Parkland’s Counseling Support Center has initiated a handful of 60-minute groups and workshops that provide Parkland students with information on wellness topics, mental health, and coping skills.
Parkland Counselor Joe Omo-Osagie currently runs one of the many groups provided this semester. We spoke to Omo-Osagie about his initiative and goals for the new group.
Photo Credit: Nikola Buis
Joe Omo-Osagie has been a highly notable Parkland Counselor since 2006. Prior to being a full-time Counselor, he taught Psychology part-time from 2003 to 2006. Omo-Osagie also serves as the current outgoing President of the Champaign County Mental Health Board and has been active on the board since 2017. Omo-Osagie is extremely passionate about teaching Parkland students how to take care of their mental health, explore and/or rediscover wellness activities and improve coping skills.
Photo Credit: Nikola Buis
This semester, Omo-Osagie has finally begun his passion project for the Counseling Support Center – rhythmic drumming circles.
Omo-Osagie explains “I’ve always wanted to do the drumming sessions. In my almost 20 years here at Parkland, the school knows me for always having drums in the classroom, in my office, outdoors on campus – I believe in utilizing objects that are a natural feeling to us as ways to relieve tension. One of the major realizations of drumming is that you realize the rhythm and your breathing can be syncopated – those are rhythmic traits that we all have naturally.”
“The drumming circles are something natural to our humanity.” says Omo-Osagie. “We all had rhythm before we were born. We heard the rhythm of our mother’s heartbeats. So, it’s a natural sensation that everybody has within themselves.”
While working on launching the drumming circle, Omo-Osagie goes on to share a study in 2016 that he had found showing that drumming circles help somatically reduce anxiety we have in our modern day. “When my wife was pregnant with our oldest son, we would go to drumming circles together. She was about 6-7 months pregnant at the time when this happened – our son was kicking inside her belly alongside rhythmically with the drums. That was an example of us having eternal dialogue with rhythm.”
“Anyone that has attended the first few drumming circles so far has expressed that it has lowered their blood pressure, they come out happier than what they were before – there is a natural desire to smile whenever you’re there drumming together!” exclaims Omo-Osagie.
By coming to the drumming circles on campus, Parkland students, faculty, and staff receive the benefits of a huge endorphin release and a sensation of dopamine… “for free!” Omo-Osagie considers drumming sessions to be a modern and fun way of talk therapy. “A gathering that brings the Parkland community to heal together.”
Parkland’s Drumming Circles, officially known as Rhythm of Life: Drumming for Your Health with Counselor Joe Omo-Osage is open to anyone and everyone at Parkland and the community. Omo-Osagie and the Drumming Circle meet at least 2 Thursdays of each month at 1:00PM in Room U-140.
To get in contact with Joe Omo-Osagie for future dates of the Drumming Circle…
Joe Omo-Osagie, Counselor, Counseling Services
Email | 217/352-2620 | Room U-282
Nikola Buis
Prospectus Reporter