"We know that sometimes students want to come to professional counseling or they have clinical issues that they want to discuss with a therapist, but we're also mindful that, especially post-COVID, students want to talk to someone who really understands what it's like to be a student in 2023," said Sarah Maver, PsyD, staff psychologist at the Drexel University Counseling Center.
That need for mutual understanding led to the Counseling Center’s new Peer Counseling program. Starting this spring, eight trained students will be available for one-on-one conversations (both in-person and virtual) with Dragons seeking support in non-crisis situations. The Peer Counselors will have received training in active listening skills and cultural humility, among other topics, and can point students towards campus resources for referrals and other support. Now, for example, a student experiencing stress and anxiety related to academic struggles can meet a Peer Counselor who is also taking classes at Drexel and knows what academic support is available at the University.
To speak with a Peer Counselor, undergraduate and graduate students can visit the Peer Counseling website to schedule a conversation at various times throughout the week. In-person conversations will take place in two Peer Counseling offices in the basement of the Rush Building, which the Peer Counselors will also use for virtual conversations. The Counseling Center set up those offices during the winter term and outfitted them with comfy chairs, plants, comfort items and literature related to campus resources that students can take with them.
"The new spaces represent another effort for the Counseling Center to have mental health and wellness resources outside of our physical space in the Creese Student Center," said Tania Czarnecki, PsyD, executive director of counseling. "I think students can still feel connected to the spirit of the building and some of the activity, but there's still a level of privacy afforded to the space due to its location."
