by Caitlin Pingree ‘23 and Kelly Filipczuk ‘24

Sekinat (Jojo) Kuku, M.A. is a doctoral intern working at the Pace University Counseling Center. She is set to graduate soon from a five-year PsyD program in clinical psychology from William Paterson University. Jojo expressed that she is most passionate about working with individuals who have trauma histories. Growing up, she saw multiple instances in Western Nigeria where trauma was swept under the rug. Seeing that initially confused her, but ultimately sparked a passion within her. She completed her bachelor’s in psychology from Rutgers University and went directly into graduate school to get her PsyD; that is something worthy of acknowledgement, as atmospheres for such programs are rather competitive especially among those fresh out of undergrad. Jojo described an interesting internship at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center as an experience that furthered her commitment to clinical psychology. There, she was able to work with a diverse, multi-ethnic community where she felt a sense of connection with clients through one-on-one therapy.

It’s clear that the staff in the Counseling Center work hard to provide our community with a multitude of mental health resources. A typical day for Jojo at Pace includes leading and co-leading weekly individual and group counseling sessions, screenings, supervision, and consultation/outreach with the honors college. Jojo’s main task is providing counseling to 12 students on a weekly basis. She also co-leads group therapy sessions with another co-intern. On Friday’s Jojo conducts screenings with Pace students looking to obtain services from the Counseling Center for the first time. Moreover, Jojo typically engages with the honors college through outreach events. She describes her outreach experience as “a breath of fresh air” where she can creatively work with new students. Jojo recently held a workshop on positive thinking and mindfulness, as well as one on Culture, Race, and Ethnic Identity. Overall, her only expectations for such events are for individuals to come open minded, where they can have fun while letting their guards down. I strongly recommend all honors students to go to Jojo’s workshops. I walked away knowing more about myself, as well as with more tools necessary for dealing with various life events.

As mentioned before, the Counseling Center is incredibly resourceful when it comes to finding students the best type of care. Jojo stated that one of the biggest misconceptions about the Counseling Center is that staff turn students away or that they do not meet student needs. Jojo explained that everyone’s experiences are valid, and that all students who come for an appointment will be seen. There are only a limited number of counselors on staff, so not everyone can be seen individually long term. The counselors can encourage students to use their insurance to receive more long term therapy elsewhere or refer individuals with specific needs to other places that can provide the best possible care. The goal of referrals is to match a student’s issue with the right kind of treatment. As Jojo illustrated, the flu and chickenpox have different paths of treatment; the same goes for mental health issues. The Counseling Center wants to make sure a student’s needs are being met, even if that means having to refer them to an off-campus counselor.

With that in mind, students should not be afraid to reach out to the Counseling Center for help.  The first step is to call the center, where someone from the front desk will help you schedule a screening. This is a first meeting with a counselor to go over basic information and talk about what you are struggling with. Everyone who is screened gets a specialized plan of care; this could mean short term therapy or an outside referral. Individual therapy sessions are usually 45 minutes long and meet weekly. Referrals can be custom tailored to a student’s preferences based on what they are looking for in a counselor. 

The Counseling Center also offers group therapy to students.  There are several groups that meet between 45 to 75 minutes a week.  The stress management group meets every Friday during common hour and allows students to learn skills to help balance and alleviate stress. “We are back, and We are Anxious” is a group designed to let students talk about their worries regarding returning to in-person education. Jojo’s co-led group, “Understanding Ourselves and Others” meets on Tuesdays and consists of five students with the goal of helping build and discuss interpersonal needs as well as how to best advocate for yourself.  This group emphasizes making connections with other members as well as processing one’s feelings and experiences. Each of these types of therapy are meant to help students navigate their struggles, process their feelings, and learn new skills. 

Something I think many students might be struggling with now is feeling burnt out. Jojo offered several tactics that can be used to neutralize this.  These strategies included using meditation apps to unwind after a stressful day, journaling to externalize and hopefully minimize your anxious thoughts, using grounding techniques to keep yourself connected and focused, as well as reminding yourself of your primary motivations. 

At the end of the day, it is important to remember that no problem is too little when it comes to therapy. You do not have to have a diagnosed psychological disorder or a major problem to come to sessions. It is okay to ask for help even when it feels like you have everything under control or haven’t reached a breaking point. Jojo wants students to know that there is a space at the Counseling Center for everyone.

The Counseling Center is located on the 8th Floor at 156 William Street, and it can be reached at (212) 346-1526.