Online Counseling Advice for College Students

In a recent USA Today article by Martha Irvine entitled College Mental Health Screening going High Tech, it is revealed that "Many centers are more swamped than ever, college therapists say, particularly at this time of year, in the frenzy of final exams and job searches."

The article states that there's debate about why there are more students seeking services, but there is agreement on the fact that there is an increase in demand.

Hello, my name is Roland. I am a pastor and counselor. I know something about college life (even though I'm old) because I lived in a college dorm for 4 years during my undergrad days when I was 18 to 22 years old. Then when I was in my 30's I went back to school for my Masters Degree. Then I taught university courses for 20 years, was a college school director for awhile and did some student advising. Now I spend my time talking and chatting with people.

I am also the co author of Mike's Story - How I Overcame Depression, Anxiety, OCD and other Issues Without Drugs. Mike's story is inspirational. He fully recovered from what today would be labeled disorders and syndromes and went on to a happy and productive. He begins his story when he was a kid, then a college student, then a young guy in his 30's, and then a middle aged guy in his 50's.

I tend to agree with what Mike had to say about college. He said: "All I can say is that today's college students are kinda on their own when it comes to solving problems and repairing issues."

Kinda on their own. Their parents are often well meaning and nice, but sort of unaware when it comes to many issues. Sometimes it's the mere fact that parents are removed from what is going on, having continued the legacy of just dropping their kids off at pre school, daycare, over nighters, school, after school, soccer practice, and finally the college campus, all the while assuming that there will be proper supervision and that everything will be okay.

Often the parents have issues themselves and so they don't have the solid strength (like an old oak tree) to speak with authority and understanding. They defer to experts, health care workers, counselors, and administrators who offer high tech and chemicals.

Don't get me wrong. If I show up at ER with a broken arm, I want high tech. But if I need some guidance for an emotional issue I'm dealing with (like a boyfriend issue, school pressures, or wondering what I'm going to do with my life) I need someone more like a really good grandpa or grandma. Better yet, a father who is there for me. But, and I say this with all due respect, not one who's going to appointments every month for a variety of issues himself or who has a cabinet full of meds. Sorry, but he's just not credible.

College students often turn to each other for help. Their friends are usually nice and supportive, but as nice and as smart as they are, they don't have the wisdom of years.

It used to be you could read Ann Landers. She had common sense, but she is gone. All I can say is that there are still people out there who are strong, noble and aware. They have love and understanding. They can give you some tips, shed some light in the cause and solution for your issue and how to use your resiliency to quickly get back on your feet and move forward without becoming dependent on them. Parents need to be involved, aware, and informed. Grandparents need to step up. When all is said and done, you are safer with a decent parent or grandparent than with some stranger. And don't forget the value of autobiographies and memoirs of noble people from the past.

I recall a particularly gloomy period in my life when I felt all alone, listless, and didn't know what I would do. I was in a big city at the time where I felt like a stranger. One early morning when I couldn't sleep I was listening to a big talker radio station. The host was interviewing a man and the host said something about how great consensus is. The man being interviewed said "just hold on a minute. Watch out for consensus--you can get compromised." I became wide awake. The clarity and the honor of this man shone forth unmistakably in just these few words.

It was Vice Admiral James Stockdale. He spent six years in the Hanoi Hilton prison camp where he was tortured. He wrote a book about his experiences called A Vietnam Experience. In it he writes about college, leadership, the liberal arts, literature, and music. Just knowing that a noble and thoughtful man like this existed somehow at some deep level gave me hope and the courage to move forward. Someday, you the young person or college student, may someday become that type of noble person yourself for others.

A wise person said "This too shall pass." Believe me, I've had plenty of bumps in the road of life. But here I am.

I heard a great interview on FamilyLife Today on the radio. Dennis Rainey interviewed Mary Kassian. Her book Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild is a must read for every young lady and parents too. The interview was riveting. She emphasized the importance of setting pre established protective boundaries, so as to avoid getting into a compromising or unsafe place in the first place. She gives plenty of examples. Preview at Amazon Click here to listen to the interview.

