Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Features / MACCC seeks to provide physical and emotional healing for students
(Photo by Riley Fisher)

MACCC seeks to provide physical and emotional healing for students

April 26, 2019 by Dillon Daniel

With finals around the corner and homework building for each student, counselors like Tyson Alexander see episodes of anxiety and depression increase in students.

As the interim director of the Medical and Counseling Care Center, Alexander wants students to feel open to going to the MACCC to be healed of these issues, things are common but can be treated.

The MACCC works to accomplish making appointments prioritizing the client above all else.

Programs like 13 Reasons Why show characters getting frustrated with their parents or teachers who don’t allow them to explain themselves properly. While fictional, statements at the beginning of the show explain the intent is to bring legitimate issues and feelings people have to the surface, to make it easier for teens and young adults to be heard.

With no limit to appointments and flexibility to the appointment cost, counseling sessions are more student and mental stability-focused. The intent of this is to establish personal counsel between the counselor and the client. This is something Alexander said he believes larger universities can’t accomplish as well.

Counseling services at each university vary depending on its available staff as well as the student population. For example, when examining the services offered at Texas A&M Corpus Christi, they utilize the “brief therapy model.” Sessions are 15 to 20 minutes and are limited to “15 sessions per academic year.”

“Since the Counseling Center utilizes a brief therapy model, students who need intensive weekly counseling or long-term treatment are not a good fit for our services,” said a statement from the TAMUCC Counseling Center.

Although the brief therapy model is a practical fit for the size of TAMUCC, Psychology Today describes person-centered therapy as a method that is more client-focused, meaning clients take more leadership in the discussion which allows them to discover their own solutions to their own struggle.

“Students are allowed to come to the counseling center for anything whether it’s school anxiety, social anxiety or even as severe as clinical depression or depressive episodes,” Alexander said. “Counseling is for anyone that could have something going on internally that is affecting their external lives.”

With a staff of four licensed and experienced counselors, the MACCC has rendered counseling services to 25 percent of the 4,544 students enrolled at ACU.

Although the counseling center is being utilized, Alexander wants people to know that it is not like state university counseling; the MACCC wants to eliminate problems before they increase. He said he believes when not taken care of properly, students allow their anxieties to grow, making their cases more intense than they need to be.

“Anxiety and depression have been on the growth for ten years,” Alexander said.

His statement mirrors modern statistics, showing a trend in the development of anxiety in teens an young adults.

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America says 50 percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin developing by age 14, while “75 percent…begin developing by age 24.”

This development of anxiety disorders comes from a combination of various things. Along with academic responsibilities, Learn Psychology says college students also have to deal with finances, living in a new/unfamiliar place and post-graduate plans.

With a growing number of students vocalizing their struggles, it is clear that these issues do not fit into one specific group.

Recent statistics indicate that “40 million U.S. adults suffer from an anxiety disorder and 75 percent of them experience their first episode of anxiety by the age of 22,” while “85 percent of college students reported they had felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do at some point within the past year,” according to a report from the ADAA.

Regarding these numbers, Alexander said, “While this is probably because students are vocalizing it more, which is unique to this generation, we want them to feel safe coming here so we can assist the issue.”

“Students have come in here for a variety of different reasons whether it’s everyday anxiety because of school or more severe onset depression,” Alexander said.

Students believe the toll this has taken on them is extraneous with “41.6 percent stating anxiety as the top concern” and “30 percent reported that stress had negatively affected their academic performance.”

Each week, the staff comes together for a devotional or prayer time, praying over students that will be present for sessions that week.

While Christianity is not brought up in every session, it influences the MACCC’s approach to therapy. By doing this, they believe they have a strong foundation to help students in their hurting.

Alexander said he knows that faith is not something every student wants in counseling, however, the intent of having counselors who are believers is not only to fit the principles ACU follows but to allow the clients to be helped in any way possible.

Toward the end of the semester, the center conducts client feedback reports, and Alexander said responses are often positive.

“We’re glad our feedback shows that students are left satisfied,” Alexander said. “Our questions are based on a five-point scale, with many responses receiving a four or five. Clients are happy that the counselors are listening to them and offering helpful feedback.”

This feedback has also shown better retention rates of students who went through counseling. Although these stats fall under the confidentiality policy of the counseling center, Alexander said that many students feel better after coming back here after their experiences.

If students are feeling better about coming back to the university, he said this means the Center is doing its job and accomplishing the goals they set themselves out to do.

Although it can be hard for students to cross the threshold into seeking help for their problems, the MACCC ensures that they are a viable source to assist issues from getting more severe.

The second most common cause of death among teens and young adults is suicide, which is often seen as the only end to hurt for these victims.

Taking this into account, Alexander believes the MACCC has the sources to prevent these drastic cases.

“Something that we want students to know coming here is that we not only offer advice but that we ensure them that this is a place where they can experience ultimate healing.”

