This week I went to counseling for the first time since 2021. Prior to that, I had been going on a pretty consistent basis since I was 9.  

For as long as I can remember, I have always dealt with pretty intense anxiety. You know the kind — incessant stomachache, racing thoughts of doom, constant nervousness (for seemingly no reason). With the onset of my senior year of college, these feelings made their way back.

I made the difficult decision of going back to counseling after two years, and it was more difficult than one would think. I had to make a scary phone call to set up the appointment; then I had to make the terrifying trek to the University Counseling Center (UCC) which is on a side of campus I have not been to since I lived in Seavers my freshmen year. Once I made it there, I sat anxiously in the waiting room to meet my new counselor since my other one left Shippensburg.

Turns out, I ended up being OK. The hardest part was taking the leap to get help. Going to counseling is OK, and here are in-depth steps on how to do so if taking that first step is difficult for you, too: 

1. To schedule an appointment, call the Counseling Center directly at 717-477-1481. You will be asked simple questions such as your name and your availability. If you are anything like me and get anxious making phone calls, write down a script on a piece of paper for reference once you call. I promise that the person taking your call will be super nice. This paper will also come in handy because then you can write down the date and time of your upcoming appointment. This will help quell any fears that you misremembered the day.

2. Next, you will wait for your appointment to arrive, often worrying about it, like I did. Something that helped me not freak out as I counted the days to my appointment was talking with my friends about it. My friends have visited the UCC.  

They reassured me that it was not as scary as I thought. Here I am doing the same thing for you.

3. The day of your appointment, plan to arrive a little early to the Counseling Center so you can fill out some forms. I listened to my favorite playlist as I walked to Etter Health Center, which took my mind off of my anxiety about the appointment. 

If you do not know how to get to the Counseling Center, it is in the bottom floor of Naugle Hall which is on the east side of campus. Head behind Reisner Dining Hall. Naugle is the dorm building on the right behind the water tower. You’ll want to walk down the stairs outside between Naugle and Seavers Halls.  

At the bottom of the stairs, you will be greeted with a red awning. The doors to the health center are under this first, larger awning. Enter, and enter the second set of doors. You can check in at the waiting room to your left. Again, the individual helping you will be really nice. They will instruct you to a separate waiting room where there will be computers on which you can fill out forms. 

If you want, they can even walk you there, like I asked them to. You can sit at any computer and fill out the form. It is a simply questionnaire to help your counselor know a little more about you to have an effective session. 

4. Now, you wait. You might feel a little bit of dread in your stomach as you wait to meet your counselor for the first time, but you will be OK. There are infographics on the bulletin board in the waiting room to look at if you need a distraction during the wait. 

5. When your counselor comes to the waiting room, they will call your name. A simple “Hi” is the perfect response. You will then follow them back to their office where you will start your session. There is not really a right or wrong way to do your session; just go with the flow of your counselor. They are there to help you with whatever you need.

6. Once you get to the end of your session, your counselor will likely ask about scheduling another appointment if you need. You will head back out to the receptionist where you will coordinate schedules. Once you make another appointment, you will be given a tiny card with the upcoming appointment’s information on it. 

I immediately added it to my calendar so I would not forget. After that, you are done. You can leave the counseling center the same way you entered and go about the rest of your day.

Counseling is a totally normal activity that many people do. I find that it is extremely useful. 

For more information, feel free to call the University Counseling Center at 717-477-1481. The center’s hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, contact campus police at 717-477-1444 or call 911. 

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