Montevallo Counseling Center Impact THE GOAL OF UNIVERSITY OF MONTEVALLO COUNSELING SERVICES is to support the development and enhance the well-being of students through quality clinical services, crisis intervention, preventative mental health initiatives and programming and access to emergency resources. These are just a few examples of the many students who are helped each year. University of Montevallo Counseling Services has seen a drastic increase in student clients. 106% increase in the amount of students that received services over the last five years.
70% increase in the amount of sessions counselors conducted over the last five years.
WHILE THE NEED HAS INCREASED, THE STAFF SIZE AND RESOURCES HAVE REMAINED THE SAME. Utilizing UM’s Counseling Services can make the difference of a student staying in school. More importantly, many times it is the first and only resource for a student to access treatment for potentially serious illnesses. A few examples of how Counseling Services has served our students are found below. “I just really want to thank you for everything you have done for me. I literally wouldn’t be here without your help. I couldn’t focus in class and I was frustrated with myself. I am so happy that someone pointed me to you, because you were there for me when I thought things weren’t going to turn around,” — words of gratitude from a UM student client. Counseling Services worked with a student who didn’t have insurance and was diagnosed with severe anxiety and bipolar disorder. While working with the student, the staff members were able to help the student: • • • •
start and pay for on-going medication, figure out transportation to the doctor and work, get and maintain a job, graduate from UM.
Counseling Services also worked with a student who was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, had been hospitalized multiple times and had seen multiple doctors. Counseling Services was able to guide this student to a single psychiatrist, stabilize their symptoms and help them maintain academic progress and eventually graduate. Another student was diagnosed with depression. Their only home was the residence hall and only access to mental health was UM’s Counseling Services. This student had no support system and no relationship with their parents. During the first semester, the student got behind in classes and needed to withdraw. However, because withdrawing would mean being homeless and losing access to mental health, the student chose to stay and intentionally took all Fs. Counseling Services helped the student adjust their course load, develop a care plan and get off academic probation during the student’s second semester.