Thursday, January 21, 1993 New full-time psychologist named in Advising Office by Danette Parrett Feature, Editor With the onset with the 92-93 academic year, there was a lot of changes to the faculty and staff. One of those changes occurred recently, at the beginning of this semester, with the appointment of a new full-time counselor. Upon entering the Counseling and Advising Office, one would not expect to meet a psychologist with cheery blue eyes and a light hearted smile, who's previous jobs have ranged from owning a vegetarian restaurant to giving guitar lessons. However at Behrend, that's what "It is truly a success story. It's about making your dreams come true." you will get when you meet Sue Daley, the newly appointed, full time, psychologist. Daley came to the Erie area in 1975, when offered a position with Family Crisis Intervention, Inc., a job she found valuable, but challenging. "Family crisis is a very stimulating place to work. I've enjoyed it for many, many years. Unfortunately it meant a lot of getting in and out of emergency vehicles, arriving on the scenes of many difficult and discouraging scenarios--battered women, homicidal, suicidal people." "It is fast paced, unpredictable, and a lot of variety kind of job. You are never at a desk... The secretary is sort of like a traffic cop telling you where to go. I had reached a point where I wanted to stop getting in and out of cars." Daley arrived at Behrend as a part-time counselor in 1985. She feels a lot has changed because at that point she wasn't seeing a lot of students, and those she was seeing were older. Daley sees her work here calling for different needs than that of some of her past work. "I've been doing a lot of crisis intervention work. That is what I do, but the work I'm doing here, I am calling crisis prevention work." As far as improvements in the position, Daley thinks Louanne Barton, her predecessor, did a fine job. Most of her adjustments will come personally in adapting Daly: a new face, some new ideas Sue to a different • • g 1•g• .• •n-1. • Lucy [from . . . : atmosphere. the Peanuts comic strip], but I've "I think I've found a home with "I think Louanne Barton, who thrown that all away. Someone being to asked to be the advisor did this job for six years, did a suggested skull and crossbones of the gay, lesbian, bisexual wonderful job. She had a would be more appropriate for group on campus...My hope is different style than I do. I think that has been a little tricky for the administration." Daley notes that she has been working a lot of years alone and now she has to adjust to being a "team player." She hopes to be available to faculty and staff so they can talk to her about their concerns. "One problem I've seen a lot is how to reach the commuter students. One idea I'm working on is developing a multi-media lending library of video tapes and/or audio tapes on different topics ranging from how to raise your self-esteem to how to get a good night's rest. Hopefully in the new library there will be a section devoted to self help, so students could take them out, like you take out a book." Another improvement Daley would like to make would be in the area of record keeping. She has a new system she has borrowed from her previous work that she hopes will be as successful at Behrend. One area Daley is stressing is getting students to be aware of her role on campus. "I'd like to advertise that I'm here. One of the ways I plan to do that is to invent my own Features me. So somewhere between Lucy with a lemonade stand arj a skull and crossbones Sue Daley, and I will find Jut what that is in the next few weeks." A challenge for Daley is changing from the image of a Family Crisis counselor to that of one located on a college or university campus. "Here [at Behrend] people are not dealing with chronic problems. [At Behrend] people are still finding themselves." Since Daley has arrived she feels she has received a "warm, warm, welcome." "I've seen a lot of genuine interaction with students, faculty, and staff here. [A warm welcome] helps me to see what was done here and what I can improve on." Daley hopes to look to other members on staff for creative program ideas. "I'm going to do a lot of networking with these great folks, like Patty McMahon at the Wellness Center has been a great resource for me. I'd like to work with Kathleen Turner, the theater director, on innovative programming for students." Daley hopes to work with the many groups forming on campus in efforts to help them become "Somewhere between Lucy and a lemonade stand and a skull and crossbones is Sue Daley, and I will. find what that is in the next few weeks." that they look at their organization for serving different purposes--educational, political, social. So hopefully out of those three areas, they will be able to be a little more visible here and there in the next thirteen sessions that they have." "There are other groups that are surfacing. I understand there is some interest in a sexually abused [support group] forming. So what I hope is to be an ally for those kinds of efforts originating in the students." "I see myself as an ally with the students efforts. instead of trying to reinvent the wheel. It's always best to hear what their needs are directly from them." There is definitely a need for a full-time counselor on campus. Daley saw over 90 students last semester in a variety of different topics. "You name it, from A to Z. Relationship violence, family problems, divorce, depression, procrastination, low self-esteem and acceptance, eating disorders, homesickness." Daley explains the increase of students she saw in 1985 to the present on the change in society. "There is now a lot of emphasis on wellness in our society. People are starting to see that [counseling] might be a way out of your problems. The more people hear the message to quit drinking and drugging as much, the more they are going to to start showing up at [counseling]." An interesting twist in Daley's history is that she owned and operated a vegetarian restaurant from 1988-1991. "I went to Edinboro for my Master's degree and in an interview with the professors, they asked me where I'd like to be in five years with my degree. I told them I'd like to own my own "Student affairs concern Sue, and that's what makes her exceptional." out vegetarian restaurant. One of them looked at me and said, We're going to make a psychologist out of you yet Sue Daley.' "I graduated and started scheming on how to own my own restaurant. I had never been in business in my life, but I knew I wanted to give back to the community. That was a way I could do it." Daley said her experience with the restaurant was one of "sheer joy." "It is truly a success story. It's about making your dreams come true." Daley efforts with the students has been noteworthy. One student had this to say about Daley's appointment. "It's not often that you find a counselor who really cares about the students. Student affairs concern Sue, and that's what makes her exceptional." Daley has this final suggestion for students: "I would suggest that they tackle the existential dilemma of not allowing ourselves to be ourselves." Sue Daley is available in the Counseling and Advising Office, located on the first floor of the Reed Union Building. Page 7
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