Psychological Health and Human Development Center’s Services

Services provided by the Center offers a warm, supportive, safe environment while clinical staff address the individual needs and confront the behavioral and emotional symptoms. The therapeutic services refer to the application of principles, methods, and procedures for understanding, predicting, and alleviating intellectual struggle, emotional distress, and psychological discomfort. Supportive services, training, workshops and consultations are provided for an entire range of individuals, families, professional organizations, and communities. 

1.Individual therapy, couples and marital therapy:

Many students use individual therapy to address personal concerns in an atmosphere of warmth, non-judgmental, and understanding. Therapy allows students the opportunity to talk over what on his/her mind such as adjusting to new situations, managing stress, and difficulties in relationships, anxiety, depression, anger, grief, family problems and personal identity. Sometimes academic difficulties may reflect an underlying problem in one of these areas.

There are different treatment modalities including but are not limited to cognitive behavior therapy, behavioral management techniques, insight therapy, desensitization, anxiety reduction, assertiveness and social skills, conflict management, self-esteem, and managing emotions to address students’ concerns and assist them in developing informed decision and choices.

During the initial appointment and first therapy sessions, the goal is to identify a central problem to focus on and develop a plan for the therapy. Most students feel better after only a few sessions from learning new ways of looking at situations and new skills, knowing they are capable of dealing with concerns and working toward solutions.

Family therapy for students’ families may be available according to the staffing. 

Therapy Process:

Therapy sessions usually last 45-50 minutes and are scheduled on a weekly basis. In between appointments, clients may work in various ways — for example, by observing themselves, paying attention to their feelings and what leads to them, talking with others and trying out new behavior.

For many problems, short-term treatment is accomplished in 20 sessions However, when there are multiple problems or problems which have persisted over a long period of time, longer term treatment may be necessary.

On-going therapy is a negotiated process between the student and the therapist. Both will evaluate the progress and periodically discuss the need for further appointments.

If, during the therapy, individual has any questions about the therapy, he/she could ask.

The information shared with the therapist is kept confidential, except in rare instances where the therapist is required by law or by court order to reveal information. 

2.Group Therapy:

Many people are hesitant at first about joining a group but quickly find that sharing their concerns with others, hearing about other people's similar experiences, and giving and receiving emotional support can be very helpful. Groups provide a variety of perspectives and allow members to try new behaviors in a safe environment.

Group therapy is a type of counseling that can be very effective in helping people solve problems and feel better about themselves and their lives. Group therapy typically consists of four to ten students and two clinical staff who meet for about ninety minutes once a week. All participants agree to keeping confidentiality about who is in the group and what is disclosed. Groups may be the sole treatment or complement individual therapy. Groups can also be a good way to continue to benefit from services after finishing individual therapy. All potential members of a group meet with a group leader in advance for a screening interview. The process helps to find a good fit between a student and a particular group.

Skills training groups and coaching are effective for teaching students to replace dysfunctional coping strategies with effective strategies. Students learn to the necessary skills to regulate emotions, avoid self-destructive behaviors, improve relationships and achieve an array of personal goals.  

The following is a list of items of groups’ concerns: 
• Expressing thoughts and feelings
• Coping with stress
• Learning to communicate better
• Supporting others
• Facing fears
• Increasing support system
• Controlling temper
• Decreasing social anxiety
• Increasing motivation
• Improving personal relationships
• Improving mood
• Learning to manage emotions
• Learning to stop procrastination
• Getting better at making decisions
• Improving academic performance
• Becoming more independent
• Reducing anxiety and worry
• Becoming more confident
• Talking about family problems
• Learning more about oneself
• Learning to make and keep friends
• Working on social skills 

3.Psychological evaluations:

Psychological evaluation can provide useful information about an individual's personality and cognitive functioning through the use of standardized psychological testing. It is directed toward diagnosing the nature and causes, and predicting the effects, of subjective distress; of personal, social, and study difficulties, or work dysfunction. Procedures may include but not limited to, interviewing, administering, and interpreting tests of intellectual abilities, attitudes, emotions, motivations, personality characteristics, and other aspects of human experience and behavior relevant to the presenting problems.

