Individual Counseling
To schedule an individual counseling appointment, email our office coordinator at ljacobs@bowdoin.edu.
Individual counseling is an opportunity to work one-on-one with a counselor who can provide a safe, confidential place for exploring thoughts and feelings about the many changes happening internally and externally for college students. Counseling can help understand options, observe patterns, and move forward with goals. It’s okay to come to counseling for any reason, even if you’re not sure exactly what it is (that’s what we’re here for), some of the reasons students initially come in include:
- Relationships (family, friends, romantic)
- Feeling depressed or sad
- Difficulties with school or studying
- Questions about identity (race, culture, gender, religion, sexuality, age, etc.)
- Feeling stressed-out
- Feeling out of control
- Something you've never told anyone, but wished you could
- Feeling alone
- Asserting yourself/Communication skills
- Feeling anxious, or having panic attacks
- Worrying about your appearance or your weight
- Unwanted sexual experiences
- Drinking or using drugs
- Not feeling good about yourself
- Habits or behaviors that you feel compelled to do
Given the diverse needs of the student community at Bowdoin, the Office of Counseling Services does it's best to offer a flexible range of therapy options in terms of frequency and duration. In general, we operate on a more short-term, semi-regular model that allows the most students to access our services while maintaining the integrity and efficacy of treatment. A student and their counselor will decide in partnership whether a shorter- or longer-term clinical contract best meets the student's presenting needs, and an open dialogue between student and counselor will help to shape clinical goals as a student's needs change. Individual therapy sessions are typically 45 minutes long and usually occur on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. At times, an off-campus referral may be made for longer-term, intensive psychotherapy requiring more frequent meetings. If you and your counselor decide that a longer therapy relationship is going to be the best, we will help you find a referral off campus.
To schedule an individual counseling appointment, email our office coordinator at ljacobs@bowdoin.edu. First-time appointments are generally about 30 minutes. We ask that you complete both the Student Intake forms and the Informed Consent form before your appointment. The link for these forms will be sent to you after you contact Lindsay Jacobs at ljacobs@bowdoin.edu.