Counseling Center Resources

There are many excellent internet resources that can provide education and support on a variety of different personal growth or mental health issues. Check out the General Mental Health Resources tab below for a list of our favorite online resources, followed by a list of helpful websites according to topic. While we recommend them, we cannot fully endorse all the information on these sites.

We think it is important for every individual to make informed choices about what material they receive and how they use it. It can also be important to speak with an informed and supportive person one-on-one. For further information about counseling services at SUNY Oneonta, see our services page.

For a list of campus resources available to SUNY Oneonta students see the Campus Resources page.

For a list of off-campus providers of both in-person and tele-counseling services across New York State, visit this page: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

University of Wisconsin Counseling Center.This website has been recognized as a leader in college and university counseling center websites. They have a good explanation of counseling center services and an excellent self-help page.

On-line Self-help book. Mentalhelp.net presents this self help instructional manual for understanding some mental health problems and making a plan for working on them.

Tests Tests Tests. This is meant to be a fun link, that will allow you to explore your self through a variety of interesting quizzes. Many of these are not formally published tests, which have been standardized and researched, and we cannot attest to their validity or reliability.

Go Ask Alice. Get answers to questions about physical and mental health issues.

National Institute of Mental Health. Lots of articles on different mental health issues.

Half-of-us.com. This partnership between MTV and the Jed Foundation shows videos of celebrities and young people talking about their mental health problems to help people understand that half of all people have dealt with a mental health problem at some point in their lives.

Coping with and responding to traumatic events-National Institute of Mental Health Resources

Personality inventory - Free personality inventory based on Jung's typology.

Cinema-therapy - Watch a movie that can help you to relate to a particular mental health issue.

The Jed Foundation- A leading resource on promoting emotional health and preventing suicide.

Organizations for Social Justice

Suicide Prevention Video

Mental Health Toolkit for Protesters

Alcohol and other drugs / Addiction resources

Alcoholics Anonymous

Adult Children of Alcoholics

Alcoholics Anonymous / Ala-teen

National Association for Children of Alcoholics

Cocaine Anonymous

Marijuana Anonymous

Narcotics Anonymous

National Institute on Drug Abuse

Anxiety

National Anxiety Foundation Website

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Guidelines for Families coping with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Panic Disorder

Take a stress test

Ideas for relieving stress

Body image/ Eating issues

National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance

National Center for Overcoming Overeating - Women's Campaign to End Body Hatred and Dieting

Media and Body Image

Cultivating Body Neutrality in Young People

Depression

American Psychological Association information about depression

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

Depression in Men

Gambling

Problem and Compulsive Gambling

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Resources

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)

Family PRIDE Coalition

The Renaissance Transgender Association

Basic Rights

Self-Care When Experiencing Gender Dysphoria

Grief

Griefworks

Survivors of Suicide

Relationships

Coping with a break-up

Self-Injury

First Signs

Self-Injury Foundation

Sexual Assault and Violence

Brochure on Recovering from Sexual Assault from the Rape Abuse & Incest National Network

Survivors of Incest Anonymous

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Stalking Resource Center

For Male Survivors: 1 in 6 adult males have a history of child sexual abuse

Male Survivor: Overcoming Sexual Victimization of Men and Boys

Sexual Health

Planned Parenthood

Advocates for Youth Provides information about various sexuality and sexual health topics

Traumatic Events

Healing emotional and physical trauma: symptoms, treatment and recovery

Emotional and Psychological Trauma: Causes and Effects, Symptoms and Treatment

Coping with a sudden traumatic event

Off-campus private and agency providers of mental health and substance abuse treatment services

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Services

Otsego County Addiction Recovery Services
242 Main St
2nd floor
Oneonta, NY 13820
607-431-1030

Sexual Assault Services

Opportunities for Otsego
Violence Intervention Program

3 West Broadway
Oneonta, NY 13820
Main Office: 607-433-8000
Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Emergency hotline 607-432-4855

Therapists

Referral resource for off-campus counseling services (in-person and tele-counseling)

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists

Tips for Finding a Therapist or Psychiatrist Off-Campus

Finding a therapist or psychiatrist off-campus may feel like an overwhelming task. Staff at the Counseling Center are available to help you through the process.

Below are a few tips to help you as you begin your search for a provider:

  1. Know what you can afford.

Your insurance company is an important resource. Not only can they help you understand your plan’s coverage, they may also be a useful source of referrals. You may want to visit your plan’s website or call them for more information.

Be clear about how your plan works, whether or not you need authorization from your insurance company or primary care doctor prior to setting up an appointment, if there are limits on the providers you may see or the number of sessions you may have, and - if you have a co-payment - how much you should expect to pay for each session.

