Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi Personal Counseling Center

PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION

At Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) we believe that education includes the development of the total person. Thus, health and wellness education is an integral component of student life at TAMU-CC. The University Counseling Center (UCC) plays a key role in facilitating optimal personal and professional growth and development of students to enhancetheir overall college experience.

University Counseling Center staff understands that psychological adjustment is connected to the health of the whole person--including the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual,and social well-being of the individual. The staff at the University Counseling Center believes that given the necessary information and learning opportunities human change is possible and that individuals typically have a natural propensity toward healthy growth and development. We realize that a variety of internal and external factors may provide personal challenges during the course of an individual's life. The manner in which one responds to such challenges has a significant impact on the individual's ability to achieve and sustain a healthy and personally rewarding life style. Specific choices during times of distress, uncertainty, or crisis may facilitate or hinderthe individual's ability to realize her or his academic and personal success goals.

Our Mission Statement reads, "Through our endeavors we support the educational mission of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi in providing opportunities to assist students in reaching their personal,academic, and professional growth goals." Thus, the University Counseling Center offers a broad spectrum of counseling and psychological services designed to help students enhance their academic potential, learn advanced skills to facilitate effective problem-solving, increase their capacity for healthy and satisfying interpersonal relationships, resolve or work through any personal issues that interfere with academic achievement, and develop specific behaviors that are important to personal, academic, and career excellence. Our services at the UCC are designed to support, encourage, educate, counsel, and empower students in a university setting as they adjust to the challenges and transitions of life as well as help faculty and staff function more effectively in their work with students. Our staff offers support for a variety of challenges and concerns that might require professional assistance as well as referral to medical, nutritional, fitness, academic, and other appropriate community resources to maximize total health and wellness when needed. We further support the academic goals of the University through providing quality training for graduate students in mental health professions. In that vein, services are provided by both professional staff and graduate student trainees. All trainees receive supervision and mentoring from professional staff at the UCC. We also endeavor to model and support the University's diversity initiative and attempt to facilitate mutual respect and understanding among people of various forms of diversity within our community, the nation, and the world.