From Coloring in Classrooms to Supporting Students

Molly Barletta recently joined Elmira College as the Director of Counseling & Wellbeing. For her, working at EC is something of a homecoming. Her father, Bob Cavalier, was a Psychology professor, and her mother took classes as an adult. As a child, Barletta could often be found coloring in the back of a classroom while her father taught. While she may not have crayons with her anymore, she’s back in those same classrooms, getting to know students and helping them understand their mental health options.

“I’ve been meeting with as many people as possible,” she shared.

She’s met with the athletics coaches, the student-athletes, and resident assistants. She spoke to all 15 of the First Year Seminar courses for incoming students. She met with the cast of the upcoming Theatre performance, “An Unnecessary Farce.” She’s offered Yoga and other mental resilience programs on campus. She even set up a table in the Campus Center lobby.

Wherever she’s requested, she’s happy to go.

“I saw Term I as an opportunity to publicize and draw attention to the mental health support we have on campus,” she explained.

For example, she’s developing weekly social media posts on Wednesdays throughout the year to raise awareness and offer tips.

At her Counseling and Wellbeing pop-up table in the Campus Center, Barletta promoted upcoming events.

“It’s about getting my face out there,” she said.

She also shared information about TimelyCare, an online mental health platform EC has partnered with to provide free virtual counseling for students, as well as health coaching, a peer support community, Talk Now 24/7 emotional support, and self-care resources.

“The TimelyCare resources are amazing, like health coaching,” she said. Health coaches help students set and reach goals. “If a student wants to create a routine, it helps to have someone there to help them stay accountable.”

These activities are on top of her one-on-one meetings with students. As of September 25, she had met with 33 individual students in Term I. She doesn’t provide therapy, but she is often the first person students call. She listens to their concerns and then walks them through their options and often helps them navigate finding a counselor.

College is often the first time students are taking mental health into their own hands. Barletta knows how intimidating the process can be, and sometimes students don’t connect with the first counselor they choose.

“This happens a lot in mental health,” she explained. “It’s hard to know whether the chemistry is there until you meet. I let students know that this could be a possibility and that they should come back. I help them choose three potential counselors so that they have two already lined up if the first one doesn’t work out.”

Barletta is hoping to get some help. EC and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) have partnered to offer an internship to a student interested in supporting mental health on campus and in Elmira. The intern will support awareness activities.

Meanwhile, Barletta is planning a “Let’s Talk” series open to all students. She’s envisioning a brown bag lunch where each session will feature a mental health or wellness topic based on what Barletta is hearing as she speaks to students. For example, Barletta said students have expressed difficulty with building healthy relationships with others.

“That could be a good topic to dive into,” she said.

While Barletta is ensuring that the campus knows her as well as she knows the campus, her main message to students is simple.

“The main thing is I want people to know they can reach out if they have a question. Nothing is too small. I would love to connect!”