Lebanon Valley College issued the following announcement on Oct. 4.
Jim Felty, director of counseling services at LVC, dreamed of being a counselor.
After graduating from Shippensburg University with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, he found himself in Virginia as a manager in the transportation industry, a bit off the beaten path.
“After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I intended to go to grad school for counseling,” Felty said. “But I got a job to pay the bills and ended up working my way up the corporate ladder.”
It wasn’t long before Felty began feeling restless and unfulfilled. His interest had always been in counseling, so when he heard a radio ad from Liberty University about their master’s in counseling program, he could not say yes fast enough.
“I had long thought about going back to school and doing what I had once dreamed of,” Felty said. “About a year later, I was in the program and have never looked back. I love what I do.”
Felty coordinates the day-to-day operations of Counseling Services, meets students individually for therapy, works with the 5050 Peer Helpers, and consults various campus groups.
“Some of my favorite things are the people I work with,” Felty said. “Everyone here cares about the students and how we can serve them. Our counselors, Ann Burris and Nicole Grier, are uniquely gifted at helping students and understanding their needs.”
LVC added Grier as a new full-time counselor this year. Grier has much experience with young adults, victims of sexual assault, crisis concerns, and behavioral modification. Recently elevated to full-time counselor, Burris has experience with college students, grief therapy, and works with the LGBTQ+ community. Grier and Burris’s offices are in Bishop Library. These are far from the only changes taking place in Counseling Services.
“We have several significant changes this year,” Felty said. “We added self-assessments to the Counseling Services website, which allow students to get connected for help. 5050 has moved to the second floor of Shroyer Health Services and changed the focus of their weekend groups. And, there are now more group therapy options available.”
If a student is struggling, no matter the issue, Counseling Services is here for support. There are options for individual sessions, group therapy, and access to community resources.
“We will do our utmost to help you achieve your goals,” Felty said. “Counseling is a safe place to work out your issues, thoughts, and feelings.”
Felty emphasized these points for students:
- Counseling Services is here to support you. No matter what your issue is, we will do our best to help.
- Everything we do is confidential. That means we cannot share your interaction with Counseling Services with anyone on or off-campus (except in cases of threat of harm to self, others, or reports of child abuse).
- Our staff is highly trained and qualified to support you. Our clinical staff is licensed and has received specialized training and experience in a multitude of areas. The team is trained in trauma-informed therapy, LGBTQ+, cognitive-behavioral therapy, grief, drug and alcohol, suicide prevention, sexual assault support, and more.
- If you aren’t sure what is bothering you, but you sense something isn’t right, come see us. We can help. Use our open office hours each weekday from 11 a.m. to noon on the second floor of Bishop Library. Just walk in, and see a counselor for a brief session and connection.
Original source can be found here.
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