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 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 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, 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. Emergency coverage for housing is rotated and shared amongst staff, interns and post-docs.
Supervision of Supervision
The Counseling Psychology Department offers first year Ph.D. students a practicum through the Counseling 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 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 Center are offered an Initial Assessment (clinical interview) and given the Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI-A). 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.
Life Skills Program
The Life Skills Program addresses students' needs directly related to academic difficulties. Programs have been developed to assist students deficient in fundamental learning skills and those who wish to be more effective in their academic techniques. Additionally, students who are seeking assessment with stress-related issues are offered help through the Stress Management component of the Life Skills program. The Center has a Life Skills Lab that contains services ranging from biofeedback to study skills trainings. Interns will be trained to provide outreach programming in these areas.
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 Center but the University as a whole. Interns are expected to be part of these meetings.
Research
Interns are offered the opportunity to choose a training faculty research mentor who can help them plan, conduct and analyze research questions. Meetings are formally scheduled as needed or about once a month. 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 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, videotape equipment is installed in each intern office. Videotape equipment is also available in the group therapy rooms. A professional library includes a modest 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.
