Counseling and Psychological Services Expands and Evolves with Student Needs

Counseling and Psychological Services, and Columbia Health overall, have a longstanding commitment to meeting the broad and diverse needs of the Columbia student community.

During the 2015-16 academic year, CPS continued to build on this commitment through the planned addition of 10new clinicians to its staff. The new hires included psychologists and psychiatrists, whose clinical backgrounds and therapeutic interests include: gender and sexual identity, veterans’ issues, and international students. Moreover, many of the new hires are multi-lingual. CPS currently has clinicians who offer therapy in 15 different languages.   

Working in tandem with student groups such as The Mental Health Taskforce and MilVets, CPS has strived to respond to the critical needs of students. The growth and varying expertise in CPS has allowed the organization to expand on its popular support groups and workshops that focus on topics such as: diversity, procrastination, LGBTQ issues, distress tolerance, body image concerns, relationships, and trauma, among others. In 2016, a new support group dedicated to the experiences of student veterans was also established, now led by a VA trained clinician. Also new in 2016 was a Men of Color support group.

To accommodate the growth in staff and services, CPS expanded its office space to the 5th floor of Lerner Hall. During the summer of 2016, Capital Project Management worked with CPS to renovate the space, creating clinician offices and a dedicated group therapy room. The new space also allowed CPS to add Lerner Hall to the list of its popular drop-in counseling locations, offering flexible, extended late evening support for students at various points on campus. The Lerner Hall 5th floor suite is fully accessible to those with mobility issues.  

In collaboration with the Mental Health Taskforce, CPS introduced a text message system for these drop-in offices. Students can sign in to be alerted when a clinician in the drop-in office is available to see them.

CPS will continue to ensure its staff reflect the dynamic and diverse student body and evolves with its needs, with new staff and programming planned for 2016-17. This is part of a larger vision within all of Columbia Health as the organization looks to the future -- ensuring that students have access to the resources and care needed to support their health and well-being, adjusting and growing services as defined by vital student needs.