Northland Pioneer College has partnered with BetterMynd, an online therapy platform, to offer students access to free teletherapy sessions from a diverse network of licensed mental health counselors.
These 50-minute live video sessions are private and confidential and can take place from the convenience of your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Teletherapy sessions are available during the day, at night, and on weekends, so you can get support whenever it's best for you.
Asking for help isn’t always easy.
It’s even harder given the stigmas, prejudices, and discrimination surrounding mental health.
Know this:
Going to therapy is a sign of:
Strength (not weakness)
Self-care (not self-indulgence)
Self-respect (not shame)
YOU DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND SUPPORTED!
WHAT DOES BETTERMYND OFFER?
|
|
BetterMynd |
|
In person appointments |
NO |
|
Remote appointments (Zoom) from the convenience of your laptop, smartphone, or tablet |
YES |
|
Available during the day, at night, and on weekends |
YES |
|
Available over school breaks (e.g. winter break, summer) |
YES |
|
Walk-in / emergency visits |
NO |
|
Ability to select counselor based on demographics, identities, lived experiences, and specialties |
YES |
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST COUNSELING SESSION
- You are on a mental health journey – welcome!
- You deserve to feel safe and supported.
- You deserve mental health care that acknowledges and respects the intersection of your identity and experiences.
- You are allowed to acknowledge all that makes you a human.
- You don’t have to suffer in silence.
What to Expect
Remember that this is your counseling session, meant to help you! So take a deep breath, relax, and know you’re in a safe place with a trained, licensed, and trustworthy counselor.
During this first session, the counselor you’ve selected will ask you lots of questions. Their goal is to learn more about you so they can assess your concerns, current well-being, and determine how to best help you.
Tip: This is also an opportunity for you to determine if this counselor is a good fit for you! Not feeling it? No problem (don’t feel bad, that happens). You may choose to share with your counselor how they can better meet your needs. However, you also have the option of requesting your next session with a different counselor on the BetterMynd platform for a better fit.
How to Prepare
Good news, counseling isn’t a test you need to prepare for! But it could be useful to write down a few notes about why you’re seeking help.
What feelings or experiences brought you to this session today? What are you hoping to resolve or feel better about?
Tip: Think about “if counseling works for me, this is what will be different in my life” and share your answer with the counselor.
Setting Yourself Up for Your First Session
- Find a private, quiet, safe environment to have your session. You can have your session wherever you feel comfortable. Don’t feel self-conscious if that’s sitting in your car, your bedroom, or quiet corner of a park. Keep in mind that your session is private, so be sure to be by yourself.
- Have access to a working device with internet access, either a phone, tablet, or computer. Your device should have enough battery to last your 50-minute session, so remember to charge it.
- Be prepared to have your camera on and be visible to your counselor. Hate being on video? We get it. But don’t worry, it doesn’t matter how you look! In a counseling session, it's important for your counselor to know how you’re feeling and reacting by seeing your facial expressions and reactions. Make this easy by choosing a well-lit area facing the camera.
Remember: This is a Safe Space
Counselors on the BetterMynd platform are accustomed to seeing students for a wide range of reasons.
Tip: Talk openly about your feelings, this is a safe space.Your counselor is a trusted and trained professional who is ready to support you.
Common Issues Students Talk About in Counseling:
- Feeling consistently low or sad
- Persistent anxiety
- Handling a breakup
- Loss of a loved one
- Past or current experiences of trauma or abuse
- Academic pressures and performance
- Housing or roommate tension
- Challenges with family members or at home
- Experiencing discrimination
- Exploring gender identity
HOW DO I REGISTER FOR BETTERMYND?
How to Register for BetterMynd In less than 5-minutes:
Visit www.bettermynd.com and click "Register" in the upper right-hand corner.
- Be sure to use your campus email address.
- Check your email to verify it.
You now have a BetterMynd account!
- Read the terms and conditions. Then fill out a few brief questions about yourself.
- Take a brief intake survey. This allows BetterMynd to help match you with the best counselors and resources for your specific needs.
You now have access to your student dashboard. View counselors and schedule your first session.
This is also where you’ll attend your teletherapy sessions. You can also browse upcoming wellbeing workshops and reserve your spot.
Pro Tips
Be sure to monitor your Credits. Credits allow you to book individual teletherapy sessions and wellbeing workshops. Your available credits can be found on the right hand since of your dashboard under the “Credits” tab.Questions If you have any questions about these services, you can email BetterMynd at students@bettermynd.com.
