Students carry around a lot of baggage other than backpacks, so the Student Counseling Service has planned a series of workshops to lighten their loads.

On Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., students are invited to a free workshop titled “Making Peace with Your Past.” It will focus on how significant experiences, both positive and negative, influence present life and future hopes and dreams.

Students can register by calling Marty Martinez, psychologist, at 294-5056 or by signing up at the Student Counseling Service on the third floor of the Student Services Building. Registration is not necessary.

Martinez and Tasha Simons, counselor, will co-facilitate Wednesday’s workshop, the second in a series of workshops.

Martinez said the workshop will look at perceived roles within a family and what it means for a family to be functional or dysfunctional. He said they will discuss how a perceived role affects a student’s life today.

The workshops are designed to be informal, non-threatening and more of a discussion format than a lecture. Martinez said this is the first year for the workshops. Sessions are planned monthly through May.

Martinez said there will be handouts and voluntary sharing of ideas.

“These workshops are designed to be educational rather than a therapy group,” Martinez said. “We hope to offer encouragement and enlightenment to students through their natural developmental and growth steps.

“There is a lot of talk about high- stress jobs like air traffic controllers. Being a student is high stress due to the nature of demands,” Martinez said. “There are so many standards to meet, different for each instructor or group.”

The first workshop of the series was held Oct. 8, and focused on self-esteem. Martinez said only six students participated, but it went very well. He said no tests are given at the workshops and it is a time for self-development without the stigma of counseling.

Two other workshops are scheduled this fall to coincide with particular stresses students often experience.

The Nov. 12 workshop, “Our Moods: Dealing with Depression and Anxiety,” which will be held 4:30 to 6 p.m., will feature psychologists Michelle Clark and Pat Andersen to help students understand changes in moods that often occur as colder weather and holiday breaks approach.

“Thanksgiving may be the first time some students have traveled home to their families,” Martinez said. “They wonder how the visit will go and how they will be treated.”

Martinez said November is also a time when a lot of anxiety is building up over approaching finals and deadlines for projects and papers. He said students often suddenly recognize they are behind in their studies.

On Dec. 3, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., “Conquering Test Anxiety and Fear over Grades” will be held featuring psychologists Ron Jackson and Paulette Stronczek. They will co-facilitate discussion on anxiety related to taking tests.

“Anxiety affects emotions so our energy goes to calm that,” Martinez said. “Students feel frustrated, over-whelmed and that leads to a sense of insecurity. Anxiety affects us physically with tension in the neck and shoulder muscles, a tightened jaw, increased heart rate and tension headaches.”

The spring series of workshops includes: “Orientation to Counseling” on Jan. 28, “Relationship Enhancement,” a couples workshop on Feb. 11, “Body Image Acceptance” on March 4, “Empowering your Assertiveness and Communication Skills” on March 25, “Self Control: Mastering your Anger and Impulses” on April 15 and “Test Anxiety” on May 6.

Students with questions may call Student Counseling at 294-5056.