Personal Counseling

A 60-minute workshop on understanding how stress affects us all, and how you can use “happiness skills” to reduce it.

Handling stress is an important concern for students. Learn how to anticipate and compensate for the stressors of a busy life.

A 45-minute workshop on understanding anxiety and depression.

Learning how excessive anxiety and/or depression can affect you is the first step to learning how to reverse the cycle. Learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of both, and options to increase healthy responses.

A 30-minute workshop on increasing self-esteem.

Learn how to stop self-sabotage, begin compassionately supporting yourself, and start empowering yourself to reach your higher goals.

A 45-minute workshop on creating healthy relationships.

Learn what makes for a successful, fulfilling, and safe relationship, while increasing your ability to recognize warning signs that might signal trouble ahead.

A 45-minute workshop to increase your knowledge about suicidality.

Learning what you can do to help yourself and those you care about staying safe is of critical importance in today’s stressful environment. It’s okay to talk about it!

A 45-minute workshop to increase your skills to overcome test anxiety and boost exam performance.

Learn to understand test anxiety, how to optimize performance, and utilize effective test taking strategies to increase success.

A 30-minute workshop on facing change. 

Change is challenging! Learn how and why we resist change and learn effective strategies that will increase your ability to create the changes you desire, to become the person you want to be.

A 45-minute workshop that explores obstacles that could interfere with your academic progress.

Learn to identify barriers to progress and how to persevere in the face of challenges, helping to achieve academic success.

A 45-minute workshop to increase understanding of how the human reward system can be hijacked and learn to get your life back.

Learn about the science behind addiction and what options are available for recovery.

A 45-minute workshop to increase oral and written communication skills, including learning how to use those skills to successfully advocate for yourself.

Learn to be a more confident and persuasive communicator, capable of navigating challenging interactions, and building solid connections.

A 30-minute workshop to equip participants with knowledge and practical skills for navigating social media and gaming safely and responsibly.

Empower yourself to navigate the digital world as safely and confidently as possible by learning the importance of responsible online behavior, protecting personal information, participating in online spaces safely, and maintaining your mental health.

A 40-minute workshop to guide students to higher success levels by knowing when, how and who to ask for help.

Learn how to ask for help, support, and guidance, you deserve to reach your academic goals.

A 30-minute workshop for increasing your ability to “focus on the good stuff.”

Learn to harness the power of positive psychology to improve your mood, motivation and ability to face life’s challenges.

A 30-minute workshop addressing how to achieve the intricate balance between college life and personal life.

Learn strategies to navigate the whirlwind of college life: academics, personal and social life to name a few. Learn to prioritize, better manage time, and maintain balance.

A 60-minute workshop for increasing your ability to connect and build social support.

Learn about the risks posed by the “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” we are experiencing and how we can increase meaningful conversations, experience more fulfillment in our personal lives, and strengthen communities.

A 60-minute workshop to help you face and understand the grieving process.

Learn the characteristics of the stages/steps//processes involved in grieving loss and how to reach a “new normal,” while honoring the loss and the process.

A 30-minute workshop to help you recognize mental health challenges faced by many students.

Increase your understanding of mental health issues faced by students, learn how to provide compassionate support to fellow students, and help them to find help if needed.

A 45-minute workshop to help prepare you for a satisfying career caring for others.

Increase your understanding of what “caretaker stress” is and learn what strategies can help you to reduce stress and burnout from working in a medical or caretaking setting.

A 30-minute seminar to inform students of resources available in our community.

Meet Lamont Campbell, Regional Coordinator for the Family Scholar House and BCTC Resource Specialist to learn what services and resources are available to BCTC students for help reducing non-academic barriers to college success. Meet Marsha Miller, BCTC “Kynector” to see what government benefits is available for BCTC Students to include health insurance.

A 45-minute workshop to help you recognize that math doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Increase your understanding of math anxiety, how it can affect you, what causes it, and what skills you can practice to better manage it.

A 45-minute workshop to increase student success in both in-person and online classes.

Learn effective study skills, updated with tips to increase success. Covers organization, time management skills and helpful tips to increase retention of learned material.

Dates and Times: Not listed in this semester’s Spotlight schedule. Request session if needed.

Please email Angela Straley-Fields (astraleyfields0001@kctcs.edu) or Beth Breitmayer (beth.breitmayer@kctcs.edu), BCTC Personal Counselors, to request session.

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Problems forming relationships
• Lack of satisfaction with current relationships
• Loss of relationships (through death, divorce, break-ups, moving away)
• Family problems
• Anger
• Loneliness
• Homesickness
• Experiencing violence now or in the past
• Problems related to alcohol or other substance use
• Rape/sexual assault
• Problems with eating or body image
• Adjusting to college
• Adjusting to a new culture
• Wanting to learn to make healthier life choices
• Having a general sense of "not feeling like myself"
• Having a general feeling of unhappiness or unease
• Confusion about identity, who or what you want to be
  Career and major exploration

Counseling services are free and confidential to all registered BCTC students.

