College Counseling Today: Contemporary Students and How Counseling Centers Meet Their Needs

There is evidence that today’s college and university students are struggling with emotional and behavioral health problems at higher rates than in past generations. This article explores the various ways, utilizing a range of models, that college and university counseling centers have mobilized to respond to these challenges. We examine literature about the characteristics and concerns of the current student generation along with what counseling centers are doing to respond to the challenge of student needs. We describe a survey (N = 408) of members of the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) and American College Counseling Association (ACCA) that elicited the kinds of services, functions, structures, and organizational relationships found in today’s counseling centers. In addition to confirming the core mission of providing counseling and psychotherapy, the survey revealed widespread counseling center collaboration and consultation activities beyond the counseling room. The survey also indicated a variety of administrative and structural arrangements in the way counseling centers are placed on their individual campuses. Finally, we suggest a framework for planning, executing, and evaluating counseling center and campus initiatives.     

Walk-In Triage Systems in University Counseling Centers

To meet the complex mental health needs of students, some university counseling centers (UCCs) have implemented walk-in triage intake systems, which have not yet been empirically investigated. This study compared client and clinician differences (N = 5564) between a traditional scheduled intake system (Year 1) and a walk-in triage system (Year 2) at a large, southeastern UCC. Results showed a significant increase in clients’ attendance rates and clinicians’ caseloads, a significant decrease in no-show rates, and no change in students’ symptom severity at intake between Years 1 and 2. Clinicians’ number of scheduled appointments were unchanged, indicating that clinicians were already at maximum capacity for appointments in Year 1. Results are discussed in terms of the benefits and challenges that walk-in triage systems present to students, universities, and UCCs.     

Psychiatry Resident Rotations in University and College Counseling Centers: A Pilot Study of Rotation Types and Challenges

With an increased demand for mental health services, perceived increased severity of students presenting for services, and increased number of students prescribed psychotropic medications, university and college counseling center directors have had to increasingly identify psychiatric service options. Psychiatry residents can potentially help fill these needs. To better understand the role of psychiatry residents in university and college counseling programs, we conducted a web-based survey of United States psychiatry residency program directors. This study describes clinical activities and rotation characteristics of psychiatric residents working in counseling centers. Of the 48 residency programs that responded, 27 provide rotations at university or college counseling centers, and of those with rotations, 100% report that the residents rate these as very good or excellent. Expanding psychiatry residency rotations at college counseling centers may be mutually beneficial both to the centers and to psychiatric residents.     

Quality Improvement in University Counseling Centers

University Counseling Centers (UCCs) experience high clinical demands and severe client presentations leaving counselors with limited time and resources to evaluate delivery of services. In this article, we present clinician-friendly quality improvement (QI) strategies used at a large Midwestern university and provide recommendations for implementing QI programs at other UCCs even as their resources may vary. With counselor-led efforts examining and evaluating services, UCCs can use QI programs to inform and improve counseling practices as well as advise university administrators about the positive outcomes of the center’s work.     

The Utility of an Efficient Outcomes Assessment System at University Counseling Centers

Due to increased demands placed on university counseling centers (UCCs) in recent years, there is a need for these centers to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their psychological services. Regularly monitoring client progress is one approach to increase the likelihood of positive clinical outcomes. This article describes the use of the Behavioral Health Measure–20 (BHM-20; Kopta & Lowry, 2002) in monitoring the progress of 13,803 clients at 23 UCCs across the United States from 2006–2011. Results show that the BHM-20, via the CelestHealth System–MH (CHS-MH), is an effective instrument for the electronic administration, scoring, and tracking of client progress. Overall, clients improved over the course of treatment and the benefit from treatment peaked between 7 to 10 sessions. Three case vignettes using the CHS-MH in patient care are presented. Implications for continuing the use of monitoring individual client change at UCCs are discussed.     

The Preparation of Master's‐Level Professional Counselors for Positions in College and University Counseling Centers

This study investigated college and university counseling center directors’ perceptions of the adequacy of the preparation of master's‐level counselors for work in college and university counseling centers. Results indicated that counselors were rated on average as prepared; however, many directors had concerns about counselors’ ability to work with students presenting more severe mental health issues. Findings are discussed, and implications for the training and preparation of college counseling practitioners are presented.     

The Center for Collegiate Mental Health: An Example of a Practice-Research Network in University Counseling Centers

This article presents a model of a practice-research network that offers benefits for clinicians working at college and university counseling centers. We briefly describe the basic components of this practice-research network, challenges in developing it, and some of the empirical studies that have resulted from this initiative. We also describe possibilities for future research that not only will foster further collaborations between clinicians and researchers, but also will enhance our ability to understand and improve mental health services for college students.     

Doctoral Interns’ Perceptions of Preparedness to Work with Victims and Survivors of Sexual Assault at University Counseling Centers

ABSTRACT

Counselors at university counseling centers (UCCs) should be prepared to provide services to sexual assault victims and survivors, as an estimated 23% of females and 5% of males are assaulted during college, with rates being higher for sexual and gender minority students. We surveyed doctoral interns (N = 49) at UCCs regarding interns’ training and educational experiences during their graduate programs, practicum, and internship placements, as well as the services that the interns and UCCs provide to recent victims. Among our findings, 96% of the sample had expected to work with a recent victim, 82% had already done so, and only 22% perceived themselves as fully prepared to provide such services. In addition, the majority of UCC interns had focused on sexual assault cases during case conferences, didactic trainings, and supervision. These results have implications for graduate programs and internship sites.     

