Feb, 2001.
Volume 43, No. 18

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The Carillon brings you the weekly news from the University of Regina.

Contact:
The Editor
Newsline:
(306)-586-8867
Fax:
(306)-586-7422
Room 227
Riddell Centre
University of Regina

Although U of R Counselling Services has been in place since the university existed, they unintentionally seem to keep a low profile.

Darcy Overland, a fourth-year Education/Arts student, points out, "I don't even know where the Counselling Services are."

Luckily other students are slightly more informed, such as Sharri Myhre, a second-year Pre-Medicine student.

"I've heard of some of their services. I've seen a poster for a workshop on grieving, as well as procrastination and how to organize your time."

The Counselling Services offer workshops to help students be successful while attending university.

They focus on three main areas: academic skills, such as dealing with exams; career counselling, such as picking or changing a major; and personal counselling, such as dealing with family problems and relationship break-ups.

"Our purpose is to provide a safety net for students and assistance so they are successful in their time here," says Dr. Brian Sveinson, Director of Counselling Services.

This semester there are four programs being offered from February 5 to March 12: Overcoming Eating Problems, Self-esteem and Assertiveness Workshops, and a Young Adult Bereavement Support Group.

Through these workshops, and others as well, Counselling Services tries to address issues that affect students.

"Research [indicates] that up to as many as ten per cent of university women are suffering from an eating disorder," notes Sveinson.

"The Self-esteem and Assertiveness Workshops are offered because there always seems to be a demand for those types," he continues.

"The Bereavement Support Group is a fortuitous thing. Out of 12,000 students, you would expect there to be a group which has experienced loss."

These are only a few issues Counselling Services addresses, though. Dr. Sveinson realizes there are other areas that need attention.

"Procrastination is a big issue," says Dr. Sveinson, "[as] it undermines students' progress and ability to be the best they could be."

He also notes there is a certain population of students who are isolated, and as resources become available, Counselling Services plans to address that area.

As well as resource availability, Counselling Services must also overcome the obstacle of being virtually unknown.

This may be due to the fact that their main form of advertising is the poster boards.

"You can put up lots of posters, but how many of us actually look at them?" asks Overland. "[To be better known], I think they have to go by word of mouth; they have to help more people."

"Counselling Services seems inaccessible," adds Myhre, "I wouldn't know where to go or who to talk to [if I had a problem]."

U of R Counselling Services can be reached by phone at 585-4491 if you are interested in any workshops that are being offered, or if you just need someone to talk to.

As Overland points out, "If you know it's there, it's a good service to have."