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.     

A Multi-Institution Look at College Students Seeking Counseling: Nature and Severity of Concerns

This study provides information about students seeking counseling (N = 3,844) at 9 institutions of higher education. The K-PIRS, an empirically validated measure, was used to assess 7 problem areas (mood difficulties, learning problems, food concerns, interpersonal conflicts, career uncertainties, self-harm indicators, and addiction issues). Forty-two percent of students presented with multiple problems, and most reported that their concerns interfered with their academic (87%) and social (90%) functioning. A majority of students (61%) were in a stage of contemplation when seeking counseling. Only 24% were in a stage of action. There were small differences in problem scores by participants' gender, ethnicity, year in school, type of residence, work status, previous treatment, and use of psychiatric medication. Implications are discussed for counseling practitioners working with college students.     

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.     

Chapter 7.

Abstract

College age students are in the midst of important psychosocial and neurobiological changes. The developmental fluidity of this period of life compels caution in diagnosing and treating depressive episodes, especially in discriminating between bipolar and non-bipolar depression. Treating college age students with depression requires adherence to four basic principles that guide treatment. We urge you to aim for diagnostic clarity, keep the developmental context in mind when making diagnoses and conducting treatment, establish clear aims for the pharmacologic intervention, and provide adequate resources to monitor treatment outcomes and respond rapidly to any untoward events.     

Chapter 11.

Abstract

This chapter presents answers to the twenty questions asked at the beginning of this volume, articulates a number of generally poor current practices of pharmacotherapy, makes suggestions for improvement in treatments combining medication and psychotherapy, and proposes important research at colleges and universities to gain understanding of use and misuse of psychotropic medication. We suggest that institutions of higher learning are primary places to reform and improve mental health services and are among the best proponents of community mental health theory, practice and research.     

Some Psychotherapeutic Aspects of Academia

This article examines several dimensions of academic life that parallel psychotherapeutic processes. By specifying and discussing several dimensions, such as a special environment, understanding, self-sufficiency skills, and interpersonal factors, it contributes to an understanding of how teaching and participation in the academic world foster not only intellectual but also personal growth. Drawing on pertinent literature and personal experience as both a teacher and a practitioner, the author concludes that both roles have at core the function of leadership.     

Graduate Students on Campus: Needs and Implications for College Counselors

Graduate students compose an important segment of university and college populations. However, institutions of higher education often have not addressed adequately their status as adult students with different developmental and life issues and concerns. This article defines and describes the needs of graduate students, discusses implications, and makes recommendations for college counselors to more effectively address their range of needs.     

重庆五年制高职学生对心理咨询与治疗专业工作的认知

目的:了解高职学生对心理咨询与治疗专业工作的认知状况.方法:采用北京大学心理学系编制《心理健康知识调查表》中关于对心理咨询与治疗工作认知调查表,从5个方面对重庆市某高职学院137名学生对心理咨询与治疗工作的认知状况进行了调查研究.结果:高职学生对心理咨询与治疗工作持接纳和重视的态度,对心理咨询与治疗专业和从事该专业的人员要求过高,对该专业的了解不够,对去看心理门诊有思想顾虑,一半的五年制高职学生希望学校的心理咨询机构能给以帮助.还需要大力加强学校的心理咨询与治疗工作.     

Development of the Preferences for College Counseling Inventory

This study describes the development of the Preferences for College Counseling Inventory (PCCI). In addition to providing data about college students' preferences for the logistics of counseling and the demographic/professional background of a potential therapist, the PCCI also provides numerical scores on 3 scales (Therapist Expertise, Therapist Warmth, and Therapist Directiveness) that measure preferences for therapist dispositions and 2 scales (Task‐Oriented Activities and Experiential/Insight‐Oriented Activities) that measure preferences for counseling activities.     

Fostering Professional Development:

No abstract available for this article.     

Psychotherapy Services Provided by a College Counseling Center

Abstract

This study compared the delivery of psychological services at a university counseling center after an interval of almost 40 years in a partial replication of an earlier study at the same center. The results indicate that the changes that have occurred in service delivery reflect more the transitions in the culture of the university than trends in mental health treatment.     

Facing Bipolar: The Young Adult's Guide to Dealing with Bipolar Disorder,by Russell Federman and J. Anderson Thomson,Jr.

Comprehensive—yet cost-effective—provision of psychological care is a timely concern for most college counseling centers. The current review summarizes the components of a program designed to meet such seemingly discordant demands. The Counselor-in-Residence program places live-in, doctoral students in clinical psychology/counselor education, in residence halls in order to provide on-site, easily accessible, and professionally supervised mental health support services for residents and residence life staff. The process of program development and implementation of the Counselor-in-Residence program at a medium-sized Midwestern university is discussed.     

Chapter 2.

Abstract

In 2002, the first in a series of working conferences was held as a collaboration between the counseling service of Bennington College and the Austen Riggs Center's Erikson Institute. The title of the first conference was The Escalating Use of Medications by College Students: What Are They Telling Us, What Are We Telling Them?. It was meant to provide a space to explore the meaning and context of this phenomenon. The primary contexts examined were the student's familial/ cultural context and then the institutional context from which the counseling staff was attempting to respond to the student. This paper describes that initial conference and the emergent themes over the next few years.     

Using an Existential Psychotherapy Framework to Assist Students in Mindful Internet Use

The use of the mobile Internet continues to play an increasing role in all of our lives and particularly in the lives of college and university students. Questions have been raised about the impact of the Internet on adolescents’ and college students’ fulfillment of traditional developmental tasks and more broadly their mental health. The present article posits potentially negative values associated with Internet use and shows how existential psychotherapy promotes corrective values that can help students navigate their Internet use. The existential psychotherapy framework brings mindfulness and conscious choice into students’ decision-making process. This approach intentionally focuses on universal aspects of being human such as dealing with death, making decisions, confronting isolation, and creating meaning. The article will conclude with a case vignette on applying an existential psychotherapy framework to working with a college student.     

高职生学习自信心的培养

一般来说，造成高职生学习自信心不足的主要因素是其对自身的能力感知不足。对此，我们要适用新的教育观念、方法、制度模式明确高职生的培养目标，发挥其主体作用，合理组织教学，并创设平等民主的教学气氛，通过循序渐进的教学安排，使其树立积极的学习心态。另外，要建立多元的学习评价体系，改变单纯以分数为标准的评价方式。     

关于培养大学生健康人格的思考

从健康人格的内涵出发 ,分析大学生人格方面的缺陷 ,指出培养大学生健康人格的几条途经及其重要意义。     

College Students’ Likelihood of “no-showing” for an Initial Hypothetical Counseling Appointment

Using a vignette methodology, we examined college students’ likelihood of “no-showing” for a hypothetical initial appointment for counseling. Participants in a low level of distress condition were less likely to attend their appointment as compared to those in a high distress condition. Knowing they would see a male therapist and not knowing what counseling entails strongly influenced participants’ decision to not attend their appointment. We discuss the research and clinical implications of our findings.     

浅谈高校咨询辅导体系的建立

建立健全完善的咨询辅导体系是市场经济条件下,促进大学生健康成长为合格社会主义建设者和接班人的必需,是适应我国高等教育由＂精英化＂转变为＂大众化＂趋势,弥补高校教育漏洞的必然选择,同时也是当代大学生自主性、个性化成长发展的必然要求。咨询辅导包括学习、生活、从业和心理辅导四方面内容体系,在此基础上初步构想了咨询辅导实施体系,包括：咨询辅导机构的设置,咨询辅导队伍的建设及一套完善的工作程序。