What They Never Told Me About Being a Counseling Center Director

The author offers his perspectives about the experiences that are associated with being a college or university counseling center director.     

Humor and Healing in College Counseling

Humor is an often neglected but potentially powerful tool in college counseling center interventions. In this article we review potential benefits and hazards of using humor in a college mental health setting along with perspectives on humor’s mechanism of action and distinctions between types of humor. Therapist and client-specific considerations, such as culture and identity, are discussed in relation to the judicious use of humor in individual therapy. Based on our experience employing these techniques at an urban, private university counseling center, we make specific recommendations for the application of humor in therapy, the counseling center environment, and outreach materials.     

Adapting Dialectical Behavior Therapy for College Counseling Centers

College counseling centers report increased student presentation with severe psychological issues (Gallagher, 2012 ). Although dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has demonstrated efficacy with multiple clinical populations, standard model DBT is not feasible for many traditional college counseling centers. This article describes the iterative development and evolution of a comprehensive DBT program adapted to fit the scope of a traditional college counseling center. Guidelines for implementing lessons learned over the 3 years of the program are provided.     

论高校学生的辅导责任分担

高校学生辅导应该形成“辅导合力”并进行辅导责任分担。高校学生辅导责任分担存在现实、理论与参照依据。根据高校学生辅导责任主客体地位与功能,提出辅导责任分担的概念模型。高校辅导员与教管人员、专任授课教师、校内教辅机构、家庭以及社会媒介分别分担不同的辅导责任。     

Unrealistic Expectations for Suicide Prevention: Implications for Counseling Centers

Counseling centers are under intense pressure to prevent student suicide. When a student dies by suicide, the counseling center practitioner may be held liable as though all such deaths are ultimately preventable. Expectations that suicide can be prevented 100% of the time conflict with the actual capabilities of treatment providers and disregard their limited power to control the behavior of others. These expectations also fail to recognize that mental health professionals’ ability to accurately predict suicide is no better than chance. Nonetheless, the unattainable demands placed on clinicians do not originate with higher education but from the treatment community itself. Some of the consequences of these high expectations regarding the behavior of clinicians are reviewed. A plea is made for the treatment community to adopt more reasonable expectations internally and to promote them outwardly among stakeholders.     

Integrating Mindfulness Meditation Within a University Counseling Center Setting

Abstract

This paper documents the development of a mindfulness meditation component within a University Counseling Center setting. The specific focus is upon the inclusion of meditation as it pertains to both organizational structure and psychotherapy training. The integration of a meditation practice into any organization is a slow process that poses complex questions. We argue that the benefits provide a counterpoint to the complexities inherent when incorporating such training into an organization's structure and a psychology internship program.     

Utilizing Partnerships to Maximize Resources in College Counseling Services

Research indicates an increasing number of college students are experiencing severe psychological problems that are impacting their academic performance. However, many colleges and universities operate with constrained budgets that limit their ability to provide adequate counseling services for their student population. Moreover, accessing off-campus mental health services can be difficult for college students, in particular community college students, for a variety of reasons. This article describes a partnership between a community college and university that utilizes a graduate training program to provide on-campus counseling to both student populations enabling both institutions to maximize their resources.     

Meeting the Demand for College Student Concerns in College Counseling Centers: Evaluating a Clinical Triage System

University counseling centers, experiencing an imbalance between student demand and available resources, respond in various ways. The current mixed-method study evaluated one university counseling center transitioning from a wait-list system to a triage method of managing demand. Significant reductions in wait time and increase in attendance were found. Clients also reported significantly less distress after triage implementation. No reduction in wait time or increase in symptom severity were found for crisis clients. Qualitative methods assessed staff perceptions of triage, suggesting staff was satisfied with triage because of clinically informed scheduling and increased efficiency.     

College/University Counseling Centers Supporting Study Away: Challenges and Opportunities

Research points to significant numbers of students on college campuses experiencing mental health distress and an ever increasing number of college students who are choosing to make an off-campus educational experience a part of their college careers. When we consider both of these trends together, it is quite apparent that a significant number of students with mental health concerns will spend periods of time studying away from campus, with converging concerns among college mental health and study away professionals about how to best support these students. This article seeks to outline both challenges and opportunities inherent in the collaboration between campus professionals in supporting students with mental health issues before and during their study away experiences.     

Surviving Losses and Limits:

Psychotherapists in a university setting face a unique set of losses and limits that must be understood in order to provide effective service. The limits are defined by a setting which calls for short-term interventions. The loss results from multiple endings and the difficulties for therapist and students when intensive attachments are formed. The primary task is not one of providing ongoing intensive psychotherapy, but more often is based on an assessment and counseling model with the necessity of making referrals for more intensive psychotherapy. The pscyhotherapist must come to terms with the dilemma of loss and learn to become aware of defensive reactions which may develop to protect against the loss.     

高校教师入职培训必要性探析

我国高校新进教师的入职培训非常必要,本文从三方面进行了阐述:一是从"高校学生"到"高校教师"的转变来分析我国高校新进教师的职业准备状况,二是从"职前教育"到"职后发展"的过渡来分析高校新进教师的入职期特点,三是从"精英高等教育"到"大众化高等教育"的发展分析我国高教质量建设面临的挑战,三个维度的分析都说明我国高校新进教师的入职培训必要且任重道远,值得关注,急需重视。     

公安院校大学生朋辈心理辅导的必要性

从朋辈心理辅导的内涵及理论与现实依据入手,对公安院校大学生开展朋辈心理辅导的必要性进行论证,建议通过采取知识普及、选拔培训、转介督导等实施途径,促进公安院校大学生心理健康教育的开展。