Adam John Aparicio is the newest addition to the counseling staff at Parton Center for Health and Wellness (CHW). Aparicio, a first-generation college graduate who identifies as a gay Latino man, is a contract counselor for students working virtually from Chicago. Last weekend, Aparicio visited Middlebury to interact with students and promote Queer Trans Student Wellness Day, which will be held on April 13 at the Prism Center for Queer Trans Life.
Tammy Austin, director of counseling, said CHW previously received feedback from students seeking counselors from more diverse and representative identity groups. In last year’s Zeitgeist 5.0 survey, 426 students said they had used Middlebury’s counseling services. When asked if they felt their counselor was able to connect with them based on their identity, 46% of respondents said no. 69% of POC students said no, and 50% of LGBTQ students said no.
“We have certainly heard from students that they are interested in meeting with counselors who share similar identities,” Austin said in an interview with The Campus. “but [we are] We are trying to expand as much as possible. So we were able to find a counselor who could contract some of their time and we were able to offer some of that capacity to our students and give them a better experience. ”
Aparicio worked as a housing director and housing assistant in housing departments at several universities before earning his master’s degree from the University of Vermont. He discovered the value of being a leader and providing support through that role, which sparked his interest in going back to school to become a qualified professional counselor. explained.
“I really value working with students who have never seen a counselor before or who have not had a great experience with a counselor in the past, whether it be in college or university. ‘s greatest joy comes from helping clients rewrite the narrative of what counseling looks like,” Aparicio said.
Aparicio believes that counseling is a personal experience and values building personal relationships with her clients.
“I personally believe that counseling is a personal, one-on-one relationship that cannot be replicated and is really dependent on the client and student in front of you. And in essence, it is simply a student. It means meeting people where they are,” he said.
Additionally, Aparicio likes to incorporate levity and humor into conversations with clients.
“So we don’t just talk about pop culture and we talk about trauma and family relationships, but we also talk about what it’s like to be a student in this moment and help students stay grounded in the here and now. We also talk about,” Aparicio said. .
Aparicio usually meets with students virtually, but he was in Middlebury over the weekend to host Queer and Trans Student Wellness Day.
“Today is a day we planned around building a sense of community and being together,” Austin said.
Queer and Trans Student Wellness Day includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner catering by Crooked Ladle Catering to ensure students enjoy the day and build connections that last beyond a one-time event It was intended to.
The day included workshops on how to further engage in the community, conversations about love and healthy relationships, tips for maintaining your own health while helping friends and family, and more.
“My hope is to talk to people about how to truly set boundaries for themselves. Social media provides tips and tricks, but sometimes it’s just not realistic.” ’s hope is that we talk about how to make this a reality because your health matters,” Aparicio said in an interview before Queer and Trans Student Wellness Day.
In addition to group activities, the day also featured giveaways, visits from therapy dogs, and guided forest and nature therapy walks.
Aparicio explained that what appeals to him about working at a residential college like Middlebury is the close-knit community.
“I really value a small liberal arts education. There’s nothing like going to school and feeling like you’re on this island of learning and community,” Aparicio said. “[It’s] We advocate for helping communities that are already doing well to do even better. ”
Outside of work, Aparicio participates in several LGBT recreational sports leagues, including kickball and volleyball.
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“It’s fun to get back to playing. And remembering that being silly and trying something new is really helpful for your overall mental health, and that’s a big part of your mental health.” I think so,” Aparicio said.
Aparicio encourages students to contact counseling and make an appointment, even if they are not familiar with counseling services. All counseling services provided by CHW are available to Middlebury students free of charge.
In addition to Aparicio, Alyssa Brown also began working as a contract virtual counselor this year. Brown identifies as Black, queer and neurodivergent, according to her bio on her university’s website, and she looks forward to connecting with the Middlebury community.
“We’ll figure it out together. My main goal is to make sure that my students, no matter what personality they have, feel comfortable meeting me.” It can be strange meeting someone through , but I want to make it as comfortable an experience as possible,” Aparicio said.
Charlie Keohane ’24 (she/her) is editor-at-large. She previously served as an SGA correspondent and senior writer.
She is from Northern California and is majoring in environmental writing and minoring in psychology. Outside of her academic work, Charlie serves as a Senior Admissions Fellow in the Middlebury Office of Admissions. She also participates on the women’s track and field team, and she hosts the radio show “The Witching Hour” on 91.1 WRMC. She will study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark from spring 2023. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, watching Greta Gerwig movies, polar plunges, sending snail mail, and FaceTiming her rescue dog Poppy.
