Student Life
Personal Counseling Staff
The Personal Counseling Office has three personal counselors on staff. Each counselor has a generalist background with specific areas of interest and expertise. They are qualified to provide supportive counseling and short-term therapy for the young adult student/clients.
If you would like to make an appointment with a personal counselor, please call the Personal Counseling Office at 802.654.2547.
The counseling staff also works closely with a consulting psychiatrist in the areas of case management and client referral assessment.
Linda Hollingdale, M.S.
Linda has worked at SMC since 1980. She is the Director of the Personal Counseling Office. While all of the counselors specialize in young adult development, Linda's areas of interest include: women and gender, sexual orientation, alcohol in families, loss and grief, mindfulness, and young adult relationship issues. Linda has facilitated support groups for LGBTQ students and adult children of alcoholics.
Linda's e-mail address is: lhollingdale@smcvt.edu
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Julia Wick, M.S., LCMHC
Julia has been in the field since 1991 and has a background in community mental health as well as healthcare and rehabilitation in a medical setting. This combination provides Julia an expertise involving a blend of the physical and emotional concerns our students often present. Although a generalist like Linda and Dave, Julia’s specific areas of interest include: health and somatic issues, chronic pain, grief and loss, interpersonal relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, and stress management.
Julia’s e-mail address is: jwick@smcvt.edu
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Dave Kells '89, M.A.T., M.S.W., LICSW
Dave is a generalist who has particular expertise working with students dealing with anxiety, learning differences, ADHD, organization, men’s issues, stress, grief, depression, and substance abuse. He is trained in the use of both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Medicine.
In addition to his full-time responsibilities as a counselor in the Personal Counseling Office, Dave serves as Counselor-in-Residence, living on campus, providing evening drop-in hours, visiting classes and groups, and offering psycho-educational programming during the week.
Dave's e-mail address is: dkells@smcvt.edu
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Kathleen Butts '89, M.A., LCMHC, LADC
Kathy has been a mental health professional since 1993. She has spent much of her career working with young adults and their families. She has a special interest in family systems theory and particularly enjoys helping young adults to develop an understanding of themselves by exploring who and what they want to be in the world. She is also interested in substance abuse, the interface between anxiety, depression and stress management, mindfulness, spiritual development and helping students to find balance in life.
Kathy's e-mail address is: kbutts@smcvt.edu