There are many resources on campus that students can take advantage of and CAPS is one of them. One of the main benefits of it that students should use is going to see a counselor at CAPs if they are having a hard time transitioning to UNC - Charlotte from home. According to Dr. Erica Lennon, regarding the transition to UNC - Charlotte, there is a group therapy program that benefits students to where they feel less alone when going through this process. “There are shared themes when students transition from high school to college...hearing how other students have coped can be really good as well,” said Dr. Lennon.
Throughout conversations among students, they talked about their transition to Charlotte. When talking to Kyle about it, he stated that he had a hard time transitioning to UNC - Charlotte. He said that he had support from his family and friends back at home when he still lived there and that when he moved here, he wasn’t used to the independence. When he was asked about going to the counseling center about this transition, he said that he regretted it and that if he went, more than likely it would have helped him. And when he was asked if other students should take advantage of it, he was eager to say that students should seek it if they truly need it and went on to say, “Counselors are here to help you overcome your struggles.”
This is one of the few stories that students have discussed about when they were going through this transition from home to UNC - Charlotte. From what most of the students said in their experiences with the transition, they missed their family and friends from back home but they were able to find coping mechanisms other than the counseling center.
Samantha, who is a junior, had a hard time adjusting since she did not know anyone on campus. Eventually, she was able to get out of her comfort zone and made friends. Samantha stated that she wasn’t afraid to talk to the people in her classes. One of her reasons in doing this was to form study groups. Just like Kyle, she also did not go seek counseling but she did not feel the need to go see one. “Caps is a great place to get to talk to someone and just have an ear to listen to you or a shoulder to cry on. They can prove the support to students and help them in their transition,” said Samantha when she was asked if she would recommend students to go see a counselor if they’re going through this personal struggle.
When asked about tips for mental health for students that are attending the university, Leigh Norwood suggested that students should get connected to a sense of community. Dr. Erica Lennon said that finding a sense of balance could help students in regards to their mental health. In addition to, Norwood also said that their workshops are a good way to learn coping skills for students with stressors before they become overwhelming.
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