Consultation, Workshops, and Outreach

Counseling staff are happy to work with students, faculty, and other departments to offer consultation, trainings, and workshops on a variety of issues relating to students' lives. We also provide specialized training and outreach to faculty, staff, and student leaders on the mental health needs and concerns of Bowdoin students.

Consultations

The Counseling Service offers brief consultations for students who are concerned for the well being of another. Counselors are available to sit down either with a single student or a small group of students who share concern for a friend.

The goal of a consultation is for the counselor and student(s) to jointly come to a better understanding of the situation and to discuss possible courses of action. Students may also use this time to garner support for themselves and to become aware of support systems throughout the college community. Consultation appointments usually last for 30 minutes and can be scheduled by calling 725-3145.

Whether or not you choose to schedule a consultation, if you are currently concerned about a friend, we encourage you to look through the worried about a friend section of this website; it may be of some help to you at what can be a worrisome and challenging time.

Workshops

The Counseling Service is available to help groups of individuals explore topics of interest and/or to work through shared concerns. These workshops vary in duration and can be held throughout the campus. Groups who have previously participated in workshops include sports teams, residence hall floors, and student-led organizations. Open workshops have also been offered for interested members of the college community at large. Topics of discussion have included stress reduction, disordered eating, grief/trauma, test anxiety, performance enhancement, and sleep. If you are interested in arranging a workshop on any of these topics or on another topic of interest, please contact us at 725-3145 to learn more.

Outreach

National Depression Screening Day

This educational event is part of Screening for Mental Health’s National Depression Screening Day, an annual campaign that brings attention to the importance of mental health education, early detection, and treatment. This provides an opportunity to learn about mental health issues, raise awareness in our community, and reduce stigma of mental health disorders. The theme for this year’s National Depression Screening Day is Reach Out, which focuses on the importance of people talking about their experiences with mental health. It can be to a friend, a loved one, or reaching out to a mental health professional.
Hundreds of organizations across the country including community centers, hospitals and colleges are hosting National Depression Screening Day screening events. The online screenings are educational in nature and not diagnostic. They will help someone determine if they are exhibiting symptoms associated with a depression or another mood disorder and if they should seek help.
Screening for Mental Health (SMH), the pioneer of large-scale mental health screening for the public, provides innovative mental health and substance use resources, linking those in need with quality treatment options. SMH programs, offered online and in person, educate, raise awareness, and screen individuals for common mental health disorders and suicide. For more information about Screening for Mental Health, visit the MindWise website.