UFV Flashcards
- There is increased concern and discussion around the rise of mental health challenges at post-secondary institutions. Why do you think this is happening and how do you think college counsellors can influence student , campus, and community well-being?
WHY?
Technology shift
Economics (wealth gap, rising costs, student debt, poor job outlook)
Competing pressures for students
Changes to family structure and parenting styles
Lack of coping and resilience skills
Increased awareness of and reduced stigma around mental health
Psychopharmacology
Shift in function of college/university
Geopolitical destabilization
What we as counsellors can do?
Lead by example
Health of the team (immune system analogy)
Share information (introspective consciousness)
Support, empower, and train staff / faculty (e.g., boundaries, not fixing)
Outreach to programs (speak their language, e.g., optimal performance, flow)
Innovate support and empowerment for students
Groups (e.g., leading skills, branching points)
Teach them coping and resilience skills (e.g., “Mind Hacks”)
Enlist students as mental health point-persons
Encourage clients, support them in helping others
Frame efforts in context of the Student Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy
- Take 5-minutes to highlight the key personal qualities, knowledge, skills, and experiences that make you a preferred candidate for this position
I have many years experience as a student in higher education, and have overcome struggles similar to those faced by students
I completed practicum and clinic years at UBC and Douglas College.
I care about students and can relate well with them.
I continually seek professional development.
I grew up in the fraser valley
I am self-reflective.
I am curious.
I am compassionate.
I consider myself a student.
I have been successful in school.
I have been through personal counselling and therapy.
I have been through career counselling.
I have changed careers. I have studied a range of subjects.
- Which counselling theories have influenced, and are represented in , your counselling approach / method?
Attachment
Trauma-informed theory
Psychodynamic
Strengths-based, solution focused
Paradoxical theory of change - radical acceptance - nonattachment
- Clinical Example: Describe in a recent example how you counselled a student presenting with depression and suicidal ideation. Include in your example, the work you did with the student, services you engaged, and what you learned in the process?
Suicide assessment including risk and protective factors.
Normalize suicidal thoughts, validated experience
Safety plan
Attempt to determine what prompted suicidal thoughts
Attempted to remove prompting events
Anxiety BC
Services: crisis line
- Many students accessing our services have been given one or more mental health diagnosis from a professional outside the college. Where do you see diagnostics and the DSM fitting into your therapeutic practice?
The DSM and related diagnostic instruments are important and powerful tools that can help determine appropriate treatment. I continue to study the DSM.
In my therapeutic practice,
Care should be taken with an existing diagnosis. What does it mean to the person who has it? Did it help them? Hinder them? Confuse them? Stigmatize them?
If there is any stigma, I would work to find ways of destigmatizing that. If there is any indication of overpathologizing on the part of the client, I would look to reduce that.
DSM can guide evidence-based treatment.
What is the nation upon which UFV sits?
Traditional unceded Territory of the Stó:lō Nation and to S’olh Shxwélí,
What are some of UFV’s main bachelor programs?
Social work Science in nursing Criminal justice Global development Business Admin Computer information systems Fine Arts Education Kinesiology Science
What are some of UFV’s main bachelor programs?
Social work Science in nursing Criminal justice Global development Business Admin Computer information systems Fine Arts Education Kinesiology Science Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
What are some trade programs offered by UFV?
Aircraft structures Apprenticeship training Drafting Automation / Robotics Auto mechanics Carpentry Cook Electrician
What are the major UFV faculties (8)
College of arts Faculty of Access and Continuing Ed Applied and Technical Studies Health Sciences Professional Studies Science Graduate Studies Gen Studies
What are the major UFV faculties (8)
College of arts Faculty of Access and Continuing Ed Applied and Technical Studies Health Sciences Professional Studies Science Graduate Studies Gen Studies
What are some UFV services?
Academic Success Centre Advising Assessment Services Career Centre Counselling Services ESL Financial Aid Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Office Indigenous Student Centre Disability resource centre
- Please tell us which teams or agencies (within or outside of the college) you would see yourself collaborating with most often in order to provide the best care to our students? With whom do you already have strong relationships? Which groups do you need to learn more about or build relationships with?
Within college: Indigenous Student Centre Career Centre Academic Success Centre Disability resource centre
Fraser Valley Distress
Abbotsford Mental Health Centre (Fraser Health)
Abbotsford Mental Health & Substance Use Centre
Women’s Resource Society of the Fraser Valley
End Abuse Program
Ann Davis Society (Women)
Ishtar Transition Housing (Women)
Redbook Online
AnxietyBC
mindcheck.ca - mood and anxiety
First Nations Health Authority
- You are seeing a client where historical trauma is at the core of the presenting issue. How will you proceed to counsel them within our relatively short-term counselling session guidelines?
Establish safety
Validate experience
Address shame
Provide grounding, anchoring, braking techniques
Discuss what trauma work looks like, and investigate referral options for longer-term trauma work.
Investigate trauma-repair options which are culturally relevant. For example, trauma work addressing residential school trauma would ideally be community based
- Scenario: Describe how you might work with an Indigenous student who has experienced a recent death and the considerations you would have in approaching this work?
Investigate the possibility of having a support person attend session
Investigate possibility for community based healing
Allocate extra time for story telling
Consider the use of indigenous healing model :
Mental: Connection, healing, freedom
Spiritual: Elders, identity, traditions, smudges
Emotional: Connecting with others, understanding trauma
Physical: Stories, voice, grounding meditation
Wisdom, Love, Truth, Respect, Bravery, Humility, Honesty
