Student-to-student counseling program launches this week

April 2, 2007 —

You may have noticed ears posted all around campus and wondered what they are. These are to help launch the Student Counseling Center's new Peer Listening program. A group of 19 students have agreed to volunteer their time to become "listeners."

The program is designed so any student can have someone neutral and non-judgmental to talk to and get feedback from. During each shift, there is always one male and one female available to speak with.

When Tony Thomson, the Director of the Student Counseling Center, brought up the idea for a Peer Listening program several student interns felt that a program like this would be beneficial to the students. "It helps students to be there for them," explained Student Counseling Center intern Jess Dryer. "We're someone neutral that they can talk to when their friends can't be there."

In the past SVSU has had a program similar to Peer Listening, which was unsuccessful. At the time there was only around 400 to 500 students on campus, there wasn't that great of a need for student listeners. Now that the number of students attending SVSU is much greater, and University officials felt the need for a program like this is much more understandable.

"Peer Listening helps the school by having more people reaching out in a less threatening way," Thomson explained. "30 percent of our students have reported that stress affects their academics, so this gives them the opportunity to talk to someone even about school issues." Topics that students may discuss range from relationship issues, financial problems, and things dealing with their families.

The counselors of the Student Counseling Center are still available, but the peer listeners give students the opportunity to talk with someone their own age, someone that they may better relate to. Senior and counseling center intern Dustin Stolzman explains, "People might not be comfortable coming to a counselor. We can be their friend and listen to them."

The students working in the counseling center know that due to busy schedules, it may be hard to find time to talk with a friend. The Peer Listening program will give students an opportunity to talk comfortably with other students when their friends may be too busy or not giving them the feedback they'd like to hear.

Before the Peer Listening program launches, the 19 listeners attended a three hour training session. They were given scenarios of topics that might come up, as well as taught different listening strategies. This was to prepare them for anything that might come up during a listening session.

The student listeners are also encouraged to refer the students to someone else if they feel that they can't help. "Here in the office they can help the students set up appointments with counselors," Thomson said. "They have access to brochures, phone numbers and other referrals if they feel it would help them out more."

The hours for Peer Listening are still tentative, but should be finalized this week.