Assisting the Emotionally Distressed Student

The Suspicious Student


Usually suspicious students complain about something other than their psychological difficulties. They may present themselves to you as:

    • Tense
    • Cautious
    • Mistrustful
    • Having few friends

Suspicious students tend to interpret a minor oversight as significant personal rejection and often overreact to insignificant occurrences. They see themselves as the focal point of everyone's behavior, and everything that happens has special meaning. Usually they are overly concerned with fairness and being treated equally. They may blame others and express anger. Many times they will feel worthless and inadequate.

When you are working with a suspicious student, the following guidelines may be appropriate:

 

 

Table of Contents

Introduction

Intervention, Consultation and Referral

The Anxious Student

The Suspicious Student

The Depressed Student

The Suicidal Student

The Student in Poor Contact with Reality

The Student Under the Influence

Violence and the Verbally Aggressive Student

Departmental Safety Plan

Counseling Center Services



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Take An Online Assessment To See How You Are Doing Emotionally

 

 

 

It is helpful to

  • Send clear, consistent messages regarding what you are willing to do and what you expect
  • Express compassion without being overly friendly or familiar
  • Be aware of personal boundaries and space when interacting and keep a comfortable distance
  • Assure him/her that you will be fair
  • Encourage them to seek help, possibly suggesting the Counseling Center

It is not helpful to

  • Be overly warm or sympathetically close to the student
  • Flatter the student, laugh with them or be humorous
  • Assure the student that you are their friend or advocate



Counseling Center
Veitch Student Center
North Wing
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521-0320
Phone: (951) 827-5531
Fax: (951) 827-2015