By Sam Draddy
The University of Maryland Counseling Center has been hosting “Wellness Workshops” throughout the spring semester, to help improve the mental health and well-being of students and faculty.
The Counseling Center’s website describes the workshops as “skill-building workshops and not a therapy space.” The drop-in virtual workshops are available to anybody in the UMD community. Staff at the Counseling Center go over different topics Monday through Thursday for four weeks a month.
Both students and faculty attended the “Surviving Difficult Emotions” workshop on May 11. This meeting was hosted by David A. Petersen, a psychologist at the Counseling Center and UMD alumnus. Petersen started by telling the participants what was going to be covered throughout the workshop.
“We know that dealing with difficult emotions is just a part of life,” Petersen said. “What I want to focus on today is those times when those difficult feelings that you’re experiencing feel so overwhelming and unbearable that it’s hard to get done what you need to get done.”
Many of the therapists at the Counseling Center present Wellness Workshops in addition to providing clinical services such as brief therapy and support groups. The workshops are popular among students and faculty who may not need counseling but hope to benefit from the information that is offered in the workshops, according to Petersen.
“I hope that students acquire knowledge and skills that help them feel more effective as they pursue their goals in academics, relationships, and personal development,” he said in an email.
Four faculty members and three students attended the event hosted by Petersen. Hardeep Chowdhary, a program coordinator in the economics department, said he attended the event because he was interested in the topic.
“I have been trying to get better at dealing with things that upset me, and I felt it would be a good chance to learn more about that topic,” Chowdhary said in an email.
Kayi Hui-Spears, a staff psychologist and externship coordinator, hosted a workshop called “Conquer Procrastination Now (Not Later)” on May 12. Hui-Spears suggested some strategies students can use to stop procrastinating.
Hui-Spears said conflicting feelings are one of the main causes of procrastination.
“Our ambitious self wants us to be successful and pushes us to do the best work that we can,” she said. “The self-care side of you really wants us to enjoy ourselves and take care of ourselves and preserve energy as much as possible. It’s all about finding a balance between the two.”
The Wellness Workshops will continue until the fourth Thursday of May. On Fridays, there is also an option for students and staff to join a virtual drop-in space for community support from 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Unlike the other series, this space will not be a workshop but rather a place to join together as a community. The Counseling Center’s website describes these meetings as “an informal space to connect with and support one another.” For those who miss a meeting, there are recordings of every workshop on the website.
Students who need to talk to someone can call 301-314-7651 to schedule an appointment with a counselor or stop by the Counseling Center reception desk on the main level of the Shoemaker Building.
Featured image: UMD Counseling Center Psychologist David Petersen held the Tuesday Wellness Workshop on difficult emotions. Screenshot by Sam Draddy.