College brings a lot of change at once, often in a new place far from the people who know you best. Even when it's going well, it can be a lot. When it isn't going well, it can feel like everyone else has it figured out except you.

If that's where you are, a lot of other students feel the same way.

You're not the only one

The Healthy Minds Study surveys tens of thousands of college students across the country each year. In its 2024-2025 report, more than a third of students had signs of moderate or severe depression, and about a third had signs of anxiety. Most students said their mental health had affected their schoolwork on at least one day in the past month.

I don't share those numbers to make college sound grim. I share them because a lot of students assume they're the only one struggling, and that makes it harder to reach out.

What students often bring to counseling

In my work with college students, the topics vary a lot. Some common ones:

  • Stress about grades, a major, or what comes after graduation
  • Homesickness, or feeling like you don't fit in yet
  • A breakup, a friendship ending, or conflict with a roommate
  • Grief after losing someone while you're away from home
  • Feeling low, numb, or unmotivated for weeks at a time
  • Family pressure, or figuring out who you are apart from your family
  • Being the first in your family to go to college, or carrying two languages and two cultures

You don't need a big reason. "I just don't feel like myself" is a fine place to start.

Signs it may be time to talk to someone

The Jed Foundation, which focuses on young adult mental health, suggests reaching out if you've felt sad or withdrawn for more than two weeks, if you can't concentrate, if your sleep or mood has changed a lot, if you're using alcohol or other substances to cope, or if you're having thoughts of harming yourself.

If you're having thoughts of suicide, please call or text 988 right away. It's free and open all the time.

What counseling looks like

In individual counseling, the first session is mostly a conversation. I ask what brought you in, what's been hard, and what you'd like to be different. You don't have to prepare anything. From there we decide together what to focus on, and try practical skills you can use between sessions, like ways to handle stress or hard conversations.

Sessions are 50 minutes. You can meet in person at my office in Siloam Springs, AR, or online by video from anywhere in Arkansas, which can make it easier to fit around classes.

About your campus counseling center

If your school has a counseling center, it's worth knowing about. It's often free for students and set up for exactly this season of life. Some students prefer to see someone off campus, want sessions in Spanish, or want to keep seeing the same counselor over breaks. There's no wrong choice. What matters is that you have someone to talk to.

Getting started

Sessions are $89, and I can give you a superbill if you'd like to ask your insurance about reimbursement. If you're not sure counseling is for you, a free 15-minute call is a low-pressure way to find out.