By: CJ Intercola and Veronica Melikov
Most people on campus take full advantage of the student health center to treat physical injuries and illnesses. However, Dr. Melissa Zarin, assistant director, and interim director of the Stevens Counseling Center is fighting to raise awareness and encourage students to treat mental illnesses through the on-campus counseling programs. Dr. Zarin oversees the center, consults students, trains orientation leaders, and has established the safe zone initiative at Stevens. Dr. Zarin is truly a superhero.
“I’m a psychologist. It makes you want to help people,” Dr. Zarin cited as her motivation for going into counseling. She went on to explain that she is particularly passionate about working with college students. “I started my training in college counseling, so I sort of circled back in my career. I like working with students on this level because it’s a great age. You’re on the cusp of adulthood,” said Dr. Zarin with a clear sense of devotion to her cause.
She also explained that with being on the “cusp of adulthood”, comes great difficulties. Her programs are aimed to help every person she can. “Anyone who is maybe away from home for the very first time, this can be stressful… if you’re feeling anxiety, just step in, to be advised,” Dr. Zarin said. “Certainly, people who are coming to school with a preexisting situation and want to make sure it’s situated, we offer referrals. We have a lot of referrals in the community. If you’ve been experiencing anxiety or depression definitely come in. We do have some freshmen who come in with, roommate conflicts,” she continued.
The center has been doing extraordinary work to encourage people to seek help and to break down the misguided stigma around mental illness. Due to the increase in demand of the counseling center, Dr. Zarin has made a shift when it comes to scheduling office hours; the latest editions are walk-in visits. “If you’re in the middle of something and you need some help or a little counseling, just step in!” encouraged Dr. Zarin. Standard visits have been altered as well, now operating on a shorter model basis. Typically, students will be able to plan one to five sessions with counselors. Every schedule is tailored to the individual. For prolonged or long term sessions, referrals are often made to the local and trusted offices off-campus.
Dr. Zarin also revealed her work in creating peer educator programs. “We’re always recruiting for the upper peer educator programs. Essentially, students are trained and volunteer for the counseling center. They go out and volunteer in the community to represent us, sometimes even giving presentations at 9 o’clock at night, tabling events, or hosting conferences for fraternities and sororities,” Dr. Zarin beamed about her program. Dr. Zarin’s work is helping countless students around campus and creating a truly extraordinary atmosphere of solidarity. Dr. Zarin also explained her desire for new, passionate students to get involved with this program in their second semester to continue building on what we already have.
Overall, Dr. Zarin stated that “more and more students are setting up and setting out and supporting counseling, we try to get out there and keep positive,” summarizing the profound success we have had on campus in treating mental illnesses.
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