Mental health, a critical concern on college campuses, affects one’s academic journey in ways that can permanently impact one’s experiences. ULM addresses this growing issue in multiple ways; these include the Self-Development, Counseling, and Special Accommodations Center; the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and many more.
According to Self-Development, Counseling, and Special Accommodations Center director Karen Foster, Ph.D., student usage of the program surged over recent semesters, with a 22% increase since the COVID-19 pandemic began. ULM created the Self-Development, Counseling and Special Accommodations Center to help students with disabilities succeed in life the same way their peers would. These services offered to students involve creating accommodation plans (504s) to make minor adjustments to their class structure to ease any challenges that students may experience. Common accommodations include extended time on tests, a copy of lecture notes made by the professor, permission to record lectures and many more.
Foster expresses confidence in the center’s staff’s ability to implement the vision for the program. “Our clinicians receive advanced training, follow ethical codes and rely on federal and state laws to guide them,” Foster said. “I could not ask for a more qualified, caring group of professionals to serve on our team.”
By providing a safe and confidential space, along with innovative approaches to mental health services, the Self-Development, Counseling, and Special Accommodations Center provides a valuable resource for the ULM community in addressing and lessening the broader challenges of mental health on a college campus.
Students with disabilities are not the only students who need assistance. Some might struggle with their courseload or making friends in an educational environment. ULM’s Marriage & Family Therapy Clinic offers counseling for individuals and families seeking support and growth through their college lives or in general. Jana Sutton, Ph.D., is the Program Director of Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Counseling Studies and licensed Sutton to research a variety of health-related topics. Her work with the MFT center involves ensuring that qualified staff are educated and ready to help anyone who walks through the door.
“Any of our distinguished faculty or staff would be delighted to assist you in learning more about our programs,” Sutton said. “Contact us today and find out more about our foundational and systemically oriented educational approaches to clinical practice, scholarship and ethics.”