The Broene Counseling Center is now the J. Broene Center for Counseling and Wellness. Utilizing a new Stepped Care Model, the counseling center now offers online tools, telecounseling, workshops, seminars, and other expanded resources. We sat down with Irene Kraegel, director, to hear more about these changes and learn why one out of five Calvin students utilizes these services each year.

What prompted you to change the name to the Center for Counseling and Wellness? 

One reason was we wanted to make sure we had a name that is accessible to all students. Broene is a name that is near and dear to the college, but it is also a name that is very hard for people to pronounce. For people with Dutch heritage this was not an issue, but we want this to be a place that is welcoming to people of all backgrounds. One way to do that was to use a name that was more accessible, while respecting the heritage and keeping Broene as part of the name.

We added the word wellness with the intention of communicating that we do a whole lot more than just counseling here, and increasingly so since we started our new Stepped Care Model, which has a lot of services to offer. We are trying to support the wellbeing of the whole student and recognize that our work goes far beyond the walls of a counselor’s office. We chose this name in an attempt to reflect that.

Can you tell me more about the Stepped Care Model?

The Stepped Care Model is a new initiative that we kicked off at the beginning of spring 2017. We needed a new model because, like counseling centers all over the country, we have not been able to keep up with the demand. What we are finding is that more and more students are seeking out counseling. We see this as the effect of good stigma reduction. While this is positive, it means that our old model, which had students getting channeled unto individual counseling almost automatically, was no longer able to respond to the demand. It also was not a very flexible model in terms of customizing treatment for the students’ needs.  

The Stepped Care Model adds a whole range of services at a lot of different levels. The idea is that all students start out with a screening to determine the student’s needs and goals. Based on the results of that screening, students are matched up with services that will be most helpful to them. Counselors may recommend a mixture of services, but it is always tailored to the student and up to them which services they will pursue.

Our approach to care is really holistic. We recognize that a student is flourishing when the rest of their life is healthy as well. So, sometimes our primary focus is connecting students with other services on campus like the career canter, campus ministries and residence life. Some other steps include a peer listening program, self-help resources, emotional wellness workshops, problem focused sessions, group therapy and individual therapy. The more likely a student is to self-advocate, the more likely it is we will refer them to lower steps.

Last semester when we changed to this model, we significantly increased the number of students we were seeing. We also saw a significant reduction in crisis care appointments. In the past, students had to wait two or three weeks to make an appointment, now we can usually get students in the same day or next day.

What can students expect at their first appointment?

Students can expect to come half an hour early to complete paperwork. Students fill out a web-based electronic form on which they can include quite a bit of information on their background, reason for coming and goals for counseling. Their counselor reviews that information and then meets with a student for about 20 minutes. Together they talk about resources that are available. The student will be able to leave that screening appointment with a plan to get the support they need.

How can students set up an appointment? 

To set up a screening, students can either come to the Center for Counseling and Wellness, call the office or . Our office is located on the third floor of the Spoelhof College Center, next to the Residence Life office. During the school year, appointments are available Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Quick-access screening appointments are available each day for new students, and crisis care is available for mental health emergencies. Screening counselors will typically be the student’s connection throughout their time here, so they don’t have to worry about getting bounced around.