By Taylor Martin 

September 9, 2014

With college comes a time of great responsibilities for many young adults. For new students experiencing this for the first time, as well as returning students, there might come a time where stress takes over. Because of this, Milligan opened a counseling center this fall.

 

Located in the Taylor House behind the soccer fields, Milligan unlocked the doors of its new counseling center on Thursday, August 28, with an open house for students and faculty.

Dr. Christine Browning, a licensed professional counselor and a professor of psychology at Milligan, is serving as the center’s director for the first year of operation. 

 

 “[Primarily], I will provide supervision for the Milligan College master of science in counseling practicum and internship students who provide counseling for faculty, staff and students of Milligan at no charge,” Browning said.

 

While the idea of going to a counseling session led by a peer might be intimidating and uncomfortable for some, Browning assures that the graduate students neither have no former ties to Milligan nor are significantly older.

 

“We make every effort to distance graduate students who graduated from Milligan from students who seek counseling. For example, [one of our practicum students] graduated from Milligan, and therefore she would not counsel any juniors or seniors. Instead, she would be assigned to counsel freshmen, none of whom she knew while an undergraduate on Milligan’s campus,” Browning said.

 

While the counseling center will offer primarily individual counseling sessions, the center is making a conscious effort to expand its services.

“The center will be conducting surveys to ascertain student interest in the group counseling topics (e.g. test anxiety, stress management). In addition, the center will be promoting mental health awareness. For example, October’s theme is Depression Awareness,” Browning said.

 

Students can take advantage of the services offered by the counseling center by calling (423) 461-8500, a 24/7 phone number that is answered by a practicum student on Mondays from 1-5 p.m. and Tuesday/Thursdays from 2-5 p.m. If there is no answer, students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to leave a detailed message and will receive a phone call back as soon as possible.