Students participate in WFU mock counseling class

How often have you engaged in experiences to advance your academia outside the Winston Salem State community?

A group of WSSU students recently took advantage of the opportunity to join and participate in a graduate level course at Wake Forest University.

Students from different majors attended a master's level course for counseling taught by Debbie Newsome Nov. 18, which focused on systematic integration of basic techniques critical to the counseling process.

Cecile Yancu, a WSSU sociology professor received an invitation for students to shadow a graduate class and experience what academic life after undergrad.

 "For me, the most important part of the students taking advantage of the opportunity was the fact that so many of these opportunities exist, and students simply do not grab them," Yancu said.

"I was excited about taking a group of students to WFU, and exploring with them the possibilities after acquiring their undergraduate degree."

The class began with a quiz on myths about suicide. Questions ranged from which demographic possessed the highest suicide rate, to which method of suicide occurred most frequently.

Both groups of students viewed a slideshow presentation from Newsome on Suicide Risk Assessment, and learned the ways in which counseling services can be essential to preventing an at-risk patient from committing or attempting suicide.

"I thought the subject content for the day we attended was great," said Kenya Garris, a junior sociology major from Winston-Salem.

 "The facts presented to us were very eye opening, and I learned that suicide is the 11th leading cause of death which was surprising."

Following the slideshow and lecture was a simulated intake interview, where a Newsome's former student played the role of a middle-aged mother experiencing depression and possibly at risk for committing suicide.

The students assessed the situation of ‘Janelle Tennebe' by assuming the role of her counselor.    

From having the conversation with the patient, the students revealed that she presented all warning signs of someone at risk of suicide.

David Ford, an assistant hall director at WSSU, assisted the students in assessing Tennebe's case.

Ford issued the confidentiality brief for the patient and helped to guide students in asking open-ended questions when dealing with an at-risk patient.

"The best component of the experience was when the students were put in the place of the counselor and were allowed to assess the client," Ford said.

Newsome and Yancu both said they looked forward to making opportunities like these available again in the near future for students on both campuses.

 "I think it is great for students who may have an interest in going into Counseling, or anything of the like, after receiving their bachelor's degree, to be able to explore all of their options," Yancu said.

"For me, it is also a wonderful experience as a teacher to be able to showcase the abilities of the brilliant and talented students [here] on the campus of WSSU."

The students said that the opportunity sparked an interest in something new, and that they would look into career possibilities relating to counseling .

"I would love to work with inmates, incarcerated, and upon release, and help them learn how to successfully integrate back into society," Garris said.

"Being able to attend the course at WFU showed me the possibilities of utilizing my degree after WSSU. "

Ford said he has hopes for students after the shadowing experience.

"I hope the students take a different perspective on the helping professions, specifically counseling, and will want to learn more about the field, as opposed to other helping professions like clinical psychology and social work," Ford said. "I also hope the students will consider furthering their education after earning the bachelor's degree."