For example, a common copay would be $25 for a psychotherapy session. Since jobs on campus pay $15/hour, someone working for 2 hours would earn more than the amount needed for their copay. For more information about jobs on campus, check out Student Employment Services | SUNY Oneonta.

  1. Expect to make several phone calls before finding a therapist that will work for you.

While many students may find their ideal therapist after making only one or two calls, others may be frustrated to find that some providers may not return phone calls in a timely manner or may not have any openings currently.

Be prepared to advocate for yourself. Getting connected to the care you need is what’s important, even if that means following up on messages you’ve left or getting a second round of referrals. Don’t give up – one successful connection with a therapist will hopefully end up making all of your efforts worth it.

  1. Wondering what to say when you reach out to a provider? When contacting a new provider, you should make sure to include the following information:


​​​​Name

Phone Number
Referral Source
Request for services

​​​​​​Insurance/Willingness to pay out-of-pocket
Best time to reach you

Try this sample script, appropriate for reaching out to therapists or psychiatrists and adaptable for the phone or email: Hello, my name is First Name Last Name and my phone number is XXX-XXX-XXXX. I was referred by The Counseling Center at SUNY Oneonta and I am calling to inquire whether or not you are accepting new clients for therapy. I have X Insurance. I can be reached by phone on (days and times). Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you soon.

  1. Ask questions. Most therapists expect potential clients will have some questions prior to setting up their first appointment.

Take your preferences seriously and listen to your gut. If you feel more comfortable meeting with a male or a female, if you want someone who is more active or more reflective, if you want someone who has a lot of experience around a particular topic or issue, ask for that. You know best what will be most helpful.

  1. Once you set something up, let us know. We want to make sure students end up getting connected to the services they need. When you make your first appointment, we’d love to know that you’ve found someone.

  1. If referrals aren’t working out or you find yourself getting overwhelmed or frustrated, ask for help. You deserve the best care possible, so if you run into a problem, don’t give up. Let Counseling Center staff or your insurance company know you’re having trouble finding a provider, or enlist support from family and friends who will encourage and support you.

If you have other questions about how to find a mental health provider, or if you need additional referrals, please call the Counseling Center at 607-436-3368.

Adult Children of Alcoholics

*Black, C. (1982). It will never happen to me. Denver, CO: MAC Publishing.

Black, C. (1990) Double Duty. New York, NY: Ballantine Books.

Brown, S. (1992) Safe Passage: Recovery for Adult Children of Alcoholics. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

David, J. (1994). The family secret: ACOAs tell their story. New York, NY: William Morrow and Company.

McConnell, P. (1986). A workbook for healing adult children of alcoholics. San Francisco, CA: Harper & Row.

Woititz, J. (1990). Adult children of Alcoholics, revised ed. Deerfield Beach, FL: Communications, Inc.

Anger Management

Lerner, H. (1985). The dance of anger: A woman’s guide to changing the patterns of intimate relationships. New York: Harper Perennial.

Potter-Effron, R. & Potter-Effron, R.T. (1994). Angry all the time: An emergency guide to anger control. New Harbinger Publications.

Weisinger, H. (1985). Dr. Weisinger’s Anger Workout Book. William Morrow & Co.

Anxiety

*Antony, M. & Swinson R. (2000). The Shyness and Social Anxiety Workbook: Proven techniques for overcoming your fears. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

*Bourne, E.J. (1995). The anxiety & phobia workbook. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Communications.

Davis, M., Eshelman, E.R. & McKay, M. (1995). The relaxation and stress reduction workbook 4th edition.Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

*Hyman, B. & Pedrick C. (2005). The OCD Workbook: Breaking free from obsessive-compulsive disorder.Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Jeffers, S. (1988). Feel the fear and do it anyway reissue edition. Fawcett Books.

Leshan L. (1999). How to meditate: A guide to self-discovery. Little Brown & Co.

Nhat Hahn, T. (1992). Peace is every step: The path of mindfulness in everyday life. Bantam Books.

Steketee, G. & White K. (1990). When Once Is Not Enough: Help for obsessive compulsives. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Wilson, R.R. (1986). Don’t panic: Taking control of anxiety attacks. New York: Harper & Row.

Body Image and Eating issues

Kano, S. (1989). Making peace with food: Freeing yourself from the diet/weight obsession Revised ed. HarperCollins.

Chernin, K. (1994). The obsession: Reflections on the tyranny of slenderness. Perennial.

Chernin, K. (1994). The hungry self: Women, eating and identity. Perennial.

