1. Wendy Freedman, Ph.D., Vassar, Director, Psychological Services
The role of university/ college counseling centers in the management of students’ mental health issues as they impacts student academic progression and retention
Rosa B. Ament, Ph.D., Pace University Westchester, Director, Counseling Center
Wendy Freedman, Ph.D., Vassar, Director, Psychological Services
Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo, Ph.D., Montclair State University, Director, Counseling Center
Materials presented here developed by Rosa, Wendy and Jaclyn.

2. Counseling Centers’ Role Within the University / College
In both traditional community counseling approaches (individual and group counseling) and innovative interventions, counseling centers attempt to
manage the increasing volume of students accessing counseling centers as well as support the academic progression of students
provide innovative approaches to foster access to services, flourishing and wellness
help students connect socially, develop healthy life skills (e.g., manage anxiety and develop resilience), assess and change their relationship with alcohol and other drugs, and cope with situational and chronic problems that arise during their academic years
National trends and research presented as well as highlight of services of three institutions.

3. Overall Contextual Information
National Trends as reported by the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors
Research reported by the Center for Collegiate Mental Health, Penn State

4. National Trends The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors Annual Survey (AUCCCD) 2016
529 counseling center directors completed the 2016 AUCCCD survey
Public (45.6%) and private (44.0%) institutions were equally represented with an additional 3.6% representing community colleges, 2.8% professional schools, 0.8% art schools, and 3.0% other
Among students asked whether Counseling Services helped with their academic performance, 72% responded positively.
Anxiety = the predominant and increasing concern among college students (50.6%) followed by depression (41.2%), relationship problems (34.4%), suicidal ideation (20.5%), self-injury (14.2%) and alcohol abuse (9.5%)
26.5% on average were taking psychotropic medication

5. Center for Collegiate Mental Health (CCMH) at Penn State University 2014 and 2015
through : the growth in number of students seeking services at counseling centers (+29.6%)was more than 5x the rate of institutional enrollment (+5.6%). Furthermore the growth in CC appts. (38.4%) is 7x the rate of institutional enrollment.
One in two students have had prior counseling, one in three has taken prior medication and one in ten have been hospitalized. These numbers have not increased in the last 6 years.
The lifetime prevalence rate for serious suicidal ideation has increased substantially over the last 5 years.

6. Programs That Promote Student Progression and Retention
Consistency and Individuality of each Counseling Center
Individual and group counseling sessions
Alcohol and other drug assessment and counseling
Psychiatric services for evaluation, medication, and medication monitoring
Referrals to community and other programs facilitated by a Case Manager who assists students in securing resources in the community and who completes follow up on referrals and students following a medical leave of absence
24 hour on-call availability
Daily Walk-In hours during the academic year, no appointment is needed
Outreach, workshops, and trainings to paraprofessionals, students, staff and faculty
Workshops in residence halls, classrooms, and University 101 seminars to increase life and coping skills
Training of orientation leaders, residence life staff and other staff and faculty on how to recognize a student in distress and take action quickly and other topics

7. Pace University, Westchester Campuses
Stress Management & Wellness Promotion
Rosa B. Ament, Ph.D., Director
Anxiety has ranked as # 1 nationally as the primary concern of students accessing counseling centers.
Parable: Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime.
Teaching a Life skil

8. Pace University Westchester Campuses Demographics Fall 2016
Enrollment 4,096
Schools of Arts & Sciences, Business, Education, Health Sciences (nursing and physician assistants), Computer Science and Law
Undergraduate and Graduate Degrees
Residential and Commuter campuses
Individual and group counseling (13-17% of student population served during the academic years), Walk in Clinic, “Harmless”
Red card: distribution to all faculty, staff, administration, and new faculty and staff hires.
Just in Case App: Access to resource information
Focus on management of anxiety: Workshops (“Breathe Me”), Relaxation room, Stress management training, and biofeedback
Wellness Promotion programs to enhance connectedness and healthy lifestyles

9. Stress Management
Meditation, Self Hypnosis, and Relaxation Response Workshops, e.g., “Breathe Me”
Relaxation Room offers: Massage chair, SAD light, meditation materials, and biofeedback self directed software
Biofeedback as an alternative to managing stress and pain management
Wellness passive programing focusing on healthy choices in managing stress and healthy lifestyles

10. AUCCCD survey finds that 70+ % of students indicate that counseling has helped them academically. Consistent with these findings respondents on the Counseling Center satisfaction survey:
71.74% agree academic performance improved since coming to counseling
93.48% agree that their experience at Counseling Service has positive affected the chances they will stay in school
(3) 95.48% of students seen indicated that their work at the Counseling Center made it possible for them to process towards completing their education goals

