Equipping College Counselors to Serve International Students GCCA 2017 Conference Christopher Wheelus, LPC, LMFT, CPCS Director of Student Support Services Shorter University Paul Cherono, MDiv Counseling Intern Richmont Graduate University / Shorter University

Learning Objectives Summarize international students’ challenges and help-seeking patterns Describe international students’ view of American counseling and the counselor List 3 elements of outreach programming and therapeutic alliance with international students

Summarize – USA Stats

DISCUSS: What about your campus? (official and unofficial numbers) Summarize – Georgia Stats DISCUSS: What about your campus? (official and unofficial numbers)

Summarize - Challenges Acculturation How individuals adapt to a new culture (Berry, 1995) 104 und/grad students, Midwest univ. (Sullivn & Kashubeck-West, 2015) Acculturative stress = accult stressors leading to lowered mental health status & Berry’s Acculturation modes Maintain relation to own culture: relation to host culture: integration assimilation separation marginalization Lower Accul Stress = Integration mode Broad based social support, esp. host nationals

Psychological adjustment – Factors that contribute to adjustment and different phases of cultural adjustment (Mesidor & Sly, 2016) Culture adjustment Social adaptation – predicting factors are (per Zhang & Goodson(2011) meta-analysis ); stress, social support, English proficiency, region/country of origin, length of residence in the United States, acculturation, social interaction with Americans, self-efficacy, gender, and personality Academic adjustment – language, education system, financial, evaluation Psychological adjustment – loneliness, culture shock, somatic complaints such as headaches, anxiety, relationships

Support & Acculturative Stress: 152 international students Midwestern Univ (Bai, 2016) Highest accul stress level; MidEast (but other studies = Asians) Cen/Sou America Africa Among all the variables, perceived support from school was the only significant predictor of acculturative stress Psychological symptoms: (Poyrazli, 2015) 198 international students at Penn State Academics (71%) Career (60%) Stress (43%) Depression/Anxiety (34%)

Help-Seeking, Stigma, Worldview Only about 2% of international students seek psychological services (Poyrazli, 2015) Stigma: (Crocket & Hays, 2011; Onabule & Boes, 2013) Largely negative or neutral connotation of “counseling” based on home culture But, positive experiences with academic advisors, faculty, friends Home culture stigma around psy disturbance

Likelihood to Seek Counseling: (Onabule & Boes, 2013) 18 int’l students, focus group & survey Most would use counseling center for crisis, if they knew about it Western myths Cream of the crop Wealthy families Experienced travelers Never use counseling services Seeking counseling peaked at 6mo and 4yr Counselor-specific factors that increase likelihood: friendliness, approachability, welcoming, warm, supportive

Outreach Recommendations Presence at int’l student gatherings, clubs, orientation (Poyrazli, 2015) Brochure directed at int’l students (Poyrazli, 2015) Psy symptoms/concerns of int’l students Summary of services that address these Collaborate with advisors, faculty, int’l student office staff (Crocket & Hays, 2011; Poyrazli, 2015) Info sessions and indiv/group sessions where int’l students frequent (Crocket & Hays, 2011) Support groups instead of one-on-one sessions (Crocket & Hays, 2011) Culturally appropriate services & MC competent counselors (Hwang, Bennett, & Beauchemin)

Summary International Students’ challenges and help-seeking patterns Effects of acculturation stress Help-seeking patterns Effects of Western influences on shaping help-seeking tendencies Resistance toward seeking help International students’ worldview toward American therapy and the counselor Social and cultural factors that influence help-seeking behaviors Cultural Stigma Towards mental illness Elements of outreach programming and therapeutic alliance with international students awareness and authentic relationship professional knowledge and awareness minimize biases and stigma towards mental illness and seeking mental health services mental health help-seeking outreach or workshop for international students