Counseling/Student Development Center

About the Counseling/Student Development Center

For most of you, the college years are a time marked by exciting growth and change. You will be facing numerous choices and challenges. All of this will be going on in the midst of a rigorous academic environment.

Even the most successful of you may encounter a variety of concerns.

We are here to help you in addressing those concerns by assisting you in the development of effective problem-solving and decision-making skills that you will need to make satisfying life choices well beyond your Marywood years.

Make an Appointment

Appointments may be scheduled in person at the Counseling/Student Development Center, by calling, or email the the office. Evening hours by appointment.

Rescheduling or Canceling an Appointment

Your appointment is the time that your counselor has put aside for you. In the event that you need to cancel and/or reschedule, please notify our office by phone or email as you know that you will be unable to make your appointment.

Student Services & Resources

In the event of an emergency, students may walk-in and meet with a therapist during regular business hours.

Students may also call the Scranton Counseling Center at 570-348-6100 and a counselor there will help you.

IMPORTANT NOTE

If an emergency need arises, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest Hospital Emergency Department.

This service may not always be available during the summer, between the fall and spring semesters, or during fall, spring and Easter breaks.

There are many different types of individual student emergencies or crisis. Above all else, the student's immediate safety should be addressed first.

How to support a friend in crisis

The Counseling Center staff is bound by ethical and legal guidelines to protect your rights to confidentiality. No information, written or oral, is released to other persons without your written permission.

The only exceptions to these guidelines are governed by law. These are specific to situations where we have reason to believe that there is intent to harm yourself, another or a child, and to situations where we may be court-ordered in case of your involvement in a lawsuit.

Your right to privacy may also be compromised when communicating via the internet. Please note that this is not a secure site.

The center offers personal counseling to help students identify, clarify, and resolve important issues. These may include issues such as:

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • body image
  • disordered eating
  • self-esteem
  • communication skills
  • relationship concerns
  • trauma recovery
  • substance abuse

At the Counseling Center, we see students who suffer well beyond the stereotypical symptoms of homesickness and transitional phases of life; we encounter students who suffer from depression, the aftermath of sexual assault, profound eating disorders, and tremendous anxiety.

If you are interested in any of these programs and would like to become involved, please call the Counseling/Student Development Center at 570-348-6245 to obtain more information.

Peers on Wellness (POW!) is a student organization that is advised by the C/SDC staff and that offers a variety of wellness presentations to the Marywood community. Becoming a member of POW! provides opportunities for student growth in the areas of leadership, public speaking, program development, and network-building. 

The C/SDC offer several groups each semester designed to provide support and to enhance personal growth and development. Groups that have been offered at the center include assertiveness training, body peace/mindful eating, self-esteem enhancement, and stress management.

'Let's Connect Group

This is an Open Group for those who wish to learn strategies for decreasing anxiety and distress. A variety of skills including mindfulness, managing thoughts and feelings and being more effective in relationships. Everyone is encouraged to attend, please feel free to bring a friend. This group will be held every Wednesday 3pm to 4pm

Meetings

Wednesday 3pm to 4pm McGowan-room 1066

How To Join

If interested please email the C/SDC (csdc@marywood.edu) with the subject: “Let's Connect”, call or stop by the office at McGowan 1017 or just come to room 1066 at 3pm on Wednesdays

ART Therapy Group

The creative process and the resulting artwork to explore feelings, emotional conflicts, self awareness and more... A way to help reduce anxiety and increase self-esteem. Participants will have the opportunity to release internal conflicts such as anxiety, depression or anger in a safe creative way. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE EXPERIENCED AT ART TO BE IN THIS GROUP. BRING A FRIEND!

Meetings

Friday 1 to 2pm McGowan Room 1066

How To Join

If interested please email the C/SDC (csdc@maryu.marywood.edu) or come to the C/SDC in McGowan room 1017.

BE WELL - Healthy (Physical & Mental) Psychology Group

This group focuses on stress reduction, developing healthy habits, and the relationship between physical and mental health. Together we will explore what it means to "Be Well" and gain greater peace with your mind and body.

Meetings

Monday from 3pm to 4pm

How To Join

Email csdc@maryu.marywood.edu with the subject title: Be Well Group or stop by the C/SDC in McGowan room 1017

Body Peace: the Art of Mindful Eating

Stop the preoccupation with your shape and weight and gain a positive relationship with your body and food. Learn new ways to cope with difficult feelings without relying on food. Learn new processes to gain greater peace with your body.

Meetings

TBA- Possible Spring 2022

How To Join

Please come to the C/SDC for screening in order to join or email csdc@maryu.marywood.edu

C/SDC Daily Walk-In services

If you are in need to talk to someone and do not have an appointment, do not hesitate to call the C/SDC 570-348-6245 or stop on down to McGowan Room 1017 Each day from 9am to 3pm we offer walk in services. You do not have to be a current client to come in.

LGBTQIA + Support Group

Group members may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender variant or queer, though identifying with one of these labels is NOT required for membership in the group, and to be sure, this is not an exhaustive list of the way that students may experience and talk about their gender and/or sexuality. This group is intended to be a safe space in which student members meet weekly with a group facilitator. It is an opportunity for students to explore their concerns and thoughts, receive and give support, and provide a safe setting to freely share experiences and make connections with others.

