TWIN CITIES, Ill. (WMBD) — Graduating from college is a huge accomplishment. But for some, post-college depression drowns out the remnants of success.
“First of all, I think we recognize that this is much more common than what we’re talking about,” said Dr. Jojo Mitchell, director of Counseling and Consultation Services at Illinois Wesleyan University. .
Mitchell said graduation and post-college depression is a bit of a grieving process.
“You’ve been so focused on your life for so many years, living in a certain way. And suddenly leaving that life, it’s a transition. And there can be sadness in that. I think there is,” Mitchell said.
Your last semester of college and the months after you walk across the stage can be overwhelming as you spend time studying, working, housing, and finding a therapist. For those who have been working with a therapist since school, it’s important not to get overwhelmed when searching for a new mental health professional.
Dr. Gina Mayer, associate director of training for Illinois State University Student Counseling Services, said it’s good to start conversations about continuity of care and what that looks like for an individual before graduation. .
“If the client is willing to sign a release of information, I think it’s helpful to allow for a verbal exchange between the previous therapist and the new therapist because some of the information will be carried over,” Meyer said. said. “You can tell your new therapist what you have been working on, your progress, your goals, and what you have discussed about future treatment directions.”
Dr. Sam Carle, a staff psychologist at Illinois State University, reminds clients that they are paying for a service. So if the client-therapist relationship isn’t working out, it’s okay to hire a new therapist.
“If it doesn’t work, fire the therapist,” Karl says.
Karl offers some tips for people to consider when looking for a new therapist.
“So pay attention to how you feel in that room, how you feel when you’re with this person. When you talk about what worked or didn’t work in therapy in the past, How did they react? Will they accept it?” Carl said. “Do you feel like they respect your voice and your identity? Do you feel like they’re listening to you?”
by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 1.7 million people attempted suicide in 2021. Anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts can connect to the crisis hotline by dialing 988.