Freedman, R. (1990). Body love. HarperCollins Publishers.

Johnston, A.A. (2000). Eating in the light of the moon: How women can transform their relationship with food through myths, metaphors & storytelling. Gurze Designs & Books.

Roth, G. (1993). Breaking free from compulsive eating. Plume.

Roth, G. (1993). Feeding the hungry heart: Breaking free from compulsive eating. Plume.

Roth, G. (1993). When food is love: Exploring the relationship between eating and intimacy. Plume.

Tribble, E. & Resch, E. (1996). Intuitive eating: A recovery book for the chronic dieter: Rediscover the pleasures of eating and rebuild your body image. St Martins Mass Market Paper.

Depression

Burns, D.D. (1999). Feeling good: The new mood therapy 2nd edition. Avon.

Burns, D.D. (1999). The Feeling Good Handbook. Plume.

Greenburger, D. & Padesky, C.A. (1995). Mind over mood: Change how you feel by changing the way you think. New York: Guilford.

Lewinsohn, P.M., Munoz, R.F., Youngren, M.A., & Zeiss, A.M. (1986). Control your depression 2nd edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Seligman, M.E.P. (1991). Learned Optimism. New York: A.A. Knopf.

Styron, W. (1992). Darkness visible: A memoir of madness. Vintage books.

Tanner, S. & Ball, S. (1989). Beating the Blues. Sydney, Australia: Doubleday.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues

*Howard, K. & Stevens, A. (Eds.) (2000). Out and about Campus: Personal accounts by lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgendered college students. New York: Alyson Books

Bass, E. & Kaufman, K. (1996). Free your mind: The book for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth – and their allies. HarperCollins.

Bernstein, R. A. (2003) Straight parents, gay children: Keeping families together. Thunder’s Mouth Press.

Gilespie, P. Editor. (1999) Love makes a family: Portraits of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and their families. University of Massachusetts Press.

Rasi, R.A. & Rodriguez-Nogues L. (Eds.) (1995). Out in the workplace: The pleasures and perils of coming out on the job. Alyson publications.

Rhoads, R.A. (1994). Coming out in college: The struggle for a queer identity. Bergin & Garvey.

Savin-Williams, R.C. (2001). Mom, Dad, I'm Gay: How Families Negotiate Coming Out.American Psychological Association.

Grief

Colgrove, M., Bloomfied, H.H. & McWilliams, P. (1991). How to survive the loss of a love. Los Angeles, CA.: Prelude Press

Davis Prend, A. (1997) Transcending Loss: Understanding the lifelong impact of grief and how to make it meaningful. Berkley Publishing Group.

*Kushner, H.S. (1997). When Bad Things Happen to Good People reissue edition. Avon.

Edelman, H. (1995). Motherless daughters: The legacy of loss. Delta.

Grollman, E. & Malikow, M. (1999). Living when a young friend commits suicide. Beacon Press.

LeShan, E.J. (1976). Learning to say goodbye: When a parent dies. New York: Macmillan.

Men's Issues

Keen, S. (1992). Fire in the belly: On being a man. Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing.

Bly, R. (1992). Iron John: A book about men. Vintage Books

Goldberg, H. (2000). The hazards of being male: Surviving the myth of masculine privilege. Wellness Institute.

Grubman-Black, S. (1990). Broken boys/mending men: Recovery from childhood sexual abuse. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books.

King, N. (1995). Speaking Our Truth : Voices of Courage and Healing for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Harper perennial Library.

Levinson, D.J. (1986). Season of a man’s life reissue edition. Ballantine Books.

Lew, Mike (2000) Leaping upon the Mountains : Men Proclaiming Victory over Sexual Child Abuse. North Atlantic Books.

Lew, M. (2004). Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Child Abuse 2nd edition. Perennial Currents.

McMullen, Richie. (1990). Male Rape: Breaking The Silence On The Last Taboo. London: The Gay Men's Press.

Real, T. (1998). I don’t want to talk about it: Overcoming the secret legacy of male depression. Fireside.

Zilbergeld, B. (1999). The new male sexuality, revised edition. Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub.

Personality

Aron, E.N. (1997). The highly sensitive person: How to thrive when the world overwhelms you. Broadway Books.

Laney, M.O. (2002). The introvert advantage: How to thrive in an extrovert world. Workman Publishing.

Zimbardo, P.G. (1990). Shyness: What it is, what to do about it. Perseus Publishing.

Relationships & Break-ups

*Findling, R. (1999). Don't call that Man! A survival guide to letting go. NY: Hyperion.

Fischer, B. (1999). Rebuilding: When your relationship ends (3rd edition). Impact Publishers, Inc.

