While Ohio University's main counseling service limits the number of student therapy sessions, a graduate student-run clinic offers an unlimited number of sessions.
The Psychology and Social Work Clinic, in suite 002 of Porter Hall, is a training ground for psychology and social work graduate students. It is equipped to treat problems ranging from mild to moderate in severity and assess learning disabilities, said Kim Lassiter, director of the clinic.
OU's official mental health provider, Counseling and Psychological Services, limits students to receiving 13 therapy sessions per school year.
They have a ceiling on the number of sessions because they are so overwhelmed with the need students have for counseling services and the fact they don't have the resources to meet it
Lassiter said. It's a very common problem.
The training clinic is funded directly through OU's psychology and social work departments, which is one of the reasons it is able to offer unlimited therapy sessions. Counseling and Psychological Services is funded through the $516 quarterly general fee charged to students.
Second and third-year graduate students can gain experience working with patients at the clinic, which is becoming a common practice throughout the country, Lassiter said, adding that though graduate students are not licensed to practice psychology, most students say they feel comfortable receiving therapy.
Counseling and Psychological Services has a responsibility to accept every patient, whereas the training clinic only treats students that fit certain criteria. The clinic does not offer drug and alcohol treatment or emergency care, both of which are available at Counseling and Psychological Services.
Students can usually be seen for therapy very quickly at the training clinic. A waiting list is unusual, but it has happened occasionally in the clinic's five-year history, she said.
At Counseling and Psychological Services students often have to wait up to two weeks to see a counselor in non-emergency situations, said Jeanne Heaton, director of Counseling and Psychological Services.
The waiting period does vary she said. If we felt that you needed to be seen quickly we'd get you in quickly. We try to accommodate that.
In addition to therapy and counseling, the training clinic offers formal assessments to diagnose conditions like attention deficit disorder, learning disabilities and neuropsychological conditions. It is the only office in Athens that can make these assessments, so this service often has a waiting list, Lassiter said.
We serve a lot of students for that
and we're the only game in town for that service
she said.
Counseling and Psychological Services has begun its first year offering a counselor-in-residence in the evening hours for students who are not able to see someone during the day, said Lindsay Orchowski, the counselor-in-residence.
It's been pretty successful in helping students determine what resources might be appropriate for them
and the environment helps them feel more comfortable
Orchowski said.
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