Psychological screening will be conducted as part of initial assessment and treatment planning.

Individuals could be referred to the Center from a variety of campus departments for evaluation of a specific psychological concern, e.g., does this student have a learning disability? or What are the psychological issues related to this student's experience of depression? 

Benefit of Psychological Evaluation:

Psychological testing provides clarity regarding important aspects of the personality and it more fully describes the symptoms and concerns to be addressed in treatment.

Once the evaluation is completed, the results and recommendations will be discussed with the individual. 

4.Workshop / Consultation:

Psychological Services Staff may provide workshops, consultations, or training for different classes, groups, or organizations upon request from faculty staff members and students groups. Every effort will be made to respond to such a request. 

 Possible Topics:
• Understanding and Treating Eating Disorders
• Managing Anxiety
• Stress Management
• Anger Control
• Coping Skills 
•  Assertiveness

Women's Issues Including: 
• Body Image Concerns  
• Self-esteem  
• Challenges at Work and at Home  

5.Training:

The Psychological Health and Human Development Center will establish a relationship with the local universities for the possibility of providing on-site practicum placements for doctoral students in clinical psychology and master degree students in counseling. Practicum students receive supervised clinical experience matched to their training level. They also participate in outreach programming, training seminars, and staff meetings. The members of the Center will participate on weekly professional development seminars to discuss presentations and innovative treatment and evaluative techniques. 

Crisis and emergency services:

What is a Crisis?

Student in crisis may experience any of the following thoughts or behaviors and feel like there is a need professional intervention
• Unable to stop crying  
• Thoughts of hurting oneself  
• Thoughts of hurting other people  
• Have not eaten in a few days (not due to illness)  
• Have not slept in a few days (not due to illness)  
• Unable to go to classes (not due to illness)  
• Unable to calm self down  

How to help someone in crisis?

Therapists are trained to handle crisis and emergency situations. They can offer an individual who is struggling an opportunity to discuss his/her issues in a confidential atmosphere of saengineeringy and respect. Most of the time, the student may feel relieved once contact is made with a therapist. 

After Hours Help:

If the crisis is serious and represents an immediate psychological emergency, and it is after regular office hours (after 5:00PM during the week or anytime during the weekend), student can call a hot line phone number at the Campus office and he/she will be guided through the voice mail instruction to page the on-call therapist to assist him/her with the emergency. 

