Counseling Services

The following list contains 25 of the most common concerns voiced by clients who come to our counseling center for help. Sometimes, a client is struggling with a number of these problems that, taken together, have made life difficult. At other times, a client may have only one of these concerns, but the intensity and/or persistence of the problem has made it hard to function effectively.

As you read through these 25 signs, keep in mind that, at times, all of us will have experiences like those described in the items. Normally, these problems are relatively temporary, and we recover fairly quickly. But if you see yourself in a number of the items, or if even one problem is significant enough to really disrupt your life, it might be a good idea to call and make an appointment for personal or group counseling.

25 Signs that counseling may be helpful to you

1. Difficulty adjusting to life in a new location
2. A dramatic falloff in academic performance
3. Lack of direction or feeling unsure about your chosen career
4. Feeling tired, fatigued, like everything takes a lot of effort
5. Recent change in your sleeping patterns (e.g., difficulty sleeping or sleeping all the time)
6. Feeling guilty or inadequate
7. Wishing you were dead, having suicidal thoughts
8. Having panic attacks or experiencing intense anxiety for no apparent reason
9. Use of alcohol or drugs is causing personal and/or academic problems for you
10. Having experienced sexual assault or harassment
11. Concern about sexuality issues (e.g., sexual performance, questions regarding sexual orientation)
12. Lack of assertiveness
13. Anxiety related to academic work (e.g., test-taking or public-speaking anxiety)
14. Concerns over whether or not you're in the right major
15. Difficulty concentrating (e.g., when trying to study) and making decisions
16. Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
17. Recent change in your eating patterns (e.g., loss of appetite or eating more than usual)
18. Wanting to avoid most people, even those you like
19. Unexplained crying
20. Bursts of anger or unusual irritability
21. Problems with weight control (e.g., overeating, bulimia, anorexia, excessive exercising)
22. Sexual abuse as a child or adolescent
23. Problems in your relationship with your parent(s)
24. Relationship breakup that has really disrupted your life
25. Difficulty coping with the death of someone important