Academic, Career and Personal Counseling and Advising

Please contact us at 440.525.7200 to schedule a meeting with a counselor.

The Lakeland Counseling & Advising Center meets students where they are and puts them at the center of everything we do.

By using culturally inclusive and ethical practices, we provide academic, admission, career, and personal counseling, and we teach a variety of personal development courses.

Professional counseling services are available to full-time, part-time or potential students. By discussing interests, achievements and goals, counselors can assist students in making realistic educational and occupational decisions. Whether you are a new or returning student, a recent high school graduate or an adult learner exploring a new career, the counseling and advising office will assist you in the successful completion of your educational and career goals.

On this website you will find information on the following counseling services:

• Admissions Counseling: New to the college? We will assist you in selecting courses to begin your studies. More details can be found in our admission counseling services page.
• Academic Counseling and Advising: We can help you plan your educational goals, review degree and transfer opportunities. We can develop an individualized academic plan to track your progress toward graduation or transfer for a bachelor's degree.
• Career Exploration and Planning: We understand that choosing a major or career is not an easy task.  We can help you discover a career that best fits your personality, interests and skills.
• Personal Counseling: As Licensed Professional Counselors we will help you explore solutions concerning personal concerns impacting your educational experience and personal development.
• Policy and Procedure Counseling: We will help you understand the college system and the policies that affect your success.
• Psychological Counseling: Lakeland's campus psychologist is available to help students succeed in pursuing their education when personal, emotional, family, or mental health difficulties interfere with their studies.

Students should make an appointment with a counselor when:

• They are considering Lakeland and want to know how the college's programs can fit into their academic plan.
• They are enrolled in classes and have any concerns.
• They are registering for the upcoming semester. Click here to see important times to see a counselor for registration.
• They are nearing completion of a degree or certificate.

Contact Lakeland's Counseling and Advising Center to make an appointment at 440.525.7200.

If a student is interested in any of the following health technology degree programs, Health Information Session appointments can be scheduled by contacting the Lakeland Student Service Center at 440.525.7050. Health technology programs include: 

• Dental hygiene, health information management technology, histotechnology,  medical laboratory technology, nursing, occupational therapy assistant, physical therapist assistant, radiologic technology, respiratory therapy and surgical technology.

Contacts

Counselors are not able to schedule their own appointments.
Please call 440.525.7200 to schedule an appointment with a counselor.

Counseling Services

 

Counselors are available to:

• Discuss basic skills in math and English by reviewing scores of Lakeland's Placement Test and/or ACT/SAT and AP Scores.
• Discuss program requirements.
• Assist with appropriate course selection.
• Discuss PLA options.
• Assess your prior college coursework.
  • Please note: New students who have never attended college or who are transferring less than 15 college level credits will be required to enroll in the following courses:
    • FYEX 1000: The First Year Experience.
    • The English course based on your placement results.

Counselors are available to:

• Assist with appropriate course selection.
• Review Lakeland degree requirements and transfer opportunities.
• Evaluate courses transferred from other colleges and apply transfer credits to Lakeland degrees.
• Review the transfer module.
• Share study skills, time management, test taking and other academic skills.
• Provide referrals to additional campus resources.
• Create a completion plan as required by FYEX, Financial Aid Appeals and AmeriCorps.
• "Check-in" at the 30 credit hour mark to make sure you are on track in your degree.
• Evaluate your degree/certificate progress the semester before graduating.

If you would like to determine your interests, strengths and weaknesses, and learn how to research career fields, we offer:

• Individual appointments.
• Career interest testing.
• COUN 1100 - Career Exploration: This credit bearing course will help you better understand your own values, needs, preference and interests as they relate to the world of work.
• COUN 1200 - Employment Strategies: This credit bearing course will give you everything you need to become an expert at finding, applying for and landing the job you want.

All counselors at Lakeland hold a professional license as counselors or social workers. Our counselors are equipped to help you navigate and cope with mental, personal, social and emotional challenges. Personal concerns can have a tremendous impact on your success in college.

We can counsel you about:

• Self-evaluation.
• Goal-setting.
• Stress management.
• Decision making.
• Personal adjustment.
• Referrals to on and off-campus resources.

If you are concerned about getting through "the system," we will:

• Review the college catalog.
• Clarify policies that affect your progress.
• Refer you to the appropriate faculty member or administrator.
• Assist with completion of your graduation application or certificate application, as there are strict deadlines.

Lakeland's campus psychologist is available to help students succeed in pursuing their education when personal, emotional, family, or mental health difficulties interfere with their studies. Services include:

• Crisis intervention.
• Assessment.
• Short-term mental health treatment.
• Short-term personal counseling.
• Short-term couples counseling.
• Referral to community and campus resources.
• Groups and workshops on mental health.
• Evaluation of academic and learning difficulties.
• Mental health crisis procedures.
• Suicide prevention services.