Fromm, E. (2000). The art of loving. HarperCollins.

Hendrix, H. (1988). Getting the love you want: A guide for couples. New York: Harper & Row.

*Katherine, A. (2000). Boundaries: Where you end and I begin. NY: Simon & Schuster.

*Lerner, H. (1997). The dance of anger: A woman’s guide to changing the patterns of intimate relationships reissue edition. HarperCollins.

Lerner, H. (1997). The dance of deception: A guide to authenticity and truth-telling in women’s relationships. HarperCollins.

Lerner, H. (1997). The dance of intimacy: A women’s guide to courageous acts of change in key relationships. HarperCollins.

Scarf, M. (1996). Intimate partners: Patterns in love and marriage. Ballantine Books.

Vaughan, D. (1990). Uncoupling: Turning points in intimate relationships. Vintage Books.

Self Esteem

*Brandon, N. (1995). The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem. NY, NY: Bantam.

McKay, M. & Fanning, P. (2000). Self Esteem: A proven program of cognitive techniques for assessing, improving and maintaining your self-esteem 3rd edition. New Harbinger Publications.

Helmstetter, S. (1990). What to say when you talk to yourself. Pocket books.

Seligman, M.P. (1995). What you can change… and what you can’t: The complete guide to successful self-improvement: Learning to accept who you are. Fawcett Books.

Self- Injury

Alderman, T. (1997). The scarred soul: Understanding & ending self-inflicted violence. New Harbinger Publications.

*Levenkron, S. (1998). Cutting: Overcoming and understanding self-mutilation. W.W. Norton & Co.

Sexual and Physical Violence

*Adams, C. (1989). Free of the Shadows: Recovering from Sexual Violence. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Bass, E. & Davis, L. (1992). The courage to heal: A guide for women survivors of child sexual abuse 2nd Edition. New York: Harper & Row.

Benedict, Helen (1994). Recovery: How to survive sexual assault for women, men, teenagers, and their families. Columbia University Press, New York.

Davis, L. (1990). The courage to heal workbook: A guide for women and men survivors of child sexual abuse. New York: Harper & Row.

Davis, Laura. (1991). Allies In Healing: When The Person You Love Was Sexually Abused As A Child. New York: Harper Perennial.

Grubman-Black, S. (1990). Broken boys/mending men: Recovery from childhood sexual abuse. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: TAB Books.

King, N. (1995). Speaking Our Truth : Voices of Courage and Healing for Male Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse. Harper perennial Library.

Lew, Mike (2000) Leaping upon the Mountains : Men Proclaiming Victory over Sexual Child Abuse. North Atlantic Books.

Lew, M. (2004). Victims No Longer: Men Recovering from Incest and Other Child Abuse 2nd edition. Perennial Currents.

Maltz, W. (1991). The sexual healing journey: A guide for survivors of sexual abuse. New York: Harper Perennial.

McMullen, Richie. (1990). Male Rape: Breaking The Silence On The Last Taboo. London: The Gay Men's Press.

Rather, E. (1990). The other side of the family: A book for recovery from abuse, incest and neglect. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.

Scarce, Michael & Rubenstein, William B. (2002). Male on male rape: The hidden toll of stigma and shame. Perseus Book Group.

Walker, L.E. (1979). The Battered Woman. New York: Harper & Row.

Warshaw, R. (1988). I never called it rape: The Ms. report on recognizing, fighting and surviving date and acquaintance rape. New York: Harper & Row.

Women's Self-Care

Sark. (1997). Succulent Wild Woman. Fireside.

Louden, J. (1992). The woman’s comfort book: A self-nurturing guide for restoring balance in your life. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

*Torre-Bueno, A. (1997). Peace after Abortion. San Diego, CA: Pimpernel Press.

There are some great websites that allow individuals to do some self-assessment on issues regarding mental health concerns. Here are some of our favorite websites for self assessment.

Self-assessment about a mental health issue can be very helpful but does not take the place of talking to an informed and supportive person who cares. These self assessments can be helpful first steps towards personal growth either in counseling or through self-directed learning.

Personality Assessment - Find out what your personality type is! This assessment is based on the Meyers-Briggs Type indicator.

Strength-based assessments - links to multiple positive psychology self-assessments. Discover your personal strengths and find out about other factors related to happiness.

Alcohol Screening - Do you think you may have a problem with Alcohol?

Internet addiction screening

We are Here to Listen
Adapted from Bader and Haas

We are here to listen,
Not to work miracles.

We are here to help people discover what they are feeling,
Not to make feelings go away.

We are here to discuss steps with people,
Not to take steps for them.

