Therapy for Women in Lansing and across Michigan

First, we focus on gathering information about your specific symptoms and issues.

Next, we work on building awareness of your triggers, and identify what negatively affects your mental health, and what helps decrease it’s effects.

Then, we work on coming up with a plan for facing, coping with, and reducing your symptoms based on your specific needs.

College students know they might need counseling if they experience persistent changes in their mood, behavior, or daily functioning that interfere with their ability to succeed academically or socially.

Common signs include:

Emotional and mental signs

• Persistent sadness or hopelessness: Feeling down for an extended period, or feeling hopeless and worthless.

• Excessive worry or anxiety: Overwhelming stress that impacts daily life, class attendance, or social activities.

• Extreme mood swings: Experiencing drastic shifts between highs and lows.

• Irritability or anger outbursts: Becoming easily agitated or snapping at minor issues.

• Social withdrawal: Avoiding friends, skipping social events, or declining invitations. 

Behavioral and daily functioning signs

• Changes in sleep or appetite: Insomnia, sleeping too much, or significant changes in eating habits.

• Loss of interest: No longer finding enjoyment in hobbies or activities that were once pleasurable.

• Difficulty with daily tasks: Struggling to complete assignments, maintain personal hygiene, or manage other responsibilities.

• Procrastination: Deliberately delaying assignments, projects, or studying.

• Increased substance use: Turning to alcohol or drugs to cope with feelings. 

Physical and academic signs

• Physical symptoms: Experiencing headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue that lack a medical explanation.

• Concentration problems: Having difficulty focusing, remembering things, or making decisions.

• Decline in academic performance: Noticing a drop in grades or academic effort. 

College students most commonly face issues related to time management, finances, and mental health, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Other common challenges include academic pressure, loneliness, homesickness, and problems with relationships or roommates. 

Here are some common issues that college students face:

Academic and time management

• Time management: Juggling classes, study time, extracurricular activities, and social life is often difficult.

• Academic pressure: Students face stress from high expectations, difficult coursework, and concerns about grades.

• Choosing a major and future path: Uncertainty about academic and career choices can be a significant stressor. 

Financial challenges

• Student debt: A major concern for many students, along with the general cost of tuition, books, and living expenses.

• Budgeting: Students struggle to manage their money and often have little to no cash left after covering essential costs. 

Mental and emotional well-being

• Mental health issues: Anxiety and depression are very common, with rates increasing in recent years.

• Stress: This is a pervasive issue, stemming from academic, financial, and social pressures.

• Homesickness and loneliness: Adjusting to a new environment can lead to feelings of isolation and missing home. 

Social and personal life

• Relationships: Students may face challenges with romantic relationships, friendships, and dealing with romantic partners from home.

• Roommate problems: Issues can arise from living with a new person who has different habits.

• Social integration: Some students feel they don't fit in and may struggle to build a social network. 

Health and wellness

• Poor health habits: Irregular sleep patterns, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise are common.

• Lack of self-care: It can be hard to prioritize self-care when balancing so many other responsibilities. 

I use a Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) approach blending Talk Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) to assist in coping and reducing symptoms. You will move at your own pace according to what feels right for you.

The first step is emailing (sarah@forwardoutlookcounseling.com), or completing the contact form to book an initial consult. Once we have that consult and make sure we are a good fit, we schedule our first session. You will get an email with a link to fill out initial paperwork. Then we have our first therapy session either in person or virtually.

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