Identifying Students that Need Assistance

The Suspicious Student

Typically, these students complain about something other than their psychological difficulties.  They often come to the faculty member’s attention because they:

• Are generally tense, anxious and mistrustful
• Are isolated and have few friends, if any
• Tend to interpret minor oversights as significant personal rejection
• Overreact to insignificant occurrences
• See themselves as the focal point of everyone’s behavior
• Believe that everything that happens has special meaning to them; reads hidden or threatening meanings into benign remarks or events
• Are overly concerned with fairness and with being treated equally
• Feel that others are trying to harm, exploit or deceive them
• Are reluctant to confide because of unwarranted fears that the information will be used maliciously against them

Do:

• Express compassion without being overly friendly.  Remember that suspicious students have trouble with trust, closeness and warmth.
• Agree with student that you are a stranger and that even strangers can be concerned.
• Be consistent, punctual and firm.
• Be specific and clear regarding the standards of behavior and academic performance you expect.
• Suggest to the student that personal counseling is available and potentially helpful.

Don’t:

• Assure the student that you are her/his friend.
• Be overly warm and nurturing.
• Flatter or participate in their games. 
• Be cute or humorous.
• Challenge or agree with any mistaken or illogical beliefs.
• Be ambiguous.