Meetings

Wednesday Noon to 1pm - McGowan room 1066

How To Join

If interested please email the C/SDC (csdc@marywood.edu), call or stop by the C/SDC office in McGowan room 1017

Music for Mindfulness Group - Music Therapy

Learn to use music to free your mind from the stress & noise of daily life.

Meetings

TBA

How To Join

Email csds@marywood.edu / subject MT Group / Open to All Marywood Students

PACT (Promoting Awareness of the College Transition)

PACT assists students in the transition from high school to college and empowers them to foster a campus community that is safe, healthy, and free from violence and threats.

Peers on Wellness (POW)

Provide leadership opportunities, enhance the wellness of the entire campus community, and will look impressive on your resume. Topics covered:

  • stress management
  • healthy relationships
  • body size acceptance
  • sexual assault awareness
  • alcohol awareness

Meetings

Tuesday evenings

How To Join

Interested in joining POW, contact the Counseling/Student Development Center at 570-348-6245.

Visit the Peers on Wellness (POW) Facebook page

What Is PASS?

PASS provides counseling and assessment services to students who are experiencing college adjustment and/or academic difficulties. Services are provided by graduate students in Marywood's Mental Health Counseling program under the supervision of counseling program faculty. PASS is focused on:

      • Academic concerns
      • Organization
      • Study Skills
      • Time Management
      • Test Anxiety
      • Test-taking strategies
      • Career Exploration
      • College Adjustment
      • Personal Difficulties

Sessions

Sessions are 50-minutes long. Students are recommended to meet weekly with their PASS counselor.

Confidentiality

PASS counselors and supervisors take confidentiality very seriously. Counselors and counselors-in-training are bound by legal and ethical codes that protect client information.  Your PASS counselor cannot share your information with other counseling professionals or school faculty without your documented consent.  PASS counselors are graduate students-in-training; therefore, it is required by law that they receive supervision from the counseling program’s faculty.   PASS counselors will ask their clients for permission to video or audio record sessions for the purpose of counselor training. Recording is required to receive services through PASS.

The American Counseling Association(ACA) states specific ethical codes by which counselors and supervisors must abide. To view these ethical codes, visit the ACA website.

Cost

No cost for counseling or assessment services provided through PASS

A psychiatrist is available to provide consultation to Marywood Students through the C/SDC. This service can include an evaluation for medication as part of treatment. The C/SDC staff members work closely with the psychiatrist to coordinate care for each student.

Apps to Help You Before and Between Appointments

While you wait for your therapy appointment, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone. We have attached resources for you to use during this waiting period. These apps are free for both iPhone and Android. They provide accessible tools designed to manage stress, anxiety, and depression.

  • HAPPIFY | for overall emotional well-being — Enhance your well-being with Happify. They offer tailored activities to combat stress and anxiety, creating a customized dashboard for your needs.Promoting mindfulness, this app guides you through gratitude exercises and emotional recognition, empowering self-understanding.

  • 7 CUPS | for social support — Find solace and understanding with 7 Cups, your 24/7 emotional support companion. Reach out to caring listeners anytime, day or night , at no cost. Access ongoing help from licensed therapists through their online therapy service.

    Tailored for students and those facing challenges, 7Cups offers supportive chat rooms on topics like depression, anxiety, relationships, and LGBTQ+ issues. Connect with empathetic individuals who share your journey, fostering a sense of community.

  • INSIGHT TIMER | for help reducing stress and anxiety, providing relaxation and balance — Find tranquility amidst the chaos with Insight Timer. Dive into a world of peace through free guided meditations, yoga, and breathwork exercises. Tailored to your interests, it offers meditation, yoga, mood check-ins, and journaling. Ideal for busy students, this app reduces stress and anxiety, providing relaxation and balance. With live classes and an intuitive interface, Insight Timer empowers effective stress management and embraces mindfulness.

  • SMILING MIND | for calming the mind of stress — Find peace in the chaos with Smiling Mind guided meditation. Immerse yourself in tranquility through expertly crafted audio sessions, seamlessly guiding you through breathing exercises and meditation techniques.

    Popular among college students, it provides and experience similar to following a yoga video. Amidst the academic hustle, Smiling Minds offers a calm oasis, equipping you with practical tools to manage challenges. Tailored for student life. It helps you achieve balance, embrace mindfulness, and alleviate stress and anxiety.

Take charge of your mental health journey today, and remember, support is just a download away.

Guides and Manuals

Student Services

Off-Campus Resources

*The CSDC is recommending these services as additional supports, not as a replacement for professional mental health services for more information email CSDC@marywood.edu

We’re here to assist you through your college journey.

Counseling/Student Development Center can turn an average college experience into an exceptional one through group programs, consultation, and other methods of stress relief. As members of the Marywood University Community, the Counseling/Student Development Center staff members are always here to assist you during your Marywood journey. You will experience new situations, new relationships, and new choices on your path.

These experiences can be exciting, but challenging as well. If stress begins to interfere, and you need assistance, the C/SDC staff can help you by setting clear, achievable goals; in becoming more assertive; to practice relaxation techniques; and much more. Often finding ways to talk about the stresses of life makes the difference between an average college experience and an exceptional one. Please take advantage of this service.

We’re here to help you!

Meet the Staff

Madelon Bohdal
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Elizabeth Brady
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Steven Craig
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Maryellen Evers
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David Kessler
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Katherine McDonald
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Prisca Phiri
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Larissa Schwass
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Sister John Michele Southwick, IHM
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Caryn Thompson
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Susan Wilkerson
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