We are here to help people discover their own strength,
Not to rescue them and leave them still vulnerable.

We are here to help people discover they can still help themselves,
Not to take responsibility for them.

We are here to help people learn to choose,
Not to make it unnecessary for them to make difficult choices.

We are here to provide support for change.

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
By Portia Nelson

Chapter I

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in
I am lost . . . I am helpless
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter II

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III

I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in . . . it’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter IV

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter V

I walk down another street.

Shine
By Nelson Mandela

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate;
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves,
“Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?”
Actually, who are you NOT to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that others will not feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine – as children do.
We are born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just some of us: it is all of us.
As we let our own light shine, we give others permission
to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others from their fear.
May we all give ourselves permission to shine today
so that the truth is reflected in all of us.

Loving kindness
A traditional Buddhist meditation and self-blessing

May I be safe from inner and outer harm.
May I be happy and peaceful.
May I be healthy and strong.
May I care for myself lovingly in the world.

May all beings be safe from inner and outer harm.
May all beings be happy and peaceful.
May all beings be healthy and strong.
May all beings care for themselves lovingly in the world.

Serenity Prayer
Reinhold Neibuhr

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

If my Insides were my Outsides
by Angela S. Lowe

If my inside were my outside
Then no one would know
In a glance
In a first look
What I was
Or more important
Who I was
We all know there's harassment
It takes on many forms
It happens in the classroom
In organizations
In residence halls
But if my inside were my outside
We could change this reality
Because you'd have to forget all the stereotypes
And just concentrate on me
If my inside were my outside
Then you couldn't
Judge me
Label me
Make assumptions
without first
Asking me questions
And you would want to ask me
If my inside were my outside
Because it would be the only way
To know
What I think
What I feel
What I love
What I hate
What movies I like to watch
What food I like to eat
What music I like to listen to
What language I like to speak
If my inside were my outside
Then the first thing you'd see
Wouldn't be
My color
My breasts
My walk
My hair
My heritage
My talk
If my inside were my outside
Then you wouldn't make
Mistaken assumptions
I am here to get married
Of course I want a beer
I am here on a scholarship
I am sensitive by nature
I have feelings
I shouldn't be called on in class
You better lock your doors
I'll understand and tolerate your jokes
I have money and you can't have any
I'll probably get AIDS
I'll only sit with people like me
I'll use my body as a resume
If my inside were my outside
Then I wouldn't be afraid
To walk with myself alone
To sit with you in the cafe
To raise my hand in class
To let you know who I am
To go to parties where I'm out-numbered
To see a teacher after class
To be counted among the masses
To spend all my time trying to fit in
To spend all my time trying to match your life
Instead of investigating my own
If my inside were my outside
Then you really wouldn't know
You'd have to get to know me first
You'd have to start by saying hello
And after you got to know me
You may still find I'm a jerk
But you couldn't just assume it
It would take a little work
And you might find out
I'm beautiful
You might find that in the end
And you'll get something
You hadn't counted on
You'll get yourself a friend
We all know there's harassment
It takes on many forms
It happens in the classroom
In organizations
In residence halls
But if my inside were my outside
We can change this reality
Because you'd have to forget all the stereotypes
And just concentrate on me!

Parable of a Cherokee Chief

An elder Cherokee Chief took his grandchildren into the forest and said to them, "A fight is going on inside me. This is a terrible fight between two wolves. One is the wolf of fear, anger, arrogance and greed. The other wolf is the wolf of courage, kindness, humility and love." The children sat very quiet listening to their grandfather. He then said to them, "This same fight between the two wolves that is going on inside of me is going on inside of you and inside every person." The children thought about it for a minute and then one child asked the chief, "Grandfather, which wolf will win the fight?" He said quietly, "The one you feed."

On Joy and Sorrow
from the Prophet by Kahil Gibran

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter's oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

Risk
by Janet Rand

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams in front of a crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair, to try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing and becomes nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love and live. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave, he has forfeited his freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.

Mindfulness Trail

The Mindfulness Trail is a series of spots on campus aimed to bring you into the moment and help you relax, recharge, refocus, and take a moment in the present. Mindfulness can help us enjoy life and understand ourselves better. You can do one spot or all four, make it yours.

Directions

Follow the trail listening to one or both meditations at each stop. In between stops try to stay in the moment and continue to practice the mediation. Use headphones to better engage with each activity.

Tips

  • Notice what’s happening in your body and mind
  • Try to do a mindfulness trail during the day
  • Take a buddy with you
  • There might be other people around, that’s okay! Focus on your mindfulness practice

Let's Get Started

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