Online Counseling for Students at the University of Alabama
For as long as you can remember, you have been looking forward to going away to college. You’ve been coming to Alabama football games at Bryant-Denny Stadium since you were little. So many memories tailgating on the quad, hearing the sound of Denny Chimes, and celebrating after big wins. Additionally, you have dreamed about what sorority or fraternity you would join we you arrived on campus. Or, maybe you’re an athlete that has dreamed of being part of athletics at Alabama. Perhaps your dream didn’t include a specific college until your senior year; you just knew you would go to one. Then, however, you visited The University of Alabama. You know you wanted to be a part of the Crimson Tide family yelling “Roll Tide Role!” at every kick-off. Either way, you were excited about being on your own; making your own choices and “adulting.” No one, besides your advisor, to tell you what to do or what classes to take. Maybe you would live on campus in the Tutwiler or Lakeside your freshman year, with a plan to move into your sorority or fraternity house or in a little house on 9th Street or Reed Street with your friends. You had dreams of hanging out with friends eating breakfast at Heritage House or dinner at FIVE or Taco Mama, or simple things like grabbing coffee at Monarch.
But the stress is starting to take a toll
Now you are here, and college life is not exactly as you imagined. Getting to make your own decisions has turned into HAVING to make so many decisions. There is so much to navigate and so much stress that goes along with it. Trying to establish your own identity, outside of your parents, and outside of what society expects of you, but it is difficult. You are trying to navigate relationships. Additionally, you’re expected to choose a major and do well in your classes. Better decide whether to go to graduate school, or decide on what career to enter after college. Everything is changing so fast … your views about others, the world, and yourself. You don’t know who you are or what you believe. It’s unclear what you want your future to look like. The highs are higher and the lows are lower. It is hard to know where to turn for help, especially when it looks like everyone else has it together. You are beyond tired. Exhausted, actually. Everything is unclear. It can be so overwhelming.
This can be really tough
We understand what a difficult transition college can be. Counseling can be a safe place, one with no judgment or expectations, where you can take a step back and have help examining your thoughts, feelings and options. This Fall, Kathryn Ely, founder of Empower Counseling, wrote an article just for college students in Alabama with 21 tips to help build resilience during COVID-19 and beyond. Check it out and read on for more.
Kathryn Ely, founder of Empower Counseling has an undergraduate degree, a law degree from the University of Alabama, and a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health, so analyzing and helping to solve problems and resolve issues is a strength she uses with each University of Alabama Student who comes to Empower Counseling.
Online Counseling May Be the answer
You know that you should start counseling, but it needs to fit your schedule and lifestyle. We get that. Starting online therapy with Empower Counseling can help. We specialize in many different areas. We provide therapy for anxiety, depression, and life transition issues. Starting college is one of the biggest transitions of your life. That’s where we come in: we can help you find clarity in who you are. And, we can help you construct what you want your life to look like. Through the use of secure video chat, we can offer you the same effective counseling. All without the hassle of driving to Birmingham.
Consideration for online counseling
**** Quick Note: Most people don’t know this but you need to see a counselor in the state in which you are physically located. This means that if you are living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, you need to see a therapist in the state of Alabama. Empower Counseling is in Birmingham, Alabama. Because of this, we can work with college students at the University of Alabama.
Benefits of Online Therapy for University of Alabama Students with Empower Counseling
many options when picking a therapist
What is the most important factor in the success of therapy? Is it fancy treatments or medicaitons? It is not! The most telling factor of success in therapy is your relationship with your therapist. Becuase you are investing your time and energy in counseling, you should find a counselor who is right for you. There are some areas in Alabama have many therapists to choose from. However, other areas don’t have as many. Every counselor is different. And, works with clients differently. Online counseling increase your options so you can find the therapist who is the best fit for you. What do I bring to the table? The analytical thinking of a lawyer and the compassionate nature of a counselor. I bring this unique perspective to each to each session with every University of Alabama student I work with.
Convenience: Online therapy Saves You time
Our sessions are 50 min. You won’t have to factor in time driving to or from counseling, or finding a place to park before and after. (I know how difficult and time consuming parking on campus and in Tuscaloosa can be.) This allows you to easily fit therapy into your schedule when it works for you.
Accessibility
Don’t have your car on campus? Get sick or hurt you are sick or injured? Do you have specific needs or challenges? Don’t worry! Online therapy can happen anywhere you are. This offers the easiest mode of counseling for you.
Privacy
Maybe you don’t want others to know your personal business. Starting online therapy is the smartest choice you can make when you are having a hard time! But you may think those in your fraternity or sorority might not get it. Fortunately, I get it. A benefit of online therapy is that you can have therapy from the privacy of your dorm room, apartment, or house. This way, no one will see you going in or coming out of a therapist’s office.
How Can Online Counseling with Empower Counseling Help Me?
I have helped many college students in the state of Alabama. In addition, I helped with the transition from high school to college, and the transition from college to career or grad school:
Online therapy for Anxiety for University of Alabama Students
I treat all forms of anxiety. This could be test anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, or anxiety around very specific things. ACT is a proven treatment for anxiety that really works.
Online Counseling for Depression for University of Alabama Students
Depression is common in college. However, you do not have to suffer alone. I have experience treating depression and teaching you skills to manage the symptoms that come with it.
