Outreach Services At A Glance
It is the mission of the Counseling Center’s Outreach Services to provide educational programming on mental health topics of interest to the campus community with particular focus on the needs of underserved populations. We hope to empower students to develop the awareness, values, and skills they will need to meet future challenges and lead vital, meaningful lives.
Workshops on a variety of mental health topics are offered regularly throughout the semester. The dropdown menu below provides an overview of those workshops typically offered, as well as some of the other types of outreach our Center provides. View the CC Workshop Schedule. Students, save your seat and register to join through BeInvolved.
All interview requests by media outlets should reach out to Mary-Hope G. Vass, Executive Director of Communications and University Spokesperson (vassmg@jmu.edu, 540-568-7487).
At this time, due to the high demand for clinical services, the Counseling Center will not be taking any new outreach and/or class project requests.
We will also NOT be taking on any support staff requests. If you are organizing an event in which you worry that students may become distressed due to the topic being presented and/or discussed, please have a slide or your speaker inform your audience of how to access mental health support services (i.e., TimelyCare’s TalkNow support is available 24/7 for students through the TimelyCare App or timelycare.com/jmu. Additionally, for mental health emergencies (e.g., thoughts or plans to kill yourself, thoughts of seriously harming others, recent sexual assault) occurring after regular CC business hours call the Counseling Center at 540-568-6552 and press "1” to connect to the after-hours crisis line.)
Thank you for your patience and understanding. Please direct any questions or concerns to Karla Kale kalekl@jmu.edu.
Outreach Services
Possible workshop topics:
- Anger Management
- Animal Assisted Therapy
- Assertiveness Building
- Compassion and Vicarious Trauma
- Dealing with Depression
- Homesickness
- Imposter Syndrome
- Living with Trauma
- Managing Perfectionism
- Mindfulness
- Mindfulness through Doodling
- Myths and Truths about Group Counseling
- Reducing the Risk of Suicide at JMU
- Self-Compassion
- Sleep Hygiene
- Social Media & Other Digital Technology: Friend, Foe, or Both?
- Stress and Anxiety Management
- Understanding Self Harm
- Suicide Risk Reduction presentations are available to classrooms and student groups as requested and availability allows.
- Additional campus events are held during the Spring (Out of the Darkness Walk) and during National Suicide Prevention Week, during early September.
Out of the Darkness Walk - April 6, 2025
Join us for the annual JMU Out of the Darkness Walk (Sunday, 4/6/25, 12pm on the Festival Lawn). This walk is a chance for the JMU community (i.e., students, faculty, staff, etc.) and local community members to join together to raise awareness about depression, suicide prevention, and the importance of hope. Donations are not required to participate in the walk. If interested in fundrasing and/or donating, all funds collected go to support the work of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), a voluntary health organization
that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and
advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP's mission is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. This event is held in collaboration with JMU Athletics, the Counseling Center, and the Terror Management Lab. Learn more and register to join at afps.org/jmu.
National Suicide Prevention Week 2024
Learn more about National Suicide Prevention Week events occurring on campus.
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDAW) is February 24 - March 2, 2025. This week we focus on increasing awareness and understanding of eating disorders, their causes, dangers, treatments, and resources available to reduce risk factors and join prevention efforts across campus.
Events offered throughout the week are a collaboration between JMU's Counseling Center, University Health Center, Well Dukes, UREC, the Arboretum, & the Serenity Center. We hope you'll join us!
- Monday, 2/24/25: Disordered Eating Awareness Workshop (10:30am; SSC, 4049)
- Monday, 2/24/25: UHC Eating Recovery Support Group - In partnership with Aster Springs (4pm; SSC, Nutrition Suite 1500, near urgent care entrance)
- Wednesday, 2/26/25: Disordered Eating Awareness Workshop (11:30am; SSC, 4049)
- Thursday, 2/27/25: Body Empowerment Blueprint, Part 2 (10am; SSC, 4049)
- Thursday, 2/27/25: Eating Disorder Awareness Panel (6pm; Grafton-Stovall Theatre)
- Friday, 2/28/25:Body Empowerment Blueprint, Part 2 (9am; SSC, 1075)
- Friday, 2/28/25: Disordered Eating Awareness Workshop (2pm; SSC 4049)
- Saturday, 3/1/25: Mindfulness Walk (11am-3pm; Edith J. Carrier Arboretum, check-in at the Frances Plecker Education & Welcome Center)
AAT activities include: Barks of VALOR, Doggie De-Stress, Puppy Pride, & additional outreach
Spring 2025 Schedule:
Barks of VALOR location: VALOR Office (Union/Taylor Hall, Rm 102)- Monday, February 10th, 11am-11:30am *Canceled
- Monday, March 10th, 11am-11:30am
- Monday, April 14th, 11am-11:30am
Doggy De-stress location: SSC, Room 3106
- Friday, February 7th, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, February 14th, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, February 21st, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, February 28th, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, March 7th, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, March 28th, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, April 4th, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, April 18th, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, April 25th, 3pm-3:30pm
- Friday, May 2nd, 3pm-3:30pm
Puppy Pride location: Lavender Lounge (SSC 1310)
- Wednesday, January 29th, 2-2:30pm *Canceled
- Wednesday, February 26th, 2-2:30pm
- Wednesday, March 26th, 2-2:30pm
- Wednesday, April 30th, 2-2:30pm
Our therapy dogs, Gracie, Calla, and Milo will NOT be open to additional outreach requests beyond these already listed. This is due to our therapy dogs also providing clinical services and wanting to protect them from burn out as well. Thank you for your support and understanding. If you are in need or wanting to have therapy dogs be at an event you are organizing, we would recommend reaching out to the Harrisonburg chapter of Therapy Dog International.
- Psychology 402 class for undergraduates provide a wide variety of workshops each semester
- Many of the CC's workshops are considered Wellness Passport events. Check the Passport website to confirm which are Passport events. To review the entire schedule of upcoming CC Workshops, visit the CC Workshops page.
MSC 0801
738 South Mason Street
Room - 3rd Floor, Suite 3100
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Monday-Thursday: 8am-4:30pm
Friday: 8am-11:30am
24/7 Mental Health Emergency Support
Call (540)568-6552, after hours press 1
