Creating Options: Addressing Counseling Psychology Students’ Therapy Needs

Working Group Co-Leaders Dr. Debra Mollen, Ph.D., Texas Woman’s University Maggie Syme, M.A., University of Kansas Melinda Roberts, M.S., University of Kansas Kimberley Monden, M.S., University of Kansas Martha Bergen, B.S., Texas Woman’s University

Major Issues Discussed Importance of providing adequate therapeutic options for counseling psychology trainees. The need to explicitly/openly address this issue to all students and providing a program policy in a respectful and confidential manner (e.g. orientation time, course development, period discussions such as brown bags, etc.). The need to create a climate in the training program that truly promotes self-care measures such as therapy and de-stigmatizes the use and need for therapy. Creating recommendations from students and faculty, successful existing policies, and other beneficial experiences regarding accessing therapeutic resources.

Major Issues Discussed Potential and/or existing barriers in providing access to therapeutic services and an explicit program policy (cost, dual relationships, time constraints, stigmatization of getting therapy, few pathways to get therapy, etc.). Generating strategies to address both recommendations and barriers to providing adequate services and an explicit policy in each program. Address the steps of creating a climate of concern and promotion from the beginning development to implementation stage.

Goals/Outcomes for Future Developing an understanding of the issues facing students and faculty when providing therapeutic resources as well as a direct policy for those issues. Developing a set of recommendations for programs to refer to when developing a policy regarding access to therapeutic resources. Increasing awareness of the need for explicit policies and adequate therapeutic resources for students across Counseling Psychology programs and Division 17. Creating buy-in for APA and other national organizations to promote the need for programs to address self-care and providing therapeutic resources in all trainee programs in the helping professions.

Next Steps & Opportunities for Involvement Creating an online group for those interested in the issue to share ideas, documents, resources, etc. - if Dissemination of recommendations and materials to Division 17 INCLUDING A DEVELOPED POLICY RECOMMENDATION FOR PROGRAMS Building a group of researchers and developing more studies in this area.

Next Steps & Opportunities for Involvement Utilize connections with SAS and an upcoming article in the SAS newsletter. Building professional relationships at the local, state, and national level in order to advocate for this issue

Contact Information for Getting Involved group co-leaders for more information. We need you to help make this happen! Maggie Syme, M.A. Melinda Roberts, M.S. Kimberley Monden, M.S., Dr. Debra Mollen, Ph.D., Martha Bergen, B.S.,