Reboot Center helps students manage stress

Thursday, March 7, 2013

The new OSU Reboot Center is getting good reviews for its ability to help students relax, and the fact that it’s private, free, and available for repeated use, is expected to attract even more attention.

The center, which quietly opened last semester as a department within University Counseling Services, is a place for students to learn and practice valuable stress management techniques without an appointment anytime between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday on the third floor (room 320W) of the Student Union.

“We have four stations that offer individual students the chance to view a big screen TV to learn simple techniques in a calming environment where each can use state-of-the-art video games to help wind down,” said Veronica Sutton, an outreach specialist in the Reboot Center, who adds that a survey of students who gave it a try last semester indicated virtually everyone found the experience at least somewhat helpful.

“During the first month of operation, students who completed an evaluation form asking to what degree they were helped by the stress management experience; 45 percent answered ‘some,’ and 52 percent answered either ‘a lot’ or ‘a tremendous amount,’” explained Sutton. 

Some of the suggested improvements from students included fully reclining chairs, incense, pillows, refreshments and even a cappuccino machine. Sutton mentioned that there were also several practical suggestions from environmental changes to extensions for earphones and the addition of a waterfall that have since been implemented.

Many students willingly recommended others give stress management a try, including one who urged, “come to the Reboot Center anytime you’re stressed out or worried, especially with school work or social life. The programs definitely help with relaxation and stress reduction.” 

The center already has several “regulars” who stop by before writing a paper, taking a test or going to a job interview. “We want to do all we can to make this a relaxing learning experience and we know that once the word gets around about the difference using stress management technology can make, Reboot Center will be a very popular place,” said Sutton.

For more information about the OSU Reboot Center, go to
facebook.com/osureboot.