges in 2008? Approximately 32% of the students in colleges are minorities. There are approximately 500,000 veterans enrolled in colleges. What does this information suggest? The average age of onset of many psychological illnesses are the typical age for college students. This suggests there is a huge population that are at risk for mental illness.
Counseling Services staff have four staff members who are Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructors. We offer Mental Health First Aid as a credit class for students. Check out the OTC class schedule for dates and times the PSY 295 Mental Health First Aid class is being offered.
Contact Us
417-447-6974 or email counseling@otc.edu