CAPS
helps relieves student related stress
By Joyce Kelly
On-line Forty-Niner
Counseling
and Psychological Services is a program
at Cal State Long Beach for the campus community
to utilize when they are suffering from
stress.
CAPS consists of 13 psychologists, three
of which are interns. The three interns
are required to do an internship for a year
at CSULB.
“They are doctorate interns,” said Clyde
Crego, director of faculty and staff assistance
programs. “They are required to do full
time internships for one year.”
This is the fifth year that CSULB has accepted
applications from students across the country
to participate in its program.
“Every year on the same day, usually the
second Monday in February, psychology students
apply to internships from all over the country,”
he said. “We receive 100 applications for
three slots. The computer matches them.
We get very good interns who receive very
intensive training here.”
One of the three interns, Jennifer Gosselin,
from Las Vegas, helps clients with individual
therapy.
“We serve the students with individual therapy,”
she said. “I see about 10 per week.”
Some reasons for students to become stressed
toward the end of the semester are final
projects and exams.
Another reason students may suffer from
stress is a lack of financial support, which
is necessary for survival. The end of the
fall semester is when the holidays begin;
another causes of stress for people. Many
students lack the money that is needed to
enjoy the holidays, especially for gifts.
Finance has always been a stress factor,
especially for students. The staff members
of CAPS are aware of these problems and
are prepared to provide psychological services.
“Money is the No.1 factor and worry of students,”
Crego said. “Students don’t have an abundance
of money in college.”
The lack of finances can follow a student
from home to college. There can be a lack
of money in the student’s family, which
can cause problems for other family members.
Sandra Pisano, Ph.d. and clinical psychologist
of Health Psychology Medicine, Inc. located
at St. Marys Medical Center, has privileges
to see patients at St. Marys Medical Center
and Long Beach Memorial Medical Center.
She agrees that money is one of the leading
problems of stress and increases close to
the holidays. She also said she believes
job security is another factor that causes
stress.
“Holidays have always promoted stress,”
she said. “The population I work with, money
has always been a problem. The economy has
taken a turn for the worse. People are afraid
their jobs are at risk.”
Some other factors that cause stress are
identity issues, homesickness, grief and
the loss of a loved one, conflicts in relationships,
chronic problems, alcohol and substance
abuse. Other problems related to academics
are seating disorders, cross-cultural issues,
and chronic problems. The seriousness of
problems that the staff handles has increased.
“The demand is up,” Crego said. “But,
you don’t have to have serious problems
for being seen. There are a lot of issues
that can be attributed to stress.
The end of the semester, relationships in
dating or marriage, all have increased.”
All of the services that are provided by
CAPS are free of charge to the students
because it is included in their fees.
|
