peers and/or significant faculty and staff. This is an important part of gaining personal identity and au-tonomy and can assist the college student in being able to relate to you.

Be realistic with your college student about fi-nancial matters. Most students come to school with a fairly detailed plan about how tuition, fees, books, and room and board will be paid for, and what the family’s expectations are about money. Being specific at the outset may help avoid misun-derstandings later.

Be realistic as well about academic achievement and grades. College attracts bright students from all over and not every first-year student who excelled academically in high school will be an all-A student in college. Developing or refining the capac-ity to work independently and consistently and to demonstrate mastery can be more important than grades, as long as the student meets the basic aca-demic requirements set out by the college.

What can you do to help your student from a distance? Of course, you are still a parent to your college bound student, and he or she does still need your support and guidance during these years. Here are some ways you can express how much you care and support your student’s college experi-ence:

Stay in touch! Even though your student is experimenting with independent choices, he or she still needs to know that you’re there and available to talk about both normal events and difficult issues. Make arrange-ments prior to each school year, in agreement with your student to write, email, text, Face-book or call on certain agreed-upon times.

Allow space for your college student to set the agenda for some of your conversa-tions and interactions. It can even be nor-mal and developmentally appropriate for some college students to want little contact with their parents. Some students choose their most important relationships to be with

TIPS FOR PARENTS

Information from this section adapted and used with permission from Susan Landis Beck, Counseling Center, Goshen College.

These guidelines are offered to help stu-dents who either have had past emotional concerns or who currently are dealing with emotional challenges while preparing for the transition to college:

Start planning now for a healthy transi-tion to college. Prevention works.

Meet with your psychiatrist, medical doctor, and/or mental health profession-al to review medications you currently may be taking. Discuss anticipated stresses related to the transition to col-lege life and leaving home, and develop relapse prevention strategies.

If you are a local resident, continue to meet with your mental health profes-sional for follow up care. If you are coming from out of the area, talk to your current mental health professional about referrals near your local college.

Take your medication as pre-scribed. Be careful to not self-medicate using alcohol, other drugs, or food. Do not wait until you run out or until you have symptoms—make contact early.

Develop a stress management plan. Be aware that a history of emotional concerns don’t just disappear when you start college. They can often become exacerbated due to the demands of college.

Have a plan to follow if symptoms of your condition begin to recur or in-tensify. Respond quickly rather than putting off action.

Contact CAPS at (925) 631-4364 if you are on campus to find out what the process is to make an appoint-ment for an initial consultation.

Adapted from Mental Health Ser-vices of Central Michigan University and Counseling Services, Goshen College.

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS WITH A HISTORY OF EMOTIONAL CONCERNS

SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CA COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (C APS)

AUGUSTINE HALL—GROUND FLOOR (925) 631-4364

SmcCounselingAndPsychologicalServicesCaps

SMCCAPS smc_caps

A note to welcome you ...

Welcome to the SMC Community! Now that you’re on campus, it is

important to us that your experience here be one of connection and

engaged, effective learning. While college is an exciting time, ad-

justing to college and managing the demands of college life can be

challenging at times. If you ever need a safe, private and confiden-

tial place and someone to talk to, our Counseling and Psychological

Services (CAPS) staff are available to help you.

Whether it’s meeting with a therapist individually or sharing your

experiences with others, in group therapy, our broad array of services

are offered to enhance your emotional well-being and education. If

you are feeling homesick, not getting along with a roommate,

stressed out about finals or struggling with painful issues from the

past, CAPS provides a supportive professional and confidential envi-

ronment for you to address any concerns or difficulties that may be

interfering with your success at SMC.

Enjoy your time at Saint Mary’s and we look forward to seeing you!

Dai To, Ph.D.

Director

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS staff members interact with students outside of CAPS through a variety of outreach events. We offer fun, interactive psychoeducational programming to undergrad-uate and graduate students at SMC. Here is a representa-tive listing of some of our events:

Wellness Wednesdays These engaging, informative programs take place during Community Time. Topics include Adjusting to College, Roommate Conflict, Stress Reduction, and Happiness.

Pet Therapy Our most popular outreach program! We partner with the Animal Rescue Foundation to bring therapy dogs and cats to campus.

Mental Health Awareness and Campus of Caring Week This week of events includes a carnival, mood screening, and pet therapy.

QPR Training Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR) is a two-hour sui-cide awareness and prevention gatekeeper training that teaches faculty, staff, and students how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and refer someone to the appro-priate resources.

National Alcohol Screening Day Students take a short screening measure to assess their drinking, while sipping a mocktail and petting some therapy dogs.

SMC CAPS

WELCOMES FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

OUTREACH PROGRAMMING

SAINT MARY’S COLLEGE OF CA COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES (C APS)

AUGUSTINE HALL—GROUND FLOOR (925) 631-4364

CAPS Staff

Dai To, Ph.D. Director

Laura Williams, Psy.D. Director of Training

Cynthia Cutshall, Ph.D. Staff Psychologist/Outreach Coordinator

Thomas Jones, Ed.D. Staff Psychologist

Roman Rodriguez, M.D. Psychiatrist

Brighton Earley, Psy.D. Postdoctoral Resident

Daniel Lumbres Psy.D. Postdoctoral Resident

Sebastian Sheldon, Psy.D. Postdoctoral Resident

Heidi Tend Administrative Assistant

The CAPS staff is trained to help a student think about alternatives or options to current behavior, and new ways of dealing with the world. Therapy is provided in an open, non-judgmental and cul-

turally aware environment.

Did You Know???

CAPS Offers

Individual Therapy Group Therapy Consultation to parents, staff and faculty Psychiatric Services for clients seeing a

CAPS therapist

Groups returning this Fall include:

First (Generation) In The Family Sexual Assault Survivors