If you are a student
overwhelmed with college and life in general, there is no shame in getting some
much-needed therapy. Each student at Southeast Community College is eligible
for counseling.
“I just want to be visible
and vocal and really start talking about counseling and mental health,” said
Kalika Jantzen, the College’s new director of counseling.
Jantzen started in January
and will offer counseling services at all SCC campuses. She also will oversee
the Counseling and Assistance Program for Students. SCC students taking credit
classes are eligible for up to 15 individual and 10 group sessions at no charge
each academic year.
Jantzen spent years as a
private practice mental health therapist in Lincoln. Prior to that she worked
at CenterPointe, a nonprofit specializing in mental health and addiction
treatment for low-income and homeless people in Lincoln. Jantzen worked with
people with a variety of different mental health needs. She said it was
rewarding when they had the “light bulb” moment.
“People would come in
stressed and needed help and then eventually I would see them go, ‘oh that does
make sense,’ ” she said.
Jantzen says she will keep
regular hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., spending one day in Milford, one day in
Beatrice, and the rest of the week at the Lincoln Campus. She is also
supervising graduate student interns who will help out with counseling services
as well.
“The needs on each of the
campuses are unique; there’s different problems at each one,” she explained.
“There’s anxiety, stress management issues, substance issues. I want to meet
the needs of the students.”
College is one of the most
stressful times in a person’s life, she said, and there should be no shame in
seeking help. She hopes to diminish that stigma with mental health services.
Jantzen is originally from
Sterling and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University for her undergraduate degree and
Doane University for her Master of Arts in Counseling. She and her husband Nic
have three children and live in Lincoln. She credits a professor at Wesleyan
who instilled in her a love of psychology. As a result she discovered a career
in counseling.
“I found out I was good at
not judging and jumping to conclusions,” she said.
Her short-term goal in her
new position is to make the CAPS program well known and utilized by many
students. Her long-term goal is for the program to grow and have a counseling
center at each campus. Ultimately, for everyone who walks through her door, she
wants to increase their ability to thrive long-term.
“I want to be helping and
educating and turning the lights on for people,” Jantzen said.
Jantzen’s office is located
in J2 on the Lincoln Campus at 8800 O St. She can be reached at 402-437-2286 or
kjantzen@southeast.edu.