UK Counseling Center:Consultation and Psychological

Services

Information for Parents

UK Counseling Center:Consultation and Psychological Services• Who are we?

– Staff • 12 doctoral-level licensed counseling & clinical

psychologists• 1 licensed clinical social worker (LCSW)• Doctoral interns & practicum students

– Emergency Services• We provide walk-in crisis help during our business hours

– Consulting Services• Parents, staff and faculty are welcome to call us for

consultation

• We collaborate with other campus offices• After-hours assistance through Residential Life

staff for students living in on-campus housing

Counseling Center Services• Individual, group and couples counseling• Workshops for career, test anxiety, relaxation• Counseling for a broad spectrum of

presenting concerns• Short-term model• We offer an initial assessment, may refer out• Cost is included in student fees; see our

website for additional information and eligibility

Goals• Provide information

about what helps students be successful at UK

• Identify common social and academic stumbling areas

• Offer ideas about how to help your student be successful

Important Academic Considerations

• Prioritize school, study 3 hours per enrolled credit

• Limit non-academic computer time– Social networking– Increased incidence of gambling/porn addictions

• Consistent class attendance• Get to know professors and go to office hours• Spend adequate time on campus to get school

work completed, especially during peak academic periods

• Work fewer than 15 hrs/week, ideally on campus, especially early in the transition to UK

Important Social Considerations in Student Success

• Social connection and satisfaction are associated with retention and timely academic progress

• Students need to break down the “bigness” of UK into smaller social settings that feel comfortable and nurturing

• It’s best if students begin to form these social networks in their first weeks here

Fostering Social Connectedness: Encourage your son or daughter to

• Participate in campus activities• Ask others to meals or to walk to classes• Get involved with dorm or campus

governance• Introduce themselves to classmates;

many classes require group projects and this helps break the ice

• Get involved! There are more than 550 registered clubs or groups at UK

Fostering Social Connectedness:

• Discourage students from returning home their first four weekends here

• If you visit in the first month, stay for only part of a weekend.

• Discourage too much electronic communication with “home” friends

• Be sparing in telling them how much you miss them – many feel guilty leaving home and don’t truly invest in being here

Important Self-Care Considerations

• Basic living skills (cooking, laundry, budgeting, paying bills, cleaning)

• Health Issues – family history, managing health problems, navigating insurance. Students should have a copy of their insurance card at UK.

• Sleep hygiene• Drugs and alcohol and related safety issues

(sexual assaults, injuries, arrests, alcohol infractions)

• Basic safety – using a buddy system, having a “designated thinker,” common sense guidelines for awareness and protection

Fostering Independence/Letting Go

• There is a dynamic shift that occurs as students become more independent

• Parents transition into gradually “letting go” of control while students transition into increased self-sufficiency and autonomy

• In four years we want them to be independent, confident, capable adults with solid life skills

• You shift from being “the parent” to being a wise and experienced consultant

To Foster Independence:

• Familiarize yourself with UK resources but encourage your son or daughter to access these resources themselves

• Resist problem-solving for your student but be available to brainstorm and advise

• Resist the temptation to resolve such common difficulties as roommate conflict or problems with a professor

Uncertainty About Majors/Career

• It’s normal to be undecided and exploring• There should be some clear narrowing of

choices by spring of sophomore year• Narrowing down to a specific college as

early as possible is helpful with on-time graduation

• If your student is highly anxious about career uncertainty, encourage them to get help with this sooner rather than later

Psychological Concerns• Students with a history of mental illness, alcohol

or drug use or difficulty adjusting to change may find these concerns exacerbated in the first year at college. Anticipate, normalize and plan for this

• Students with a history of difficulty with self-motivation, getting up, procrastination, structuring time, completing homework, etc. will likely have these difficulties at UK

• Direct them to appropriate resources now, in advance of “hitting the wall” in the middle of the semester

• UKCC can help you identify university and Lexington resources to address these problems

Final Tips• Remain involved – listen and ask questions• Send email, snail mail and care packages• Visit UK websites including the Parent

Association site to be aware of UK activities, events, etc.

• Know campus resources – parents often remember these better than students do

• Realize this is a time of transition – be patient

QPR Training Session• QPR stands for: Question‚ Persuade and Refer

– Three simple steps that anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide

• QPR is a nationally-recognized training program designed to help individuals recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and get a person at risk the help they need

• A Parent QPR session will likely be offered during K Week. No advance sign-up is needed.

University of Kentucky Counseling Center

Consultation and Psychological Services

201 Frazee Hall859-257-8701

Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Walk-in assessments 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Counseling/

@UKCounselingCtr