Personal Counseling at CUNY: An Analysis

CUNY Division of Student Affairs

Amy Daley

CUNY Clinical Psychology Research Fellow

April 17, 2008

Why look at counseling centers?

VA Tech and other campus tragedies highlight the need: to identify students who need help to make help available as quickly and effectively as

possible

A New Era for University Counseling

Students under medication Students with more severe illness American Disabilities Act 8.5% of enrolled students sought

counseling nationwide (National Survey of Counseling Center Directors 2007)

Research

Research: Data Collection

The Central Office of Student Affairs has undertaken the task of studying the counseling centers on each campus. Fall 2007 – implemented Medical Withdrawal Policy Fall 2007 – surveyed 20 CUNY counseling center

directors on mental health issues Spring 2008 – collected evaluations of new CUNY

clinical psychology fellowship program Spring 2008 – surveyed Public Safety and Counseling

staff on crisis management policy

Research ResultsHistorical Structure

AcademicCounseling

PersonalCounseling

Research ResultsActual Interplay

Academic Counseling

Office ofDisabilityServices

PublicSafety

MedicalHealthcare

Student Affairs

Mental Healthcare

Research ResultsCrisis Management Survey Gaps in communication regarding students of

concern For example, counseling center may not inform Student Affairs about

voluntary hospitalizations due to concerns over confidentiality

Respondents rated knowledge about crisis management poorly relative to other ratings knowledge of who is managing crisis: 3.88 out of 5 clarity of crisis management procedure: 3.79 out of 5 getting timely information about crisis: 3.78 out of 5

Research ResultsCrisis Management Survey Following up with students who are at risk was a

concern. set student requirements such as counseling: 3.86 out of 5 enforce requirements are met before readmit: 3.75 out of 5 share such information with other depts: 3.40

out of 5 share information if student transfers: 3.42

out of 5

Research ResultsCrisis Management Survey

Public Safety 4.62 out of 5 Student Affairs 4.35 out of 5 Counseling Center 4.05 out of 5 Health Services 4.00 out of 5 Disability Services 3.94 out of 5 Faculty 3.17 out of 5

Overall Performance during CrisisPlease assess how well a crisis is managed on your campus by each of the following departments:

Counseling Director Survey: Problems with Referral Process?

Counseling Director Survey: Referral concern # 1 - Financial burden

Counseling Director Survey: Referral Concern #2 - Follow Up

Analysis

AnalysisStages in Student CareOne student’s path can be broken down into 5 stages

Identify Diagnose

Treat

Refer Out

Follow Up

AnalysisStage 1: Identify Increase training to

“front-line” staff: Kognito pilot

Explore self-identification at registration

Could we develop an Intervention Team?

FacultyPublic Safety

Office of Disability Services

Counseling Center

Student Affairs

AnalysisRemaining Stages: some ideas Stage 2: Diagnose

Have Counseling Center inform Intervention Team of all hospitalizations

Stage 3: Treat Standardize quality/duration of options across campuses

Stage 4: Refer out Address issues with affordability and follow-up

Stage 5: Follow Up Address concerns with confidentiality Explore Fit-to-Return option

AnalysisIncreasing the Clinical Component Clinical Psychology Fellowship Program began 2007 Joint effort

Student Affairs (VC Garrie Moore) CUNY Clinical Psychology doctoral program (Dr. Elliot Jurist) Graduate Center (VP Matt Schoengood)

Meets the needs of both our students and our centers Overall rating by supervisors: 4.5 out of 5 Overall rating by fellows: 4.25 out of 5

Enhances the clinical side of the counseling centers

Summary – Key Points

Form CUNY-wide task force to engage on this topic led by a senior official

Create intervention team at each campus with members from key departments such as Student Affairs, Counseling, Public Safety, Disability Services, Faculty

Address issues in each stage of student care: Identify, Diagnose, Treat, Refer, Follow Up