Online Counseling for Life Transitions and Identity Struggles for University of Alabama Students
It can be tough to figure out who you really are and what direction to go. You are not alone, as this is a common issue in college. There are so many external expectations that makes it hard to know what you really think and how you really feel. Therapy for difficult life transitions can assist you in naviagting this. As your online therapist, I can help you find your direction.
Online Counseling for Relationship Issues for University of Alabama Students
It’s hard not to compare yourself to others. I can help you improve your self-esteem, communication skills, and boundaries. Working through these challenges can help you be yourself and enjoy the kind of relationships you want to have.
Online Counseling for Managing Stress for University of Alabama Students
You have so many different people placing expectations and demands on you. The stress in college can really mount up. As your online therapist, I can help you with skills to manage stress, and healthy habits for good self-care.
Online Counseling for when you feel unclear about your future for University of Alabama Students
Sometimes you feel like you just can’t make that big decision. But, who you don’t know who to turn to for guidance? Talking to an online therapist can help you determine what you really want your future to look like. And, together, we will create a plan to get you there.
Online Counseling for Grief and Loss for University of Alabama Students
It is always difficult to lose someone close to you. It can feel especially lonely when you loose someone and you are off at school separated from your family. Online therapy is a safe space to process your feelings.
Online Counseling for Trauma and Abuse Recovery for University of Alabama Students
Studies show that nearly 2/3 of college students experience sexual harassment. 20-25% of female college students are victims of sexual assault as are 15% of male college students. In addition, more than 90% of these victims never report the assault. You are not alone in this. I am here to help.
Is Online Counseling Effective for University of Alabama College Students?
I have helped many college students go from feeling…
- Overwhelmed to being calm, deliberate, and organized.
- Unclear about the future to having a plan for college and your future after college.
- Confusion about who you are to knowing exactly who you are and what is important to you.
- Not equipped with poor time management skills to learning how to prioritize and manage all responsibilities.
- Lost and overwhelmed to having a strong sense of purpose and direction.
- Like time is being wasted to being intentional, setting, and reaching goals.
- Insecure and lacking self-worth to being confident in who you are.
- Like they can’t have the kind of relationships they wanted to being confident with clear boundaries.
- Down and blue or numb, to enjoying life again.
- Constantly worried or nervous to excited and in control of your life and your future.
As an online therapist and former college student, I’ve been there.
I get it. I know how difficult it is to be on your own and trying to find your way. Luckily, I can help. Through our work together, I will help you become clear about who you are, who you want to be, and what you want your life to look like. Then I help you with an action plan to get there!
Why Choose Empower Counseling for Your Online Counseling at the University of Alabama?
I have a unique set of skills, along with a proven effective approach to Counseling University of Alabama College Students:
As aforementioned, I have a law degree from the University of Alabama and practiced for many years. I then went back to school to obtain my master’s in Clinical Mental Health. I have also helped 2 out of my 3 children through the difficult transition into college and beyond.
My Approach
As a counselor, I use Acceptance Commitment Therapy. ACT helps you decide what is important to you. It also shows you what has been standing in your way. Furthermore, it will show you the actions it will take for you to be the person you want to be. This allows you to have the kind of life you want to have. So when you choose Empower Counseling, it is like you are getting counseling and life coaching.
As your online therapist, I begin with really listening to what you are going through. And, how this is affecting you. Then I help you uncover what is important to you. Often, what you want your life to look like. This might take a little searching, but we’ll find it. We then examine your strengths, aptitudes, interests, likes, and desires. We will also look at the areas of your life you want to strengthen. As we go through this process, you will notice your self-confidence is higher. This happens because you are becoming clear about who you are. This way, you can focus on all that you have to offer and all you can achieve, once you have a plan.
Then, we will create an action plan. This action plan will help you be your best self in college and in life after college. I can also help with time management, productivity, goal setting, and healthy habits. Altogether, we will address whatever is not working for you and make it the way you want it to.
Potential Hesitation of Beginning Online Counseling for College Students at University of Alabama
You’re thinking, “I should be able to do this on my own.”
There are two options. One, you can continue to struggle to find your way all by yourself. Or two, you can turn to someone for help who understands how difficult it can be and has found a better way. I use my years of experience in school (college, graduate school, and law school) and life. Additionally, I use my knowledge base of work with other college students. Together, this helps us to develop a plan to get you where you want to go.
looking at your class schedule, you think “I don’t have time for counseling.”
What you will learn in your 50 minutes once a week in online therapy will save you so much time in the long run. How much time are you wasting being overwhelmed and without direction? Online therapy for college students can help you find your way. It can highlight the actions necessary to be organized, to prioritize, to set, and reach goals.
Begin Online Counseling for University of Alabama Students in Tuscaloosa, AL with Empower Counseling
Starting college can be overwhelming, especially considering the global health crisis. You have a new role that can be hard to navigate. Fortunately, online therapy for University of Alabama college students can help. I can help you find your way. As an experienced online therapist, I help college students lean into their role. To start your online therapy for college students, follow these simple steps:
- Contact Empower Counseling and set up an appointment.
- Get to know me, Kathryn, as your new online therapist.
- Start your journey toward a more self-confident, clear future.
Other Counseling Services Provided in Alabama
Online therapy for college students at University of Alabama is not the only service I provide. I am able to see clients in Birmingham, AL counseling clinic or through online therapy. I provide anxiety therapy, depression counseling, and counseling for difficult life transitions. Additionally, I provide counseling for teens to help them with new obstacles. I also offer life coaching and healthy technology lifestyles. I look forward to getting to know you better!