Click here to learn more and to schedule an appointment.

Wellness at Lakeland

Lakeland is dedicated to helping students become successful, not only in achieving their educational goals, but also in maintaining their own well-being.

Relaxation Zones on Campus

Lakeland has created two indoor and two outdoor relaxation zones where students can unwind, de-stress, engage in arts and crafts activities, meditate, and explore wellness apps. The indoor relaxation zones are located in A-2110 and the Lakeland Library. Outdoor relaxation zones are located near the Mindladders sculpture outside Breakers and in the main campus courtyard under the trees.

Other existing wellness zones at Lakeland include the Athletic and Fitness Center, Lakeland Cares Cupboard, H-building third floor greenhouse and rooftop garden, and Mooreland gardens, to name a few. Take some time to explore spaces on Lakelands campus that can contribute to your wellness.

We can all benefit from wellness activities every day, especially during stressful times. Lakeland students are invited to access our online guide that offers a wide range of mental health and resilience information and resources. This collection of reliable and helpful websites and videos was compiled and created by Lakeland's Mental Health Task Force.

View our wellness online resource guide.

Complete our online Student Wellness Interest Form to find out how we can help you enhance your physical, emotional, social, financial, occupational and intellectual wellness. You will receive an email response containing information on campus and community resources specific to the wellness areas you are interested in. 

Students completing the form will be entered into a drawing to win a 36 oz. Yeti stainless steel insulated water bottle.

 

Below is a listing of courses offered at the college to enhance physical, emotional, financial, career, relationship and mental wellness.

Note: As always, students should consult with a counselor and/or financial aid officer to select electives that will support their personal and educational objectives or meet financial aid requirements.

Click or tap here to show/hide the course list.

Skills for Self-Care and Resilience – COUN 1050 (1 credit hour)

This course offers students the opportunity to learn about and try out a variety of activities and practices that promote self-care and resilience. We will explore ways of managing stress, persevering when faced with adversity, and maintaining balance. With the understanding that different strategies work for different people, students will develop a personalized set of skills for lifelong mental wellness.

Questions? Contact Ken Browner at 440.525.7205 or kbrowner@lakelandcc.edu

Campus Psychologist

Psychological services are available to help you succeed in pursuing your education when personal, emotional, or mental health difficulties are interfering with your learning. Some common challenges that student face include anxiety, stress, depression, relationship problems, challenging life transitions and a range of mental health concerns. Our campus psychologist, Dr. Ken Browner, can provide you with a caring, supportive, confidential, and professional environment in which to explore your personal challenges and facilitate change.

Services include assessment, mental health counseling, short-term couples counseling, referral and crisis intervention. Psychological services can help you get back on track and help you succeed in pursuing your education at Lakeland. If your needs go beyond the scope of services that are offered on our campus, our psychologist will work closely with you to help you get connected with appropriate off campus resources.

To make an appointment with our campus psychologist, you can choose any of the following methods:

• Contact Ken Browner at 440.525.7205 or kbrowner@lakelandcc.edu;
• Fill out this electronic intake form or;
• Stop by the Student Service Center in A-Building

Students are often concerned about their privacy when seeking out personal counseling on campus. All information that a student shares is regarded as confidential. Records are stored separately from your general college records, and only the campus psychologist has access to them. Information is not shared with outside parties unless permission to do so is given by the student. However, if there is a serious threat of harm to yourself or someone else, it may be required by law to share information with an outside party in order to ensure your safety. If you have any questions regarding confidentiality of psychological services, please feel free to discuss them with Dr. Browner at any time.

• View Informed Consent and Statement of Confidentiality
• View Mental Health Crisis Procedure

• Continuing the Work of Counseling
• Identifying and Avoiding Your Traps
• Life Transitions
• Making Connections
• Managing Stress
• Understanding Anxiety

As the campus psychologist, one of my primary roles is to help ensure the safety and well-being of students at Lakeland. If you have any questions or would like information about my services, please feel free to contact me at any time.

The following procedures are provided as a resource for Lakeland students who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. However, if you are currently under the care of a mental health professional, you should first follow their crisis guidelines.