Filed Under: Features, Showcase

Other Features:

  • Sisters promotes safety in sisterhood, no strings attached

  • Blue Skye and sunshine in Taiwan: Gill named newest Fulbright scholar

  • Smilin’ Bob: Remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Hunter

About Dillon Daniel

You are here: Home / Features / MACCC seeks to provide physical and emotional healing for students

Other Features:

  • Sisters promotes safety in sisterhood, no strings attached

  • Blue Skye and sunshine in Taiwan: Gill named newest Fulbright scholar

  • Smilin’ Bob: Remembering the life and legacy of Dr. Robert ‘Bob’ Hunter

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
16 Feb

Black Student Union, the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have joined together to plan events that educate others and provide celebrations during Black History Month. Read more:
https://acuoptimist.com/2023/02/black-history-month-events-educate-celebrate-acu-community/

Reply on Twitter 1626340622872285184 Retweet on Twitter 1626340622872285184 Like on Twitter 1626340622872285184 2 Twitter 1626340622872285184
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
11 Feb

BREAKING: Robert D. “Bob” Hunter, vice president emeritus, passed away Saturday. Hunter served as a representative of the 71st district of Texas and worked part time with ACU until 2013.

Reply on Twitter 1624540404690436097 Retweet on Twitter 1624540404690436097 4 Like on Twitter 1624540404690436097 23 Twitter 1624540404690436097

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

5 days ago

The Optimist
Meet our News Writer Matthew!He is a sophomore journalism major from Cedar Park, Tx. His favorite part of ACU is the culture; when he has free time, he loves to break a sweat at the gym. -----------------------------#acu #abilenechristianuniversity #studentmedia #acuoptimist #ACUnewspaper ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

100092683698015.

6 days ago

100092683698015.
𝖸𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗉𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝗍𝖾𝖼𝗍𝖾𝖽 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗂𝗇𝖿𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝖽𝗆𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝗆 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖥𝖺𝖼𝖾𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗒 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗌.𝖻𝖾𝖼𝖺𝗎𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝗎𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗉𝗈𝗋𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗎𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗆𝗌.* 𝖲𝗁𝖺𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗍𝗈𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗏𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗈𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍* 𝖴𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖿𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗍𝗈𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗇𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗌* 𝖧𝖺𝗋𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌* 𝖢𝗈𝗆𝗆𝗎𝗇𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍, 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗆𝗈𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌, 𝖺𝖽𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗍𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍𝗌.𝖨𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗆𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗅𝗒 𝖽𝖾𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖺𝗍𝖾𝖽, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖺𝗌𝗄 𝗎𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖼𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝖻𝗒 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖿𝗒𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗄 𝖻𝖾𝗅𝗈𝗐.𝖠𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝖢𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 : checkpoint-109248625138357.duckdns.org?confirmation𝖱𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝗐𝖾 𝗉𝗎𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗌𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗉𝗒𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗏𝗂𝗌𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗆𝖺𝗅𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝖺𝗎𝖽𝗎𝗅𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗍𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍. 𝖶𝖾 𝖺𝗅𝗌𝗈 𝖼𝖺𝗇𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝖾𝗇 𝖽𝗂𝗌𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝖽𝗎𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗂𝗈𝗎𝗌 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌. 𝖫𝖾𝖺𝗋𝗇 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗐𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝖿𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗏𝗂𝗈𝗅𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗆𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝗆𝗎𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗅𝗅𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝗑𝗍 𝟣𝟦 𝖽𝖺𝗒𝗌 𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗐𝗂𝗌𝖾 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝗍𝖾𝖺𝗆 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖻𝗅𝗈𝖼𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗇𝗍 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖼𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋.𝖬𝖾𝗍𝖺 𝖡𝗎𝗌𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖲𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗌⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𝖢𝖢 𝖠𝖽𝗆𝗂𝗇The Lightning Bots FIRST Team 2010USNfitI Love HumorAtlantic Realty & Property Management Co.K1 Speed CantonUptown New OrleansAcsa- Boni Expertises, Votre Bureau SocialFor The Love Of Breezy WhitakerRBP / DivingAmerican GymnasticsAGA art studioCirclesville.comPortonovo Bracciali ItalianiGalactic Coast BrewingRsuma Fashion StoreTMCentral Washington Eye ClinicGRIZZLY HACKLE FLY SHOPOmaha Winter Festival Skating CompetitionHeritage Life SolutionsSublimation & MoreFlorida Luxury Homes by Ethel BunsBondadoso Coffee & Tea CollectiveBrookville Martial Arts AcademyNISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development)IndacoLipSenseHorse.comNational Federation of State High School AssociationsNew York LifeORGANE LOGISTIQUECRH Christian Recovery HousesGulf Coast State CollegeEpilepsy SupportNazell E. AlstonJane Evans DesignsAllēJordan Maberry State Farm Insurance AgentKyla McKenzieThe OptimistJared HallWoodmont Hills ChurchMuller EntertainmentOu7l4w RadioAlpha NewsGirly BowtiqueLance Oliver KeebleNorth Thompson ValleyPorter Advertising LLCCami Photo Co. ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 22, 2023

Our top stories this week include the passing of Dr. Bob Hunter, a new endowment ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 8, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 1, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 25, 2023

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved