Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has a mission of providing services that help promote personal development, psychological well-being and academic success for students at St. Cloud State University.
But students often don’t know what to expect when they reach out for help, or what the best way is to seek help when they are struggling.
That is where low-pressure wellness events like Puppy Yoga come into play.
“We wanted to find unique ways to engage students who may be feeling loneliness,” said Stephanie Loehlein, clinical case manager in CAPS. “We received a grant from the Grachek-Svela Mental Health and Wellness Fund for campus events, and this was a fun way to promote holistic health.”
CAPS hosted two Puppy Yoga sessions in Atwood Memorial Center last month, with over 60 students participating. Partnerships with Namaste and Play and Tri-County Humane Society made the event possible.
“It was one of our most highly attended events; the only complaint I got was that people wanted even more puppies,” Loehlein recalls with a laugh. “While people mainly come for the puppies, it’s a chance to feel connected or meet a friend. We have a resource table at all of our events, where we can talk with students and become a friendly face that they recognize and can reach out to.”
Attendees who responded to a post-event survey said Puppy Yoga helped decrease their stress, made them feel more connected with the campus community and more likely to participate in future wellness events.
CAPS partners on a variety of other events throughout the year. Another popular event has been animal assisted learning at Angel Rein Stables in St. Augusta. CAPS will be hosting two pop-up events in partnership with SCSU’s greenhouse this year, where plants will be handed out for free as part of a pay-it-forward series. They also have plans for an upcoming budgeting workshop for students.
“While we do therapeutic work here in CAPS, our health and wellness events help bridge a gap on campus,” said Charlene Hanisch Theisen, a licensed therapist at SCSU. “It helps bring awareness that counseling doesn’t have to be scary, and that students can face it without fear, shame or embarrassment.”
Outreach efforts are essential in helping students understand the resources available to help them physically, financially and emotionally during their time at SCSU.
“We hear from students they wouldn’t have been able to continue at SCSU without the services we offer,” Loehlein said. “We want students to know we’re here, we want to see you and there’s no wrong reason to stop by. We do this work because we love it and believe in it.”
Visit the CAPS website for additional details or to schedule an appointment.
