Counseling Center

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center seeks to maximize students total learning experience through services that bolster their personal development, social adjustment and self knowledge. Services include individual counseling provided by highly competent counseling professionals and educational outreach programs for the prevention of high risk behaviors. The Counseling Center not only provides short term counseling services to individual students, it promotes an informed and responsible college culture for optimal mental health and personal development.

All enrolled students are eligible for services at the center. Counseling is confidential according to state and professional guidelines. There are no additional fees for service.

Make an Appointment

You can make appointments in person at the center or by calling 706-236-2259. We request appointments not be made or changed via e-mail. Sessions typically last no more than 50 minutes and are usually scheduled in advance. Emergencies will be seen as soon as possible. If you have an afterhours emergency please call Campus Safety (706-236-2262 or on-campus extension 2262) or 911.

Personal Counseling

When you need an objective, caring listener who is knowledgeable about human behavior, the Counseling Center is the place to go. Counseling is beneficial when the usual ways of managing problems aren’t working, or when you find yourself confronted with new or complicated situations. 

Personal counseling is a process where a trained clinician (professional counselor, psychologist or social worker) facilitates a helping relationship characterized by acceptance, empathy and concern. The goals of counseling are to help you resolve difficulties, adjust to life circumstances, succeed in school, establish meaningful relationships and live a more satisfying and productive life. 

We are here to help you explore your feelings, thoughts and concerns, learn more about yourself, examine your options, overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. We can help you make choices about new behaviors and ways of thinking and feeling that contribute to more satisfying work, relationships and overall functioning. 

Here are some of the most common reasons students seek counseling:   

• Self-esteem and Identity
• Decision-Making
• Interpersonal Skill Building (e.g. communication, assertiveness, helping a friend, overcoming isolation)
• Social tensions (family, couples, roommates, peers)
• Grief
• Depression
• Anxiety and Stress  
• Sexual concerns
• Substance Abuse

If you are not sure whether counseling will work for you, come talk with us, and we'll assess your situation together. Don't wait until it is too late.  Make an appointment today. 

Outreach Programs

Counselors and Peer Educators often lead group discussions on topics related to student development such as:

• Stress Management 
• Healthy Relationships
• Personality
• Sexual Assault Prevention 
• Assertiveness
• Counseling and Spirituality 
• Conflict Management  

Visit  Peer Educators for more information.

Confidentiality 

The Counseling Center maintains confidentiality for all students seen in the center in accordance with professional ethics and legal guidelines. Counseling records are kept separate from educational records and no information is released without the student’s written consent. Information revealed in counseling, even the fact that you have made an appointment, is not disclosed to others unless you provide written authorization for that information to be released.

Exceptions to this practice are:

• When the counselor believes you present an imminent danger to yourself and others
• When the life or the safety of a readily identifiable third person is endangered
• When a counselor believes that a readily identifiable child or vulnerable adult is being subjected to abuse, neglect, or exploitation
• When disclosure is made necessary by legal proceedings

In all cases, what you discuss in counseling will remain confidential. 

E-mail is not a confidential medium for communication. In addition, Counseling Center staff does not maintain 24-hour access to e-mail accounts. We request appointments not be made or changed via e-mail. To make an appointment call 706.236.2259 or stop by the Ladd Center.

Make an Appointment

The Counseling Center office is located in the Ladd Center. The entrance is the side door located beyond the entrance to Residence Life (the door faces the north side of the Townhouses).

Office hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each weekday.

You can make appointments in person at the center or by calling 706.236.2259. We request appointments not be made or changed via e-mail. Sessions typically last no more than 50 minutes and are usually scheduled in advance. Emergencies will be seen as soon as possible. If you have an afterhours emergency please call Campus Safety (706.236.2262 or on-campus extension 2262) or 911.

All services are free to students.

Online Resources 

Mental Health Screenings

The Counseling Center has anonymous, free, online screening resources for depression, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, at-risk alcohol use and eating disorders. The screening is provided so that you may anonymously and privately find out in a few minutes if you may have a problem and whether or not professional consultation may be helpful to you. The results of these screenings are for information purposes only, consequently diagnosis and treatment recommendations are not provided.

Visit our online mental health screening program and take our assessments. Go to theScreening Program and log in with the keyword BERRY.

Other Online Resources

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Self-help Brochures: Access to self-help brochures on a variety of student concerns/issues.

Ulifeline: An on-line resource for college student mental health. Includes an anonymous on-line assessment.

Healthy Minds: The American Psychiatric Association’s online resource for mental health information. Here you will find information on many common mental health concerns, including warning signs of mental disorders, treatment options and preventative measures.

The Anxiety Panic Internet Resource: A website dedicated to providing information for those with anxiety disorders. Panic attacks, phobias, extreme shyness, obsessive-compulsive behaviors,and generalized anxiety disrupt the lives of an estimated 15% of the population. 

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Access to free educational materials about living with mood disorders. 

National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Eating Disorders: Information, referrals, and support groups related to eating disorders. 

Something Fishy: Offers a wealth of information on eating disorders.

Other sources:
Men Against Violence Against Women 
Berry College Health and Wellness Center 
Berry College Campus Police 
National Alliance on Mental Illness 
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN)

Counceling Center Staff

Dr. Jenkins has served as Director of the Counseling Center since 1987. He received his bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from Davidson College in 1980 and his Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1986. He is a licensed psychologist who has been counseling college students since 1982. While he works effectively with a broad range of student concerns, he is especially interested in helping students with depression, stress, relationship issues, and spiritual concerns. Marshall is the author of two books, most recently A Wakeful Faith: Spiritual Practice in the Real World, and he has published numerous articles on Christian spirituality. 

Terri Cordle has been at Berry as the Associate Director of Counseling since 2006. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has worked with college students for more than 20 years. Terri earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Clemson University and her Master of Science degree in community counseling from Georgia State University. Throughout her career, she has been very involved with the Georgia College Counseling Association. Prior to Berry, she worked in the counseling centers at Shorter, Kennesaw State, and Southern Poly. Terri has special interests in women’s issues, stress management, and neuropsychology. Her main goals when counseling is to assist students live healthy, balanced lives from a holistic point of view - mind, body, spirit

Teresa Czekalla is the Office Manager for the Counseling Center. She will most likely be your initial point of contact when you call or visit the center. Your comfort and privacy are her main concerns. She enjoys playing tennis, being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.