Hello from the Student Counseling Center!
Right now feels like an important time to know your rights. We want to remind you of some of your rights during difficult interactions, especially as some of you prepare to visit with family or are in locations (on or off campus) where you may feel upset or out of place.
You have rights, like the right to be treated with respect, to express your feelings and opinions, and to have and maintain boundaries. You have the right to ask questions, to take time to think about a response, to say no, and to disagree. You have a right to stand up for your values and your strongly held beliefs. At the same time, other people have all of these same rights too, and they often hold different values. It’s important to respect their rights while asserting your own. This can be hard, so we want to share some basic skills to help manage the emotions that these interactions can stir up.
- Recognize and be aware of your own reactions. If you are already very stressed, this is a time to avoid exposure to stressful interactions (if possible)
- Breathe deeply (try square/box breathing)
- Try a grounding strategy (try paying attention to your 5 senses)
- Remind yourself that you have choices (e.g. you can avoid difficult topics or locations; get curious and try to listen for small points you agree on or learn about the other position; pause the conversation; walk away)
- Seek support and balance your time with activities and people you enjoy
- Plan ahead – if you will be going into a situation you know may feel overwhelming or emotionally unsafe, consider how you will move to a safer location if needed (e.g. identify a calmer room, a different location, walking outside, a nearby park, a coffee shop) and who you can contact for help or distraction.
If you want to talk in a confidential space about how to manage difficult interactions, please come by the Student Counseling Center - we’re here to talk. Drop In Hours 1-3pm weekdays, or call 503-768-7160/email counsel@lclark.edu to schedule an initial consultation.
Robin Keillor, Student Counseling Center Staff
