Counseling Staff and Services
Our Staff
Patrick Gilligan, MSSW, LISW is the Director of Counseling Services. He received a BA in English (1973) from Muskingum College and a Master of Science in Social Work (1984) from the University of Louisville. Patrick has over twenty years of experience in social work and counseling, and was trained in systems and strategic therapy at the Family and Children Agency of Louisville, Kentucky. For thirteen years he was the Associate Director of Moundbuilders Guidance Center of Knox and Licking Counties. He has been independently licensed since 1987 and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Patrick is skilled at working with college-age students on a variety of issues including depression, anxiety disorders, adjustment issues, relationship issues, family issues, grief and loss, stress, procrastination, schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder personality issues.
Nicole (Nikki) Keller, MSW, LISW received a BA in Science and Social Welfare (1986) and Master of Social Work (1992) from The Ohio State University. She has been independently licensed in the State of Ohio since 1994 and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Michael K. Durham, LSW, LICDC is the Substance Abuse Counselor/Educator. He received a BSSW from Bowling Green, Ohio in 1990. He has an independent license to practice in the state of Ohio. He has over 25 years in the field of substance abuse counseling, counseling youth, adults and families. He has been clinical manager of both inpatient and outpatient facilities. His theoretical approach is based on the stages of change and he believes recovery is a process, not an event.
Lindsay Miller, MS, LPC is beginning her second year in the Kenyon College Counseling Center. She did her undergraduate work at Allegheny College (B.S. Neuroscience & Psychology) and her graduate work at Chatham College (MS Counseling Psychology) in Pittsburgh, PA. She has served in both a private practice setting and a residential facility for adolescents. She has experience with individual, group and family counseling targeted at emotional and behavioral adjustment and well-being. Her counseling philosophy is insight oriented, with a belief that healing and growth arise from within the individual in a safe, supportive setting.
Sarah Gill-Williams, LPCC-S received a BA in Psychology (1998) from Vermont College and a MA in Counseling Psychology (2004) from Union University. She is independently licensed in the State of Ohio.
The Counseling Service is a unit within the Kenyon College Health and Counseling Center. The programs and services of the Counseling Service are fully accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS). IACS guidelines insure that the service you receive is appropriate to your needs, protect the confidentiality of your relationship with your counselor, and insure that you will be treated with dignity and respect.
Services
The staff of the Counseling Service comes from a variety of backgrounds and training levels. Every attempt is made at the initial interview to match you with a staff member or service that will best meet your particular needs. Decisions about who can best assist you are usually based upon the nature of your concerns, the skills of the staff member and the personal compatibility between the two of you. In most instances, students prefer to stay in counseling with the staff member they have seen at the first interview. Sometimes, however, the best course of action will be a referral to another person on the counseling service staff, or to a professional in the community. We will make every reasonable effort we can to help you find the best form of assistance for you.
In addition to meeting individually with a staff member, you may be involved in group counseling. Group counseling offers the unique opportunity to gain insight into yourself and others as you explore your concerns together. Personal growth groups and skill-building groups/workshops are also offered on such topics as alcohol abuse, assertiveness, relaxation training, self-esteem, anxiety and depression, academic effectiveness, eating and body image concerns and career decision-making.
Finally, you should also be aware that taped and written materials are also available to provide you with self-guided assistance.