by Ashleigh Sanchez
Daily Lobo
For many UNM students, living away from home and becoming immersed in the college world can be a stressful
experience.
The Manzanita Counseling Center is here for those students, said Susan Smith-Pierce, coordinator of the center.
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"I believe we are the only really free counseling center in Albuquerque," she said.
The center is in Manzanita Hall, east of the Kiva Auditorium.
Smith-Pierce said anyone can use the center.
"We offer counseling sessions to everyone, not just those at UNM," she said. "We see families of students."
Relationships, homesick feelings, personal growth, family issues and career guidance are a few of the common issues the center deals with, she said.
The center also addresses stress management, anxiety, loss and adjustment problems.
"We specialize in life-transition issues," she said. "Students find some real common ground here."
The counselors at the center are all graduate students in the counseling program in the College of Education, Smith-Pierce said.
"Because we are students, we have a good grasp on college issues," said Theresa Ambrogi, a graduate student with Manzanita. "It's nice to talk to someone who is somewhere close to your age."
Smith-Pierce said graduate students in the counseling program are required to participate in the service.
While a student runs a session, the rest of class observes through a one-way mirror in the counseling room and learns from the encounter, she said.
Every 50-minute session is videotaped and observed by Smith-Pierce, who holds a Ph.D. and is a licensed counselor and UNM professor.
She said potential clients who call with more serious issues, such as drugs, alcohol or violence, are referred to an organization that is able to handle their needs.
The center's hours can be a downside to the free service, Smith-Pierce said.
"Because the Manzanita Counseling Center is a part of UNM, its hours are limited to times when school is in session," she said. "Clients who need intensive care and cannot go through that two or three months without counseling are referred elsewhere."
All the counseling rooms in Manzanita are equipped for children, Smith-Pierce said.
Confidentiality is of the highest importance at the center, she said.
She said Manzanita is UNM's best kept secret.
"We only had 40 clients all last semester," she said. "We want to encourage everyone to use our services. We're here for them."
