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Course ID: SA113
Title: Practical Counseling and Communication Skills
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2027
Time: 1-2pm EST
Facilitator: Matthew R. Shupp, Ed,D.
Price: $75
This is a LIVE WEBINAR presented via Zoom.

ABSTRACT
Student affairs professionals are often the first campus professionals students turn to when they are struggling with:

• academic stress
• mental health concerns
• interpersonal conflict
• identity development
• personal crises

While most professionals are not serving in the role of licensed counselors, every interaction presents an opportunity to foster connection, provide support, and guide students toward appropriate resources. Developing effective helping skills strengthens these everyday conversations and contributes to student success, retention, and well-being.

This webinar provides practical counseling and communication skills. Participants will:

• learn evidence-based techniques for building rapport
• engaging in active listening
• responding with empathy
• asking effective questions
• establishing healthy boundaries
• recognizing when referrals are needed
• managing challenging student interactions

The session emphasizes immediately applicable strategies that can be used across a variety of student affairs functional areas.

BRIEF OUTLINE
Part 1

• The helping role of student affairs professionals
• Building rapport and safety with students
• Core helping skills: attending, active listening, empathy, reflection, and effective questioning
• Responding to students experiencing distress, crisis, or emotional dysregulation

Part II

• Navigating difficult conversations while maintaining professional boundaries
• Making effective referrals to counseling and campus support services
• Practical case studies and application across student affairs settings

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Following this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Apply foundational helping skills to support students in everyday interactions.
2. Demonstrate active listening, empathy, and effective questioning techniques that strengthen student engagement.
3. Differentiate between supportive helping conversations and situations requiring referral to counseling or emergency services.
4. Recognize common indicators of student distress and respond using trauma-informed communication strategies.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
This webinar is designed for professionals across the student affairs division, including:

• Academic Advisors
• Residence Life and Housing Professionals
• Student Conduct Administrators
• Student Success and Retention Professionals
• Orientation and First-Year Experience Staff
• Student Activities and Leadership Professionals
• Dean of Students Staff
• Career Services Professionals
• TRIO, Educational Opportunity Program, and Student Support Services Staff
• Multicultural Affairs and Belonging Professionals
• Disability Services Professionals
• Financial Aid and Enrollment Professionals
• Campus Recreation Professionals
• Veterans Services Staff
• Campus Safety professionals who regularly interact with students
• Graduate Assistants and Emerging Student Affairs Professionals
• Supervisors and Mid-Level Student Affairs Leaders

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Matthew R. Shupp, Ed.D., is a professor of counselor education at Shippensburg University and a licensed professional counselor with extensive experience in clinical mental health, counselor education, and higher education. He is a former student affairs professional and has trained professionals in helping skills, trauma-informed practice, supervision, crisis response, and effective communication. Dr. Shupp is a Board-Certified Tele-mental Health Provider (BC-TMH), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and a previous Fulbright Specialist who has provided international consultation on counseling center development and professional training to Suez Canal University in Ismailia, Egypt. His work bridges counseling and student affairs, helping higher education professionals develop practical skills that enhance student support, persistence, and well-being. READ MORE →

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PAYMENT & REGISTRATION
Payment can be made by Credit card, PayPal or Venmo. A transaction receipt will be sent to the email included in your billing info. Please provide the Name & Institution/Organization, + Email of the attendee in the boxes provided on the checkout page. The webinar link will be sent to the attendee's email address. Registrants will be notified the day before the event login details for the ZOOM Webinar. Later registrations will be notified manually once we receive them. Registrations just before the event launch will also be notified manually as soon as possible. For volume pricing for this single live webinar, email staff@mystudentaffairs.com with your request so we can send you a special Paypal invoice.