Supporting students’ mental health Clinical counselor Liz Rago encourages students to use available resources to focus on mental and emotional health BY HAILEY HUHANE
Graphics by Bruno Maynez
As a clinical counselor at Counseling and Disability Services, Elizabeth “Liz” Rago said the best part of her job is witnessing people improve and feeling better. Colleagues said they admire Rago’s work and likewise advocate students to use the resources available to improve their emotional well-being. Rago said she loves seeing “people get better, feeling whole and developing the fortitude to pursue their desires. Whether it be a career, a healthy relationship with their spouse or friends, being a better parent, or even being able to manage anger and resentment, or emotional issues that can make us feel stuck in life.” For Rago, her work as a counselor is what sustains her hope in humanity. She said, “More people than we realize are suffering, accessing help and getting better. People who we would never guess need help actually struggle with issues related to mental and emotional health, and that should make seeking help okay because that means we’re not alone.” Advice for students For students who are struggling, Rago said, “My advice would be to talk to a 10
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trusted person in your life. Share with them your struggles and see what they think. I often see clients whose friends encouraged them to come. Trusted friends are priceless commodities in this world. I would listen to their feedback.” Rago also suggested talking to a therapist, but she clarified therapy cannot solve all of a person’s problems. She explained, “That’s not what therapists are trained to do. What we can try to do is help you gain insight and clarity, provide support for problem-solving and teach skills so you can effectively negotiate the complexities of relationships, trauma, addiction or other emotional issues that get in the way of thriving.” Speaking directly to the students, Rago said, “When we attend therapy, we become equipped to evaluate our beliefs about ourselves, people and the world around us and then we learn ways to manage and regulate our emotions and tolerate distress when faced with situations or memories of past events. “My advice to students is to persist and use the resources our school has for students who struggle with the mental and emotional issues that can keep us from achieving academically. If you struggle with emotional and mental health
