What is personal counseling?
Personal counseling offers guidance and consultation designed to provide students with support and an opportunity to talk about personal, social, and academic matters in a safe, confidential setting.
What's the purpose of student counseling?
Personal counseling is designed to identify students' strengths and enhance personal growth skills in the learning environment.
Why personal counseling?
Frequently, there are stress factors associated with college life. You may experience challenging times when faced with the rigors of academics mixed with potential new freedoms, exciting and demanding life choices, and a variety of venues for growth and expression.
Or you simply may need to get something off your chest.
Personal counseling can provide support for your individual concerns that might interfere with personal success and satisfaction, academic progress, and social development at Penn State.
Some of the more common concerns include difficulty with friends, roommates, or family members; depression and anxiety; sexual identity issues; lack of motivation or difficulty relaxing, concentrating or studying; eating disorders; sexual assault and sexual abuse recovery, and uncertainties about personal values and beliefs.
Many common concerns for students include:
- Difficulty in adjusting to college
- Homesickness
- Problems with friends, roommates, and/or family members
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Lack of motivation
- Difficulty in relaxing
- Concerns about your major, career, and/or future
- Difficulty in concentrating or studying
- Trouble coping with academic pressures
- Uncertainties about personal values and beliefs
Please give strong consideration to seeing our personal counselor if you experience or deal with any of these issues or any other stressors.
How do I make an appointment for personal counseling?
To schedule a personal, confidential appointment, please contact Denise Turyan, staff assistant in the Office of Student Affairs, 724-773-3951, or contact:
Larissa B. Ciuca, M.Ed., NCC
Student Personal and Career Counselor
Room 101-C
Student Union Building
724-773-3961
Counseling Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00 p.m., and walk-ins are always welcome.
What services are provided?
Personal counseling offers a variety of services, including:- Individual counseling
- Community referrals
- Programs on topics of well-being
- Crisis intervention
- Additional counseling and support services as needed
- Confidential and free services for currently-enrolled students
How is student confidentiality protected?
All information shared between the student and counselor is strictly confidential. All calls and requests for information are strictly confidential. No contacts are made within or outside the campus community without the student's written permission.
Crisis Intervention
If you're afraid you can't avoid hurting yourself or someone else, get help immediately, no matter the time of day or night. Call Penn State Beaver Police Services at 724-773-3888.
Students who experience a psychological and/or emotional crisis often need immediate help and intervention. Examples of serious crises include:
- Suicidal or homicidal thoughts or impulses
- Sexual or physical assault
- Hearing voices and/or misperceiving reality in some way
- Overwhelming loss, such as a death in the family
The Personal Counseling Office provides crisis intervention services Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The student or referring faculty or staff member should alert the counselor or receptionist to the crisis nature of the situation. MAKE IT VERY CLEAR THAT YOU ARE IN CRISIS. Every effort will be made to respond immediately
If you can’t reach the personal counselor immediately, contact Dr. Chris Rizzo, director of student affairs, 724-773-3957, or Ms. Amy Gartley, associate director of student affairs, 724-773-3956 or 724-773-3950. In addition, residents of Harmony Hall are provided with after-hours crisis assistance.
In the event of an after-hours crisis, please call Penn State Beaver Police Services immediately at 724-773-3888.
Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00 to 5:00 p.m.
For appointments call
724-773-3959 or
724-773-3951
Larissa B. Ciuca, M.Ed.
Student Personal & Career Counselor
101-C Student Union Building
lbm12@psu.edu