Psychological Health and Human Development Center’s Services

Psychological Health and Human Development Center’s Services

Admission Policy Services provided by the Center offers a warm supportive safe environment while clinical staff address the individual needs and confront the behavioral and emotional symptoms The therapeutic services refer to the application of principles methods and procedures for understanding predicting and alleviating intellectual struggle emotional distress and psychological discomfort Supportive services training workshops and consultations are provided for an entire range of individuals families professional organizations and communitiesIndividual therapy couples and marital therapyMany students use individual therapy to address personal concerns in an atmosphere of warmth nonjudgmental and understanding Therapy allows students the opportunity to talk over what on hisher mind such as adjusting to new situations managing stress and difficulties in relationships anxiety depression anger grief family problems and personal identity Sometimes academic difficulties may reflect an underlying problem in one of these areasThere are different treatment modalities including but are not limited to cognitive behavior therapy behavioral management techniques insight therapy desensitization anxiety reduction assertiveness and social skills conflict management selfesteem and managing emotions to address students concerns and assist them in developing informed decision and choicesDuring the initial appointment and first therapy sessions the goal is to identify a central problem to focus on and develop a plan for the therapy Most students feel better after only a few sessions from learning new ways of looking at situations and new skills knowing they are capable of dealing with concerns and working toward solutions Family therapy for students families may be available according to the staffingTherapy ProcessTherapy sessions usually last minutes and are scheduled on a weekly basis In between appointments clients may work in various ways for example by observing themselves paying attention to their feelings and what leads to them talking with others and trying out new behaviorFor many problems shortterm treatment is accomplished in sessions However when there are multiple problems or problems which have persisted over a long period of time longer term treatment may be necessaryOngoing therapy is a negotiated process between the student and the therapist Both will evaluate the progress and periodically discuss the need for further appointmentsIf during the therapy individual has any questions about the therapy heshe could askThe information shared with the therapist is kept confidential except in rare instances where the therapist is required by law or by court order to reveal informationGroup TherapyMany people are hesitant at first about joining a group but quickly find that sharing their concerns with others hearing about other peoples similar experiences and giving and receiving emotional support can be very helpful Groups provide a variety of perspectives and allow members to try new behaviors in a safe environmentGroup therapy is a type of counseling that can be very effective in helping people solve problems and feel better about themselves and their lives Group therapy typically consists of four to ten students and two clinical staff who meet for about ninety minutes once a week All participants agree to keeping confidentiality about who is in the group and what is disclosed Groups may be the sole treatment or complement individual therapy Groups can also be a good way to continue to benefit from services after finishing individual therapy All potential members of a group meet with a group leader in advance for a screening interview The process helps to find a good fit between a student and a particular group Skills training groups and coaching are effective for teaching students to replace dysfunctional coping strategies with effective strategies Students learn to the necessary skills to regulate emotions avoid selfdestructive behaviors improve relationships and achieve an array of personal goals The following is a list of items of groups concernsExpressing thoughts and feelingsCoping with stressLearning to communicate betterSupporting othersFacing fearsIncreasing support systemControlling temperDecreasing social anxietyIncreasing motivationImproving personal relationshipsImproving moodLearning to manage emotionsLearning to stop procrastinationGetting better at making decisionsImproving academic performanceBecoming more independentReducing anxiety and worryBecoming more confidentTalking about family problemsLearning more about oneselfLearning to make and keep friendsWorking on social skillsPsychological evaluationsPsychological evaluation can provide useful information about an individuals personality and cognitive functioning through the use of standardized psychological testing It is directed toward diagnosing the nature and causes and predicting the effects of subjective distress of personal social and study difficulties or work dysfunction Procedures may include but not limited to interviewing administering and interpreting tests of intellectual abilities attitudes emotions motivations personality characteristics and other aspects of human experience and behavior relevant to the presenting problemsPsychological screening will be conducted as part of initial assessment and treatment planningIndividuals could be referred to the Center from a variety of campus departments for evaluation of a specific psychological concern eg does this student have a learning disability or What are the psychological issues related to this students experience of depressionBenefit of Psychological EvaluationPsychological testing provides clarity regarding important aspects of the personality and it more fully describes the symptoms and concerns to be addressed in treatmentOnce the evaluation is completed the results and recommendations will be discussed with the individualWorkshop ConsultationPsychological Services Staff may provide workshops consultations or training for different classes groups or organizations upon request from faculty staff members and students groups Every effort will be made to respond to such a requestPossible TopicsUnderstanding and Treating Eating DisordersManaging AnxietyStress ManagementAnger ControlCoping SkillsAssertivenessWomens Issues IncludingBody Image Concerns Selfesteem Challenges at Work and at Home TrainingThe Psychological Health and Human Development Center will establish a relationship with the local universities for the possibility of providing onsite practicum placements for doctoral students in clinical psychology and master degree students in counseling Practicum students receive supervised clinical experience matched to their training level They also participate in outreach programming training seminars and staff meetings The members of the Center will participate on weekly professional development seminars to discuss presentations and innovative treatment and evaluative techniquesCrisis and emergency servicesWhat is a CrisisStudent in crisis may experience any of the following thoughts or behaviors and feel like there is a need professional interventionUnable to stop crying Thoughts of hurting oneself Thoughts of hurting other people Have not eaten in a few days not due to illness Have not slept in a few days not due to illness Unable to go to classes not due to illness Unable to calm self down How to help someone in crisisTherapists are trained to handle crisis and emergency situations They can offer an individual who is struggling an opportunity to discuss hisher issues in a confidential atmosphere of safety and respect Most of the time the student may feel relieved once contact is made with a therapistAfter Hours HelpIf the crisis is serious and represents an immediate psychological emergency and it is after regular office hours after PM during the week or anytime during the weekend student can call a hot line phone number at the Campus office and heshe will be guided through the voice mail instruction to page the oncall therapist to assist himher with the emergency