Meet peers and improve your mental health
Utah State University offers several different resources and opportunities for students to improve their mental well-being. Counseling and Psychological Services is one of those resources.
In addition to individual and group counseling sessions, CAPS offers a variety of different mental health workshops and REACH Peer solutions, most of which are free to students.
Marie Anderson, a REACH Peer for CAPS, is an undergraduate student trained to help students learn how to use different mental health skills.
“As REACH Peers, we help with both outreach events in the community and work one-on-one in a clinical setting with students at the university,” she said. “Our role there is to serve as skill trainers. They’re not therapy sessions, but we’re trained in lots of different techniques to manage mental health concerns.”
Anderson specializes in mindfulness techniques, which are mental health exercises that help the practitioner to focus on the moment instead of worrying about the past or future.
She explained this mindfulness leaves room for clarity and peace, which allows the body to be more centered.
“Being able to take a step back and see things with more perspective can add a lot of clarity and help to make things not so overwhelming,” Anderson said. “It can make the enjoyable and happy things about life more enjoyable and happy because you’re more present for them.”
Anderson helps students practice mindfulness techniques as part of Chomp and Chill, a mental health workshop at USU held every Tuesday and Wednesday 12:20 p.m.-1:20 p.m. in the TSC, Room 335.
Any student is welcome to attend Chomp and Chill without any prior registration and bring their lunch to “chomp” on while they learn a skill with the CAPS REACH peers.
In addition to mindfulness techniques, the workshop addresses topics such as test anxiety and progressive muscle relaxation.
The last workshop is April 20, however, every USU student statewide can view recorded workshops on the CAPS workshops website.
Monique Frazier, a licensed staff psychologist for CAPS, said the workshops and groups are beneficial to all students looking to have a safe space where they can connect and feel understood.
“Group therapy is a great way to improve your mental health and even treat mental health conditions. Students can attend a group every semester. There’s no limit on how many they can attend,” she said. “It’s a really nice way to meet other students who understand what it’s like to have mental health challenges.”
Frazier is also the leader of the faith challenges support group at USU — a group designed to help students who are struggling with any challenge connected to the topic of faith.
Everyone is welcome to attend, whether they are part of any religion or not.
“Our agenda is to create a really safe space for any student to come and talk through any stress they’re having and their connection to their faith,” Frazier said.
Adelynn Shirts, a USU student who has attended the faith support sessions, said group members help each other navigate through their circumstances.
“It’s a positive environment and people are really kind in the group and it’s a nice way to connect with other students in a way that really feels like it matters,” Shirts said.
She went on to explain she believes the support group, as well as the other CAPS groups, give the students who participate the tools necessary to work through their challenges and reach an emotional point where they feel a sense of peace.
Students who are interested in participating in any support group, therapy group or workshop can visit the CAPS website or send an email to capsinfo@usu.edu.
-Ryker.Eggenberger@usu.edu
Featured photo by: Katera Barlow