11. Vassar College Group Therapy, A Path to Belonging
Wendy Freedman, Ph.D., CGP, Director

12. Vassar College Demographics 2016-2017 Academic Year
Small liberal arts college located in Poughkeepsie, NY
All undergraduates
Residential college – 96% of students live on campus
Enrollment: 2,424 students
Four year graduation rate of 85% and overall rate of 91%
Vassar College is one of the original 7 sisters schools and went co-ed in the 70s.  
Undergrads attend this small liberal arts campus located in Poughkeepsie NY.  
It has about 2400 students and 96% live on campus.

13. Group Therapy
Designed to support students in improving capacity to form meaningful relationships and in working through their current life struggles.
8-12 weekly therapy groups per semester
Many are general process groups focused on building interpersonal skills and resiliencies
Some are topical based: anxiety, loss, survivors of sexual assault
Some are designed for students with minority identities to find support and community –Students of color, LGBTQIAA, Students with chronic health issues, First generation students
Students attend Vassar expecting to find community and supportive relationships.
If they feel isolated or struggle to connect, this leads to a higher risk of withdrawal from the college.
Many of Vassar’s retention practices relate to assisting students in building community.
Vassar’s group therapy program is designed to support students in improving their capacity to have meaningful relationships and to build community.
We typically run between 8-12 groups per academic year and the groups can either be general or topical.
Some therapy groups are designed specifically to support student populations with marginalized identities by connecting them to others with their identity and to support them in working through the challenges they face and to build community.

14. Group Therapy as a Path to Social Connection
For students who struggle interpersonally, group therapy is an ideal model to support growth and connection.
Interpersonal benefits of group therapy:
Reduces isolation and alienation.
Insight into the specific behaviors that are barriers to connection
Learning new ways of relating to others through supported practice
Deeper understanding of why others act the way they do
Why is group therapy so helpful?
A powerful experience of connection with peers that often leads to:
less isolation
better understanding of the behaviors that are barriers to connection
leading to learning new ways for students to relate to one another in healthier and more meaningful ways

15. Group Therapy Outcome Data
Counseling Service end of semester Student Satisfaction Survey 2016/2017
(% of students who selected Strongly Agree or Agree)
Group counseling helped me to better understand myself and improve my relationships with others. 91%
Group counseling helped me learn that I can connect with others and that I am not alone. 91%
Counseling was helpful to my continued enrollment in school. 58%
At Vassar Counseling Service we provide our clients with a satisfaction survey at the end of the semester.  This semester’s results are similar to prior semesters in that students reported that group treatment helped them to
better understand themselves and improve their relationships
learn that they can connect with others and that they are not alone.
And about 60% said that group therapy was helpful to their continued enrollment in school.

16. Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo, Ph.D., Director
Let’s Talk Program
Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo, Ph.D., Director

17. Montclair State University Demographics
Four year public institution in New Jersey (second largest in state)
Nine colleges and schools serve over 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students
5,200 residential students
79% of undergraduate population receive financial aid (over 40% receive Federal Pell grants)
Named one of Campus Pride’s top 25 LGBTQ-Friendly College and Universities
In 2016, recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by US Dept of Education

18. Let’s Talk Program
Easy access to one-on-one consultation and support hours
Locations outside of Counseling Center (5 days a week in 8 locations)
All sites open to all students
Confidential
Started at Cornell University

19. What’s great about Let’s Talk?
Increases rapid-access which decreases emergencies
Increases accessibility for ALL students
Meets students where they are
Provides another referral option for faculty/staff
In some cases, provides a bridge to the Counseling Center

20. Advertising Let’s Talk

21. Let’s Talk Outcome Data Spring 2017 Survey
Percentage of “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” responses:
80% “Going to LT made me feel better about seeking support/help in the future.”
82% “I would return to LT or recommend it to a friend.”
80% “I would consider going to CAPS for short term therapy, group therapy or for a referral for off-campus therapy.”

22. CAPS Client Satisfaction Data Fall 2016/Spring 2017
Percentage of “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” responses: 96% “I feel better about myself.” 100% “I would recommend a friend to seek counseling at CAPS.” 99% “My experience at CAPS has added to my positive feelings about being at MSU.” 99% “My work at CAPS has made it possible for me to make progress towards completing my educational goals.”

23. Questions
For additional information contact Ament, Dr.Rosa B Wendy Freedman Jaclyn Friedman-Lombardo, Ph.D.