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, choose one of these options, as appropriate to the situation:

1. During regular business hours, go to the Student Service Center in A Building or Lakeland's Police Department (located in the basement of A Building). Or call them at 440-525-7050 (SSC) or 440-525-7241 (Police Dept.). Let them know that you are experiencing a mental health crisis and would like to speak to a crisis counselor on an urgent basis.
2. Call the Lake County Crisis Hotline at (440) 953-8255, available 24/7. As a Lakeland student, they can offer assistance to you regardless of your county of residence. You can also call 988.
3. If you prefer to utilize a texting-based crisis intervention service, you can contact the national Crisis Text Line 24/7 by texting "4hope" to 741-741 from your cellphone, or send a text to 988.
4. For life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate assistance, you can always dial 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Suicide Prevention

It is not uncommon for people to have thoughts of suicide when they are in a great deal of emotional pain. Suicide can seem like the only way out of what feels like a hopeless situation, and reaching out for help can be difficult, especially when you are struggling. However, caring and effective help is available. Talk to a friend, family member, clergy member, teacher, professor or your doctor. You can also seek out the help of a counselor right here at Lakeland or a trained crisis hotline worker. Treatment for depression and other mental health conditions works. Counseling and/or medication are effective. If you have tried these in the past and they didn't help, try again. Sometimes it can take more than one try to find the right approach for you.
 

• Lakeland Reach Out App
• Suicide prevention information
• Video Resources
   

• Lake County Crisis Hotline - 440.953.8255
• Crisis Textline - (Text "start" to 741741)
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Call or text 988
• LGBT - The Trevor Lifeline - 1.866.488.7386
• Español Linea de Crisis - 1.888.628.9454
   

• Psychological Services at Lakeland - 440.525.7205
• Compass Referral Line - 440.918.2000
   

The following mobile apps are also available for help with:

Depression

• Apple - MoodTools - Depression Aid
• Android - MoodTools - Depression Aid

Anxiety

• Apple - MindShift CBT - Anxiety Relief
• Android - MindShift CBT - Anxiety Relief

Safety Planning

• Apple - Suicide Safety Plan
• Android - Suicide Safety Plan

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Apple - PTSD Coach
• Android - PTSD Coach

Coping Skill

• Apple - Virtual Hope Box

View the video links below for more important resources.

• Suicide Prevention for College Students (4:25)
• Why Use Crisis Text Line? (:30)
• Rhett Miller's Reason to Call (1:06)
• The Terry Wise Story (3:31)
• Rob Delaney's Reason to Call (2:58)
• Jordan's Reason to Call (1:18)
• Scott's Reason to Call (3:01)
• John Draper's Reason to Call (1:14)

Counseling Courses

FYEX 1000 - First Year Experience (1 Credit)
This course introduces students to the behaviors, skills, and attitudes that are important to success in college. It is required for new students but transfer students completing 15 semester hours are exempt. In this class you will learn:

• An overview of how to utilize college resources and services.
• How to succeed as a college student preparing for a career.
• Learn the attributes necessary for personal and academic success.
• Overview of academic programs offered at Lakeland Community College.
• Each student will receive an individualized plan outlining a potential Completion Plan for your major, transfer or individualized course of study at Lakeland.

 

COUN 1050- Skills for Self-Care and Resilience (1 credit)
This course offers students the opportunity to learn about and try out a variety of activities and practices that promote self-care and resilience. We will explore ways of managing stress, persevering when faced with adversity, and maintaining balance.  With the understanding that different strategies work for different people, students will develop a personalized set of skills for:

• Physical self-care and well-being 
• Emotional self-care and well-being
• Relational self-care and well-being
• Understanding and fostering resilience

 

COUN 1100 - Career Exploration (3 Credits)
This course is recommended for students who are undecided about their career choice and those who have not declared a program of study. Students will:

• Develop career planning skills.
• Complete career assessment inventories (interest/personality, skills and abilities, work values, decision making styles).
• Learn how to use sources of occupational information.
• Identify tentative career options.
• Develop and implement decision-making strategies and techniques.
   

COUN 1200 - Employment Strategy (2 credits)
This course introduces students to effective strategies for job search and preparation. Students will identify and develop skills in:

• Preparing resumes
• Job applications, and cover letters
• Locating hidden job markets
• Negotiating salary
• Networking; and interviewing
   

COUN 1300 - Skills for College Success (2 Credits)
​This course is especially recommended adults returning to college, and students experiencing academic difficulties. The course helps students to utilize more of their potential and to succeed in college. Students will be introduced to strategies for personal growth coupled with skills such as:

• Time management
• Critical thinking
• Note-taking
• Test taking strategies
• How to study and read a textbook
• Students will develop an individualized plan for college success
   

COUN 1400 - Skills for Love and Marriage (3 credits)

This elective course prepares students for lasting, healthy love relationships. The course provides an overview of theory and research on love relationships, while emphasizing the development of skills and personal insight. Students will explore:

• Family of origin influences on love relationships 
• Healthy expectations for marriage 
• The role of personal values and choices in establishing and maintaining a loving relationship 
• Skills for handling differences and conflicts as well as for enhancing love and emotional connection 
• Sexual satisfaction in long-term relationships
• Partner selection
• Love lessons from current brain science