How to Utilize BW Counseling Services during COVID-19
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about maintaining mental health have been circulating around the nation. Baldwin Wallace is still offering counseling services to students. “Everything is all virtual now,” said the Assistant Director of Counseling Services (BWCS), Tim Hall. “All the services that we offer are still available.” Students will have access to private counseling and group workshops over telehealth via Zoom.
Hall said that there have been less students reaching out for counseling this semester. “It’s not because the demand is less,” said Hall. The circumstances surrounding COVID-19 made it more difficult for students to know their options.
Students are able to call counseling services at any time to make an appointment and can leave a message after office hours at (440) 826-2180. There is no charge to students for individual counseling and group workshops, or for urgent/emergency services. If students need immediate help or are in crisis, they should not hesitate to call (440) 260-4399 which is active 24/7. Consistent with BW guidance on social distancing, BWCS will be providing individual sessions by phone or HIPAA compliant video conference.
Another resource is Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) in which students can participate in self-guided modules that deal with the topics of depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns.
“We are rolling as close to normal as we can,” said Hall. Currently, there is no telling how the COVID pandemic will impact counseling services at BW. Telehealth could potentially continue after the pandemic, but Hall said the goal is for in-person sessions to make a comeback in the future.
This semester, workshops are also being offered every week. BWCS’s “Calming your Anxiety” Workshop is available each week on Wednesdays at 5 to 6 p.m. over Zoom. Students can join through the link: https://bit.ly/34D4B42. The “Coping During COVID” Workshop is being added for students starting Oct. 5. This workshop will be available Mondays at 10 a.m.
For further information on all of BW Counseling Services workshops and other services, please visit https://my.bw.edu/Campus-Life/Your-Campus/Counseling/Pages/default.aspx.
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