Newspaper Page Text
Student Development Center Helps
With Problems, Small And Large
Where can you go if you feel
you need help with a personal
problem? Who do you call to
reach a teacher to inform them
you’re sick and can’t come to
class? Who do you see when you
feel you need help in preparing
a resume?
Learn To Relax
With Biofeedback
Recently purchased by the
student development center, it
measures stress by hand
temperatures with a sensor that
is placed on a person’s finger.
According to the operating
manual, when stress in a person
increases, the smooth muscles
surrounding the blood vessels
near the skin surface are likely
to contract, resulting in in
creased pressure on the vessels.
This increased pressure will
cause the diameter of the
vessels to decrease which will,
in turn, decrease the flow of
blood to the area and cause the
skin temperature to drop.
While such factors as room
temperature, blood viscosity,
skin condition and the presence
or absence of certain chemicals
in the blood will influence
readings, the scale in the blood
will affect readings. The scale
outlined below generally holds
true in hand temperature
levels.
-70-80 degrees: noticeable
stress symptoms.
-80-85 degrees: moderate
stress symptoms.
-85-90 degrees: moderately
relaxed.
-90-95 degrees: quite
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The answers lie in Mandeville
Hall, at the student develop
ment center.
Dr. Jerry Hall, director of the
center, says he feels counseling
is the primary function of the
program.
Some people think to seek
relaxed.
—above 95 degrees: indicates
deep relaxation.
In each case the manual
indicates that people could
benefit from hand temperature
training.
Plans for the bio-feedback
machine include incorporation
into relaxation courses as well
as private counseling, ac
cording to Dr. Jerry Hall,
assistant dean of student
development.
“It gives us something with
which to aid individuals under
the supervision of a counselor,”
he said.
“We’re encouraging students
to learn how to use the device
and learn to note the sensations
and psycho-physiological cues
which may be associated with a
rise in hand temperature
(relaxation).”
He added that, along with the
awareness the machine gives,
and the relaxation techniques
which are taught, people can
control the stress to certain
extent.
professional help with a
problem, you have to be
“crazy,” but Hall says any
student who is troubled,
miserable, or depressed may be
a candidate for counseling.
You will not find any straight
jackets, chains, or shock
therapy in counseling. There
aren’t a million questions to be
answered, either. All you have
to do is set aside approximately
one hour a week and sit down
and talk. “Counseling is a
consciousness raising of who we
are and what we are doing,”
I gf ft I
Students find help in Mandeville Hall.
Hall says.
He feels that the counseling
area of the student development
center is successful because
most of his referrals come from
students already involved in
counseling. The center offers
three full-time and seven
graduate student counselors.
“Students should expect to have
as good a counseling service
here as anywhere in the United
States,” Hall says.
The center also offers other
services to students. For
FREE
KEG PARTY
For
Students
and
New Applicants
at the pool
3:00 p.m. -?
COLLEGE ARMS APTS.
Under New Management
THE WEST GEORGIAN FRIDAY SEPTEMBER U. I*7*
example, if a student who is ill
has been unable to get in touch
with a teacher to inform him or
her that the student will not be
attending class, the student
development center will act as
a liaison. All you have to do is
contact the secretary at 834-1416
and your message will be
delivered.
Seniors may be interested in
center workshops on preparing
a resume and job interviewing.
These workshops will be held
later in the quarter, Hall said.
For underclassmen in
academic trouble, there is the
“Sink or Swim” (SOS) tutorial
service. The service is
restricted to the core
curriculum and is free. Hall
said also that there are now two
openings for student tutors who
qualify for CWSP.
In addition, each quarter
there is a list of continuing
programs, such as group
therapy and other self-help
workshops.
Hall feels that students don’t
take full advantage of the
center, however. “Every year
we speak at the freshman
orientation, sent out letters,
talk to classes, and last quarter
we sent out the flier called
“Looking In.” Although the
publicity we receive has been
good, people still don’t know we
are here,” he said.
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