There are many upsetting and unsettling things going on in the world right now, some new and some ongoing. Syracuse University recognizes that their students may need extra emotional support during these unprecedented times (an over-used phrase, but true nonetheless). I spoke with Barnes Center therapist Mansi Brat, Ph.D., about new mental health resources available to students this Fall, including a new drop-in restorative conversation group.
What are the new opportunities being offered by the Barnes Center at The Arch Counseling team?
Mansi: “We have a number of new groups this semester, including Finding Strength in Sensitivity, The Daring Way™, Gender and Sexuality Affirmative Therapy and our Restorative Conversations drop-in.”
More information about each of these groups—and others—can be found on the Barnes Center at The Arch Counseling webpage. In this interview, I wanted to focus on the Restorative Conversation drop-in sessions.
What types of topics will be covered in the restorative conversation sessions?
Mansi: “The intention is to give students the opportunity to voice their concerns and feel validated. These are open-ended conversations and are fluid in their structure. They will depend on the kind of experiences students would like to process relative to their racial and ethnic identities. Facilitators will provide a safe, compassionate and non-judgmental space for students to open up about their distress. In addition, students can learn from their peers’ unique ways to heal from racial distress. Students will also have the opportunity to gain insight from facilitators around healing and coping skills.”
Why has the Barnes Center decided to introduce these new groups? Specifically, the Restorative Conversation group?
Mansi: “[The] Barnes Center Counseling team is always looking to provide group therapy options based on student needs, and also to cater to our large body of students. From time to time during the semester, new groups are introduced depending on the emergent needs of the student body and also to bridge access to therapeutic [mental health] care.
In light of the current national climate, and reflective of the campus activities last semester, we wanted to open space for students to process their distress and lived experiences related to their racial and ethnic identities. The Restorative Conversation group is a conversational space for students and not a therapy group.”
What is the difference between the restorative conversation sessions and the group therapy sessions?
Mansi: “[The Restorative Conversation] group is a drop-in group, and unlike our group therapy options, no prior orientation is required to attend. Also, depending on [their] schedules, students can attend one or all three sessions. Each session will be facilitated by different therapists so students can get insight from different group facilitators about their lived experiences. [This is] unlike group therapy sessions, where students only interact with one set of facilitator(s).”
Who should come to Restorative Conversation sessions?
Mansi: “[The Restorative Conversation] drop-in sessions are open to all students, regardless of their location (i.e. outside of New York State).”
Attend any of the Restorative Conversation drop-in sessions through a confidential Zoom room!
- Tuesday, Nov. 3, noon-1:30 p.m. ET
- Thursday, Nov. 5, 3-4:30 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1-2:30 p.m. ET
As always, we at The Peel encourage you to take advantage of the many counseling opportunities and inclusive discussion groups offered as a part of your health and wellness fee here at Syracuse University. Especially as we approach winter—the season of SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder—it’s important to take care of your mind as well as your body. If you can, take a few minutes to explore the Barnes Center Be Mindful webpage.
Written by Cecelia Kersten ’23, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications