Wright State University's Coffee with the Counselors created a relaxed and supportive environment for students to interact with campus counselors through casual conversations and coffee. Hosted and promoted by WSU Counseling and Wellness Services, the event aimed to create awareness about seeking mental health help without stigma and encourage students to talk about stress and wellness.
Coffee event encourages students to open up
The fragrance of freshly brewed coffee filled WSU's Student Union this week as students met for coffee with the counselors, an unofficial meet-and-greet event aimed at encouraging open discourse about mental health and well-being.
WSU's Counseling and Wellness Services, or CWS, hosted the event, which provided students with free coffee and a comfortable environment to meet with professional counselors and peers. The objective was to make mental health services more accessible while also assisting students in developing meaningful connections outside of the classroom.
The gathering brought students from many disciplines at WSU, all of whom came in between class sessions to chat, relax and share their experiences over coffee. The relaxed atmosphere helped to break down obstacles that may impede students from seeking mental health care.
One of the event's highlights was the "Ghosts in a Jar" activity, a creative and seasonal craft intended to educate people that caring for their mental health does not have to be frightening. Participants received little glass jars, artificial turf, markers and LED tea lights to create luminous "ghosts" inside the jars. Counselors gave students step-by-step directions, encouraging them to paint their jars and write positive phrases or self-care reminders on the exterior.
The simple activity allowed students to recharge, laugh and express themselves while engaging with counselors and classmates. When the session was over, each participant earned a little glowing jar, serving as a handcrafted sign of light, peace and self-care to take home as a reminder that even during difficult times, there is always an opportunity for creativity and connection.
Why it matters
The informal nature of this event encouraged students to approach and interact, reducing the intimidation that some people may associate with formal counseling sessions. By providing a calm, conversational environment, the event developed a feeling of community and helped attendees understand they are not alone in their struggles.
Connecting with peers and counselors in this context normalizes talks about mental health and promotes receptivity to receiving assistance. It serves as both an outreach and education tool, raising awareness of existing campus support services while also providing a safe entry point to more organized therapy sessions. The Counselor Clique provides additional information and resources on the benefits of events like this, showing the greater context and impact of coffee with the counselors.
The concept is also versatile, allowing organizers to design events catered to diverse audiences such as undergraduates or graduate students and to integrate unique themed editions like WSU's Coffee and Counselors, ghosts in jar edition.
Students find support and understanding at event
Jay Bradley is a freshman majoring in history who attended the event after seeing an advertisement. Most of her days are spent buried in books and research but coming to make ghosts in a jar with CWS reminded her that it is okay to slow down and focus on herself for a moment. She first came for the free coffee but ended up staying to chat with one of the counselors about handling academic pressure and preserving balance.
"It didn't feel like a counseling session, it felt like a real conversation. Sometimes you just need someone to listen, and this event gave me that chance," Bradley said.
Paula Sepeda is a student from the Public Health Department. She was drawn to the event because of its friendly environment and creative setup. The event made it easy to relax, sip some coffee and just be herself, she shared.
For Sepeda, the event gave both a creative outlet and a significant opportunity to engage with people outside of her field. She loves arts and crafts, so the activity was fun and easy. She had also been wanting to meet Barb Marsh, Director of CWS, so she was twice as cheerful for the event.
"It didn't feel like a serious or heavy discussion, it was fun but also reminded me that taking care of mental health can be simple and enjoyable," Sepeda said.
Maneesha Panguluru is a freshman from the Pharmacology and Toxicology Department. She heard about the event through the Corq app, which advertises campus events and activities. She was curious about the description, so she decided to cross over between classes, and was glad she did.
"My department may be rather tough at times. It was nice to step away from the pressure for a bit and connect with people who care about our well-being. It turned out to be such a positive experience," Panguluru said.
As exams and changing seasons increase student's stress, CWS intends to continue holding such outreach activities throughout the semester. Future events may include mindfulness courses, study break meetings and anxiety management conversations.