Yesterday I heard another great interview on NPR Radio's On Point Program. If you have daughters (or sons) away at college or are contemplating sending them off to college, you must listen to this interview.

When you listen to this riveting interview you will hear from two ladies who have the stories, the facts, and the analysis that every parent with college age or soon to be college age kids will want to listen to.

For example, these ladies talk to college kids all across the country and here is what they repeatedly hear. They hear of violence and other bad things happening to women on campus. They also hear of hostile atmospheres that no one seems to be doing anything about.

For example, they said that the girls they talk to are telling them that when girls are walking around the campus they see boys looking at really heavy duty degrading things to women on their computers--openly, even in the common areas. They emphasized that this is not unusual or isolated, it is common.

One of the ladies made the comment that there is something wrong with the college culture when the morning after the night before, one person feels guilty and used and the other person is getting high fives.

Of course, every school will say they are taking it seriously, that there are policies and there are administrators and counselors and training, etc. But something doesn't add up. The statistics for violence on campuses, according to these ladies, are telling. Something is wrong. Best to become informed. Hear what these ladies and others have to say, and then make an informed decision.


I read a book by Campus psychiatrist, Dr. Miriam Grossman MD, entitled Unprotected, and it alerted me to think twice about just sending kids away and assuming that the level of care, protection, and supervision will be what you would want for your child.
Today you hear of many young people who are moving back in with their parents while going to college. Sounds like a good idea to me.

I've heard the argument made that letting kids come back home is coddling the kids, overprotecting them and so on. But you know what--if it means that your son or daughter is safe from being sexually assaulted or raped, then I'm in favor of kids staying safely with their parents a little longer.

"Why talk to just anyone when you can talk to a Pastor?" says Pastor Roland who has an earned MS and a Doctorate in Pastoral Psychology. 

And I make myself available to people on the internet. I've been helping people via my radio program, books, articles, and private counseling for 23 years.

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I offer two tiers of service.

• Top Flight: I offer professional pastoral counseling 7 days a week for personal issues and feedback via texting, Skype, phone, and email.

• Second tier: free live chat Sundays and most days when I'm available for a general or a Bible question you'd like to ask. (you must be 18, no emergencies, no counseling. Just a question for a pastor). Click To Chat

We also offer an outstanding array of free audio sermons, articles, a meditation to calm down, and even some free books to read online.

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"This is the finest personal pastoral service on the web today."

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Need some advice or feedback from a pastor? Need help with a relationship issue? Do you want some help coping with stress, family/work balance issues, overcoming negative emotions, learning to forgive, dealing with doubts, or would you like an answer to a religious question?

For live chat or telephone consultation, pay as you go per minute visit Roland's virtual office at LivePerson

All you need is a credit card or Paypal. LivePerson makes it easy to get started. Within minutes you are talking or chatting to Roland on a per minute basis. The feedback has been great. People love it!

Live chat and telephone consultation is ultra confidential and anonymous.

LivePerson doe s not give your name or phone number to its professional counselors. Generally for the first consultation, half an hour to an hour is sufficient to receive feedback, explore some solutions, and how to access additional free resources to read or listen to.

* To chat (texting) pay as you go, visit Roland's virtual office at LivePerson. Follow LivePerson's simple user friendly direction and you'll be chatting within 5 minutes!

Roland is available 7 days a week for your convenience.
"I'm here to help. Whether you just need an outside opinion about a family or relationship issue, or whether you would like some feedback on a personal, private issue, I'm a good listener.

My service is fast, friendly and ultra confidential. Chat in confidence, anonymity, and speak freely. We all need another opinion and feedback sometimes. That's what I'm here for. Chat with me from the convenience of your home 7 days a week.

Many people prefer online counseling to prevent having a mental health record with insurance companies.

I have been advising and providing confidential advice and feedback about life's problems for over 20 years.

I'm the only Senior Pastor with over 20 years experience who devotes himself full time 7 days a week to helping people on the internet

We all need help sometimes or could use a little professional feedback. Maybe you want to talk to someone but don't want them to know who you are.

Right now you just want a little guidance on some issue with no strings attached

Perhaps you would just like some feedback from the convenience of home.