Student Counseling Services (SCS) shares the College's goal of fostering equity and inclusion; we also share in the campus community's value of diversity in its broadest sense. The staff at SCS recognizes the role of various aspects of identity (including and not limited to: race, ethnicity, nation of origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, socioeconomic status, physical ability and size/physical appearance) in psychological functioning and mental health and wellbeing. Importantly, we appreciate the implications of aspects of identity for individuals’ social location, experiences of privilege (or lack thereof) and interactions with others.
In accordance with the aforementioned values and understandings of human functioning, all SCS staff members engage in ongoing cultural competency training. We perceive the individuals we serve as whole people with complex intersecting aspects of identity, all of which are honored and attended to in both individual and group treatment contexts. Additionally we have staff persons whose doctoral-level training and professional experience have focused on the intersection of aspects of identity and psychological functioning and treatment; these staff persons constitute the SCS Identity-focused Team.
Resources
There are a number of other campus resources that provide non-therapeutic support and space for particular groups of students within the larger campus community:
- The primary campus resource for students of color is Race and Ethnicity Programs at Unity House
- The primary campus resource for women at Connecticut College is the Womxn’s Center
- The primary campus resource for the exploration of religion and/or spirituality is the Office of Religious and Spiritual Programs
- The primary campus resource for LGBTQIA students is the LGBTQIA Center. For information related to the College's Gender and Sexuality Programming, go to www.conncoll.edu/lgbtqia.
- The primary campus resource for the religious and communal needs of Jewish students is the Zachs Hillel House
There are student groups devoted to culture and identity. A listing of those groups may be found on the Clubs and Organizations webpage.
SCS and general mental health resources for LGBTQIA students:
Exploring your sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity is an important part of on-going developmental processes. If you identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, any other nonbinary or sexual minority identity, or are question your sexual orientation and/or gender identity, the process of exploring these aspects of yourself may include challenges resulting from societal (and internalized) heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia and ridged gender-related expectations and values; this may lead to the need for support. Student Counseling Services at Connecticut College is here to serve as a non-judgmental and affirming support space for LGBTQIA students.
To make an appointment to meet with a counselor, please contact Student Counseling Services at 860-439-4587.
In an emergency
If you are a LGBTQIA or Questioning young adult and you are struggling with thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, you can call the Trevor Project, an organization that focuses on crisis and suicide intervention specifically for LGBTQIA youth. Their services are confidential and are available any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at:
The Trevor Project Crisis Intervention Hotline: 1-866-488-7386
For on-campus resources in an emergency, call Campus Safety at "111" from any campus phone, or from a cellphone at 860-439-2222. On weekdays you can also contact Student Counseling Services at 860-439-4587.
The best thing about being LGBTQIA on campus? You never have to feel alone. There are resources all around you that can help, whether by providing information, support, community, or just an ear to listen.
The primary resource for LGBTQIA students at Connecticut College is the LGBTQIA Center (x2238), located in the Burdick House residence house. Look for the rainbow banner.
Other helpful resources for support, education, and ways to get involved for LBGTQIAs and Allies can be found at the following links.
- Connecticut College protects students from bias incidents and discrimination. Members of the College community may report a bias incident by logging in to CamelWeb, the College intranet, and completing a form, the Bias Incident Protocol
- For information about LGBTQIA Civil Rights efforts through the Human Rights Campaign
- To find out how to get involved in your area, visit CenterLink, the Community of LGBTQIA Centers
- To connect with other family members and allies of LGBTQIA people, visit Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
- To learn about efforts to affect positive change in health for the LGBTQIA community, visit the National Coalition for LGBT Health
- For more information about crisis prevention and intervention for LGBTQIA youth, visit the The Trevor Project
- For information on freedom from religious and political persecution for the LGBTQIA community, visit Soulforce
SCS and general mental health resources for BIPOC students:
Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) are disproportionately impacted by sociopolitical factors that lead to experiences of marginalization, oppression, and at times unsafety. Psychological support can serve as a buffer to mediate the impact of these experiences. Being one of few students of color at a predominately White institution is a unique experience that may be accompanied by challenges that impact one’s mental health and wellbeing. At Student Counseling Services we appreciate the aforementioned factors in our work with students. Student Counseling Services is here to foster all students’ psychological well-being, empowerment, resilience, and self-understanding and affirmation. For BIPOC students in particular we work to provide support around identity-related distress, work to develop tools and skills to foster future resilience and resistance (against oppression) that will aid lifelong wellbeing and perseverance. We do so by providing individual and group psychotherapy and engaging the community in outreach programming and consultative services related to aspects of identity.
Related Resources
https://www.jedfoundation.org/
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/african-american-mental-health
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/latinohispanic-communities-and-mental-health
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/native-american-communities-and-mental-health
https://www.addictions.com/bipoc/
To make an appointment to meet with a counselor, please call Student Counseling Services at 860-439-4587, walk-in, or email scs@conncoll.edu.
SCS and general mental health resources for international students:
Adapting to an academic environment far from one’s nation of origin, working to establish a social support network in a culture different from one’s own, and being far away from previously established support systems are among the many challenges approached by international students. Supportive therapy (group and individual work) often assists international students as they approach the aforementioned challenges. Additionally, counseling provides students a safe context in which to discuss and explore culturally-related experiences including feelings of isolation, difficulty navigating relationships with American members of the campus community, and overall wellbeing. Part of being successful at the College is making use of available campus resources. Student Counseling Services is here to provide support and to foster wellbeing for international students as they work to pursue their educational and personal goals.
To make an appointment to meet with a counselor, please call Student Counseling Services at 860-439-4587, walk-in, or email scs@conncoll.edu.
Related Resources
https://www.nafsa.org/about/about-international-education/resources
https://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/explained/mental-health-video.php