Campus offers therapy to students

By Tina Ray
Opinions Editor

I wouldn’t ask someone to do something I haven’t first tried myself. I couldn’t say to a friend, try bungee jumping because I’ve never done it. I wouldn’t say to someone, hike the Appalachians and don’t forget your whistle for the bears that roam because no one would ever catch me in any territory I believe bears naturally inhabit.

What I could say to someone is “try mental therapy.” I’m in the process of doing just that. I’ve found that I have “issues” that need to be conquered. More specifically, I get depressed sometimes and have to deal with the toll that takes on my relationships with others.

Recently, Tony Soprano has done much to popularize therapy on television. But, therapy isn’t about a television episode. It isn’t about popularity. It’s about facing he darkest areas in one’s life, head-on and dealing with it. Beyond that, it is a personal resolve to conquer those things which mentally impair or cripple someone’s everyday existence.

Sure, there is a more technical definition. Webster’s dictionary defines therapy as, “therapeutic treatment especially of bodily, mental, or behavior disorder.” Who knew? I don’t have to rely on Webster’s definition: I look into the eyes of my children and want to make their lives better, but just as importantly, I take self-inventory in a closely introspective way and am determined to make mine better.

So, every so often, I call Counseling Services and schedule an appointment with my therapist. In that respect, I say to you if you need help, don’t be too stigmatized by the taboo that society may place on therapy or too ashamed to seek it. Help is right here on this campus when you need it.
In my community, in my culture, we tend to say, “if you have a problem, take it to Jesus.”

All that’s true. But, I say now that I’m pretty sure Jesus invented therapy and I don’t have a problem with seeking help.