By Kristie Schiefer
Assistant News Editor
Two new counselors joined the St. Bonaventure University Wellness Center staff to take over for counselors who left to pursue other interests.
The leave of Stacey Farris and Mary Buono created a scramble for the Wellness Center to transition the other counselors in, Keener said.
“Some students were unhappy they left,” said Roger Keener, Ed.D., Director of St. Bonaventure University Center for Student Wellness. “In the meantime, three counselors picked up the load. Some students will be transitioned into the new counselor which started [Monday].”
The two new counselors, Jonelle Massey and Amy Mickle, both come to the Wellness Center with lots of energy, experience and commitment to counsel, Keener said.
“I think they are going to be positive influences on campus,” he said.
Counseling around 500 students per year, the Wellness Center changed its intake process to better match students with counselors based on their needs, according to Keener.
“The intake form is reviewed, and a student is matched with a counselor of choice based on issues and situations,” Keener said. “Rather than just throwing someone with whatever counselor the receptionist puts the student with, we’re better meeting the needs of students.”
Keener also said if a student still needs to see a counselor that day, he will.
The Wellness Center now has 4 counselors on hand, plus Keener.
“Any other school our size doesn’t have as close to this many counselors,” he said
Keener believes the Center can always do a better job, and that’s why he’s looking at possibly add another part time counselor.
“We just want to have more services for our students,” he said.
The Wellness Center also offers night hours four times a week by appointment only, Monday through Thursday for students who are interning and teaching during the day, according to Keener.
“We’re always open to look at the needs of Bona students that the Wellness Center needs to address,” he said.
Keener would like to create a student advocacy group to discuss what the needs are and the needs that must be met in terms of the services being provided.
“I think it’s important to get feedback even if one student didn’t feel like he/she was served at the time,” Keener said. “Maybe we can do a better job.”
Keener said the Wellness Center provides an atmosphere of caring, sensitive, non-judgmental conversation. The counselors provide a relationship with someone who can give a different prospective than friends and family who can’t because they know history, according to Keener.
“We have to get out of the stereotype that you’re crazy if you come to counseling,” Keener said.
Any students interested in joining the student advocacy group can email Dr. Keener at rkeener@sbu.edu.
