Personal Counseling Services
Student Development Center
Susan B. Anthony Building, Office 114
Hours: 8:30- 4:30 Monday- Friday
BCC's Personal Counseling Services is committed to working with students to help you successfully meet your educational and personal goals. We recognize that your life as a student and your personal life, including your emotional well-being, cannot be separated. Personal Counseling is free of charge to students and is provided by a licensed counselor. Each student is unique in what they chose to discuss, but some of the areas most frequently addressed are:
- Adjustment to college-life
- Relationship difficulties
- Feeling down or depressed
- Inability to concentrate on academic work
- Concerns about alcohol or other substance- abuse
- Crises such as a separation or a death of someone close
- Being on-edge and feeling anxious
- Questions about sexuality
Personal Counseling is a process which helps you arrive at your own answers to the difficulties you are experiencing. Your values and choices will be respected and as mandated by law what you discuss is confidential. You and your counselor will work collaboratively to formulate your goals. Typically, you would meet once a week for fifty-minutes. The number of sessions depends upon the nature of the problem and what you hope to achieve.
Sometimes, students feel reluctant to talk with a counselor about their problems, because they feel they should be able to do this "on their own." However, we feel that working with a counselor will help you to get back on your own sooner and feel more like yourself again.
Generally, counseling at BCC is short-term; however, if a student requires more assistance, referrals to community agencies or other mental health providers will be offered. It is the mission of BCC's Personal Counseling Services to make sure each student is helped in finding the best resource on or off-campus.
To schedule an appointment or if you have any questions:
Contact: Lisa Mattila, LMHC
413-499-4660, ext. 1609
or email Lisa at lmattila@berkshirecc.edu
After Office Hours of 8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday:
If it is urgent or an emergency, please call:
The Brien Center Crisis Team - 413-499-0412
Berkshire Medical Center Emergency Services - 413-447-2000
Additional Personal Counseling Center Resources:
We also have free brochures on different subjects such as:
- Stress Management,
- Test Anxiety
- Assertiveness
- Understanding Depression
- Sexual Assault Prevention
- Wellness
- Eating Disorders
- Balancing School, Work and Home
Workshops and Forums are also held on the following subjects:
- Stress Management
- Test-Anxiety
- Conflict Resolution
- Communication Skills
- Sexual Assault Prevention
- Relationship Violence
Community Resources:
For further resources in Berkshire County and surrounding areas, go to http://www.mass211help.org/
Other helpful websites on mental health issues and wellness are:
http://www.ulifeline.org/ Your confidential on-line resource for college mental health and substance abuse information. Learn more about how to protect your own emotional health and what to do if you or a friend is struggling with mental health issue.
http://www.jedfoundation.com/ This organization's mission is to reduce emotional distress and prevent suicide among college students. They also work to reduce the stigma students feel having to ask for help and provide resources to students to help themselves or a friend.
http://www.activemindsoncampus/ Active Minds is the only organization to utilize the student voice to change the conversation about mental health on college campuses. It aims to remove the stigma that surrounds mental health issues and to provide information and resources.
http://www.depressonscreening.org/ Take an on-line screening to find out if you or someone you care about is depressed. Find out what depression is and why those suffering from depression should get help to get back their lives!
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/ Learn about mental health issues you or a friend may be struggling with. Mental health diagnoses are listed to help you identify specific symptoms you are experiencing. Information from anxiety disorders to suicide prevention is available.
http://www.whatadifference.samhsa.gov/ This site is for people living with mental illness and their friends. You will learn about different illnesses, find tools to help you in your recovery, and read real-life stories about support and recovery.
More links on substance-abuse issues:
http://www.alcoholscreening.org/ Learn about alcohol and health, how to recognize a problem, and determine what low-risk drinking is.
http://www.factsontap.org/ Explore the myths and realities of drinking and using substances and why you might really have more fun without the alcohol. Take a test to determine whether you or someone you care about had a drinking problem.
http://www.samhsa.gov/ This Substance-Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website provides information about substances, treatment programs, and campaigns addressing the needs of every age-group.
http://www.nida.nig.gov/ National Institute on Drug Abuse lists effects of all substances, clinical trials information and has links to many other pertinent web sites.
Regarding Violence against Women and Sexual Assault Prevention
http://www.preventconnect.org/ Prevention Connection is a national online project dedicated to the primary prevention of violence against women.
http://www.janedoe.org/ The Massachusetts Coalition against Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Jane Doe Inc. brings together organizations and people committed to ending domestic violence and sexual assault.
Note: Information found in the links should not be considered official Berkshire Community College information. While we hope that you have found the information helpful and interesting, you should know the information, views and opinions contained within these websites are strictly those of the authors.
Updated: 7/16/09
