Service Activities
Individual Psychotherapy
As is usual in counseling center settings, the mode of service requiring a major proportion of time is individual counseling and psychotherapy. This area is also the major focus for individual supervision. At the Counseling and Testing Center, approximately 1,000 students present themselves for counseling annually. Approximately half of these have a personal, interpersonal, and/or emotional concern as their presenting problem. A large proportion of these students are provided individual counseling and psychotherapy. Both long and short term approaches are utilized. Theoretical orientations include interpersonal, object-relations, systems, psychodynamic, experiential, cognitive, humanistic, existential, and phenomenological. Client concerns are often conceptualized from a developmental perspective, where development is understood to occur across the life span. Additionally, the cultural identities of clients are acknowledged, supported and, where appropriate, addressed within the therapeutic relationship.
Group Therapy
A number of interpersonal process-oriented therapy groups and theme-oriented groups are offered each semester. Some students are placed in groups upon the recommendation of their initial assessments or individual counselors; other students actively seek a personal group experience at the time of their first contact. Since the group modality is an important one, it is expected that each intern will co-lead one such group during the internship year. Interns have the opportunity to facilitate groups with staff members.
Couples Therapy
(Optional) Entire families are not seen at the Counseling and Testing Center. However, given the higher proportion of students who are married or living together, there is opportunity for couples counseling. Interns who have an interest in this area will be supported in including couples within his/her caseloads.
Crisis Intervention
When students present themselves for assistance, they are usually asked to complete some data sheets. Next they are scheduled for an initial assessment or Intial Cosultaion or, if in crisis, they are seen for an emergency appointment by the triage counselor on call. Staff covers back-up emergency and triage for four hours a day. Interns cover emergencies for eight hours per week. Full time post-docs cover eight hours of emergency each week.
Supervision of Supervision
The GSU Counseling Psychology Department and other university counseling/clinical programs offers first year Ph.D. students and advanced level doctoral level students a practicum through the Counseling and Testing Center for 2 semesters beginning in August. Each qualified intern has an opportunity to supervise at least one practicum student. Each practicum student carries a caseload of approximately 7-8 clients. Interns are matched with the students by the practicum coordinators who take training needs into consideration. In addition two other practica are offered through the Center: an Advanced Multicultural Practicum and an Advanced Trauma Practicum. Interns may be assigned as supervisors of either practicum if they are so qualified.
Psycho-educational Outreach
Georgia State University has recognized the importance of responding to the essential developmental tasks required to produce well-rounded individuals. The Counseling and Testing Center assumes an integral part of that educational system which strives to prepare students to take their place as productive citizens in a sophisticated society. The mission of the Counseling Center supports our efforts to provide prevention and intervention/remediation programs.
Although the primary thrust of the psychological/educational program is toward prevention of emotional and psychological discomfort, the faculty and the staff strive to take an additional step; this step is toward mental health, not just normal functioning. Healthy adjustment is more than the absence of stress. It also allows individuals to reach their potential in their various life enterprises.
Our primary themes for outreach are crisis/trauma, anxiety and stress, academic achievement/study skills, and managing emotions/depression/anger. We also provide programs in collaboration with other units on campus on alcohol and drugs, sexual assault and awareness, health and wellness, diversity, careers/majors and conflict resolution. Interns are expected to participate in several outreach programs over the course of the year.
Psychodiagnostic Testing
Students who seek services at the Counseling and Testing Center are offered an Initial Assessment (clinical interview) and given the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI). Interns will be trained in both assessments in Orientation. Additional assessments may be given to clients depending on their clinical needs and the therapist's clinical judgment.
Mind-Body Program
Stress is a part of every student's daily life. Leaving home or commuting daily; managing finances; living with roommates; and juggling work, classes, and relationships all contribute to the normal stress of being a student. In addition, it is not uncommon for students to feel stressed and anxious about wasting time, meeting high standards, or being lonely. Stress can also come from exciting or positive events. Falling in love, preparing to study abroad, or buying a car can be just as stressful as less-happy events. No matter where your stress is coming from, you are not alone. The Mind-Body Program is a Counseling and Testing Center sponsored program designed to address students’ difficulties related to stress. Its purpose is to improve and promote well-being of GSU students through services focused on development of stress management and general coping skills.
Administration Program Development and Evaluation
Through weekly administrative meetings for the entire staff, interns have the opportunity to learn about program development, program evaluation and administrative issues facing not only the Counseling and Testing Center but the University as a whole. Interns are expected to be part of these meetings.
Research
For interns who are working on dissertation research, the faculty tries to be supportive without infringing on the role of the student's formal dissertation committee. One area in which interns are often helped is in the initial development of an idea from concept to research design and initial proposal. Some interns use Counseling and Testing Center clients as subjects; this is approved and coordinated by the Research Committee. Members of the testing staff help with questions of statistics and data processing. It is the staff's expectation that each intern will complete the dissertation by the end of the internship.
Technical Support
A separate private office is provided to each intern. These offices are furnished with a desk, chairs, file cabinets and bookcases. In addition, a web cam is installed in each intern office. Web cams are also available in the group therapy rooms. A professional library includes a growing selection of books and journals which supplements the offerings of the main university library. Every intern also has a computer in his/her office with access to the local area network and the internet.