Counseling Center

Connect With Us

Life as a graduate student is full of new experiences – opportunities and challenges – that call for adaptive and flexible coping skills. Balancing classes, work, family and friends can place competing demands on your time. It’s not surprising that many graduate students find themselves at times feeling anxious, overwhelmed or depressed. It can also take more energy for graduate students to feel connected. You aren’t alone in your feelings, and you don’t have to be alone in working through them.

The Counseling Center provides a range of free and confidential services including:

• brief individual counseling for full-time graduate students; • Let’s Talk single sessions that provide a solution-focused, goal-oriented, one-time space for graduate students to meet with a counselor; • comprehensive referral support for graduate students who may benefit from longer-term therapy and/or are enrolled in on-line programs; • group counseling options available to all graduate students (www.loyola.edu/groupcounseling); and • workshops by request on topics such as stress management, coping with work-life balance, and exploring the intersection of graduate student experiences and cultural identity. As the University adjusts to the ongoing changes posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Counseling Center will continue to adapt its services to meet the evolving needs of students and the Loyola community. If you are interested in services, we encourage you to contact the Counseling Center to discuss your counseling needs. The Counseling Center remains committed to supporting the emotional well-being of our students.

If you are hoping to learn more about our services and resources, we offer an array of information on our website (www.loyola.edu/counselingcenter) including suggestions that are designed specifically for graduate students and selfguided interventions - the most popular of which include a self-assessment and our Relaxation and Meditation pages. Also, check us out on Instagram (@loyolamd _ counselingcenter) for self-care tips, resources, and Counseling Center updates.

The Counseling Center team is staffed by licensed clinicians and advanced doctoral extern, and we strive to provide services that are affirming and inclusive. Graduate students may make an appointment for an initial consultation to determine recommended treatment options. Unfortunately, due to high clinical demand, we are unable to provide counseling services for students seeking to fulfill the counseling requirement of their graduate program.

Please consider us as an option for support as you embark upon your graduate school journey. To make an appointment to meet with Counseling Center staff or to speak with a counselor for urgent support, call (410) 617-CARE (2273), Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. On weekends and after-hours, an emergency counselor is available by calling (410) 617-5530. The Counseling Center is located on the Evergreen campus in Humanities Center 150.

Work-Life Balance in Graduate School

Graduate school comes with a lot of responsibilities - classes, assignments, exams, internships, and balancing multiple roles. Being a graduate student is not your only identity or involvement. Most graduate students are also working (part-time or full-time) and hold other identities, including but not limited to, being a parent, a partner/spouse, or a caregiver. It can feel like there is so much to do with so little time. Learning how to balance multiple responsibilities is important. When imbalance occurs, it opens the door for stress, anxiety, worry, burnout, and sometimes depression. Below are some things to consider when trying to navigate healthy work-life balance.

Practice compassionate time management

• Set small, realistic goals for yourself and set specific times to accomplish tasks • Use a planner or organizer to write down your commitments, plans

Create a self-care plan

• Be intentional about activities that calm and energize you • Incorporate one rejuvenating activity to your schedule per week (i.e. reading for leisure, listening to music, deep breathing exercises, unplugging from social media, or dancing)

Plan for the week AND the weekend

• Be mindful about having fun and enjoyable activities planned for week and the weekend

• Think about boundary setting for the work week and weekend

Get connected and reach out for support

• Know that support is available, both through on-campus and community resources, as graduate students. • For more information, visit www.loyola.edu/counselingcenter