Students frequently ask the following questions about confidentiality:

• What if a professor calls to find out if a student has sought counseling?
• What if a parent calls wanting to know if their son or daughter is getting help?
• What if a future employer wants to know if a BCTC graduate has ever received counseling?

Our staff takes confidentiality extremely seriously. No matter who calls seeking information about students or alumni, the answer is always something like this: "We are not allowed to disclose any information about students without a written release of information from that student. Therefore, we are not even able to tell you whether a person has ever sought services here."

That means that students can seek counseling services at Counseling Services and rest assured that no one will know their business unless the student gives his or her permission for the counselor to release information. There are only three exceptions to this policy:

• The first involves safety: If a student discloses to a counselor that he or she feels like they can not prevent themselves from killing or seriously harming themselves or another person, the counselor may need to break confidentiality. That doesn't mean that students can't talk about suicidal or rageful feelings. Lots of students go through times when they feel this way. It's just that if a person feels these things to such extremes that they can't control themselves from carrying it out, their counselor may need to break confidentiality to protect a person from harm.
• Another exception to the policy is when the student tells the counselor about someone being abused who is either under 18, over 65, or disabled. In these cases, the counselor is mandated by law to disclose that information to the Kentucky Department of Social Services. The reason for this is to make sure that people who can not protect themselves are being protected by the law and by state services.
• The final exception to the policy is when a judge forces a counselor to turn over records to a court of law. This is very rare and only occurs when students are involved in some sort of legal proceedings such as custody cases and lawsuits.

Informed Consent

Our policy about confidentiality is based on state law and the ethics of the counseling profession. We believe strongly that students should be aware of how these policies work before they begin counseling. This is known as a client's informed consent. Counselors talk with students about these and other related issues in their first session.

Director of Counseling Services
(859) 246-6914 
anita.nelums@kctcs.edu  

BIO: Born and raised in Harlan KY; Lincoln Memorial University (BSW) and Lindsey Wilson College School of Professional Counseling (M.Ed.) Over 20 years in the helping profession; vast amount of experienced with different populations in a variety of settings.

Prior related counseling experiences:  Anita’s social work and counseling experience ranges from child protective services, domestic violence, welfare to work, supported employment, foster care, independent living, behavioral health, and higher education.

Self-description: Caring, understanding, empathetic, honest, love to laugh; I try to have a positive outlook.

Leisure activities: Friends, family, and reading.

Favorite past-times:  Singing, spending time, with friends and family.

Two fun facts:  My best friend has been my best friend since Kindergarten, and I love Mickey Mouse.

College Counselor
astraleyfields0001@kctcs.edu 
(859) 246-6353

BIO: Born and raised in WV; Graduated from Mountain State University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and then graduated from University of Kentucky with an MSW. Began a career in a correctional environment and never looked back. 22 years working in a correctional environment. I have over 15 years in the helping profession; experienced with different populations in a variety of settings.  

Prior related counseling experiences: Most of Angie’s counseling experience has been in serving the dually diagnosed population. She has worked with trauma survivors, individuals struggling with addiction, severe mental health, incarcerated adults, and even some experience in children’s therapy.  

Self-description: Nurturing, empathic, understanding and strive to be nonjudgmental. I love to laugh and have fun. I can be super silly, especially if I am tired.   

Leisure activities: Being a mom, GNO with my friends, family time, and some type of fitness life.

Favorite past-times: Watching my child perform in any capacity. Traveling with family.  

Two fun facts: I love watching theatre. I met my husband on a blind date.  

College Counselor
beth.breitmayer@kctcs.edu
(859) 246-6355

BIO: Beth was born in Los Angeles, California, grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has lived in Lexington, KY since 1996.  Graduated with a BA in Criminal Justice/Political Science at University of St. Thomas followed by two years of full-time volunteer work as a GED/Reading teacher in Eastern Kentucky.  Beth earned a Master of Adult Education and Literacy at the University of Minnesota and began teaching developmental reading/writing at Bluegrass Community and Technical College in 1997.  In 2021 she went back to school to earn my Master of Social Work at University of Kentucky, with an emphasis in clinical social work and substance use disorder because she wanted to help students in a more personal way.  Beth’s experiences and interests are with immigrants, refugees, the LGBTQIA community, neurodiverse community and students who are experiencing anxiety, depression, or are struggling with the transition into college. Beth is also a Professor of Social Work at BCTC. 

Prior related counseling experiences: Beth has worked closely with students for over 25 years as a coach, mentor, advisor, and teacher.   She has worked at Kentucky Refugee Ministries as a Victim’s Advocate and has worked as a BCTC college counselor specifically since 2022.  Beth has also led alcohol related substance abuse groups for over 10 years.  

Self-description: I am nurturing, empathetic, and a safe-space for others.  I am an outgoing introvert.    

Leisure activities: thrifting, gardening, reading, listening to podcasts.  

Favorite past-times: Anything that has to do with my three kids.    

Two fun facts: I used to be in a band that played at assisted living communities and I have several tattoos.