UF COUNSELING & WELLNESS CENTER
Annual Report20222021
2 2021-2022 welcome Contents WELCOME 3 COUNSELING SERVICES & CLINICAL DATA 6 OUTREACH & CONSULTATION 12 CRISIS & EMERGENCY RESPONSE 20 TRAINING PROGRAM 22 NEW STAFF 24
I am grateful to each member of the CWC team for their commitment, dedication, compassion, and courage as each of you have remained full participants in supporting our UF community. To our larger UF community, please accept our gratitude for your continued support.
In the spring of 2022, the Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) launched its 2022-2025 strategic plan after completing a comprehensive evaluation of its services and resources in partnership with the University of Florida Division of Student Life’s Assessment and Research office. Our key strategic areas of focus for the next three academic years are: Increase access to various modalities of care; intentionally weave opportunities for collaboration and partnerships; communicate for impact; and nurture a culture of self-empowerment. Our strategic goals take into account the evolving nature in the provision of counseling services both within higher education institutions and society at large.
With ERNESTOgratitudeESCOTO,
CWC Director
from the DIRECTOR
First of all, it is my sincere wish that you and your loved ones are safe and well.
PHD
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
UF CWC faculty and staff assist UF students cultivate their mental health and well-being in support of their personal, educational, and career development.
The 2021-2022 CWC annual report highlights the work of dozens of individuals who collaborate on a daily basis to assist UF students cultivate their mental health in support of their personal, educational, and career development. These daily efforts now reflect the quickly evolving nature of mental health services across the world. Most of CWC services are now offered in both in-person and telehealth
formats. In addition, UF students can now schedule a Brief Consultation and Referral (BCR) appointment through a confidential and secured web portal. We have launched a support program named, Gator-2-Gator, where students can connect with one of our trained student ambassadors for personal support and/or referral information about campus resources. And, our group program continues to flourish, offering close to 100 groups and workshops annually in a wide range of topics, including several offerings of the series Understanding Self & Others (e.g., for Graduate Students; Family of Origin; Feminism, Identity & Trauma; Black Graduate Students; Romantic Relationships; and, among others, Como Estas? a support group for Spanish speaking students).
PAPERWORK ALERTS & REFERRAL
Appointments attended Appointments scheduled
Paperwork alerts (paperwork flagged for possible follow up)
Theproviders.CWCworks
4 3,819.332,922.333,7895,0663,868
Hours
Clients served Hours attended Hours scheduled 224.33894
3,8683,868 &consultation referral
July 1, 2021 – June 27, 2022
APPOINTMENTSBCR
BRIEF CONSULTATION & REFERRAL (BCR)
BRIEF CONSULTATION
A brief consultation is a structured 20-30 minute meeting with a CWC mental health professional to gather information about a student’s concerns and goals. As part of the meeting, the Consultation and Referral Team (CART) suggests appropriate resources and next steps. We consider all CWC resources as we work to provide the best options for students’ unique situations. Additionally, the CART specialists may suggest other on-campus partners for coaching or tutoring, and may recommend off-campus providers when students could benefit from more specialized and/or longer-term care. Our case managers can provide students with additional, in-depth help and support in connecting to the right community
to serve as many students as possible, and we are always available to consult. However, during high-volume times, we may have a waitlist for our ongoing therapy services.
Consultation: Client: 61 appointments attended (29.58 hours)
Rebecca Lautenschlager,RobertsMED, EDS
Our case managers meet with students, assess their needs and goals, assist them in accessing appropriate resources, and follow up to ensure those resources are a good fit. Our case management team makes sure students have access to a wide range of local resources whether with mental health professionals at UF, in the Gainesville community, or in a student’s hometown. The CWC works to serve as many students as possible, and we are always available to consult. However, during high-volume times, we may have a waitlist for our ongoing therapy services
Michelle Langkop, MSED
567567 CASEAPPOINTMENTSCONSULTATIONMANAGEMENT
Jamie Edmondson, MED, EDS
3327 BCRs attended (2,510.33 hours, 3,274 clients); 4,312 scheduled
Kate Wrench , MED, EDS Savannah Tucker, MED, EDS Ange Noel, MED, EDS MEET OUR CART TEAM, also Joanna Roberts, MS
On Call Non Client consultation: 1,043 attended, 345.62 hours
Erika Long, MS, EDS Chelsea Tobias, MED, EDS
Ritzy Ettinger, MS
Haley Brown, MA
On Call Client Consultation: 871 appointments attended (420.60 hours, 687 clients)
Judah Cordovano, MSW
Zoom Consultation: Client: 247 appointments attended (154.50 hours)
At the CWC we have a team of highly trained clinical case managers to support students in finding mental health resources and services while addressing stressors in their lives that impact their mental health.
On Call Consultation re Client: 68 appts attended, 22.78 hours
Olivia K. Pitkethly, MA Andreea Cheva, MS
CASE MANAGEMENT
CONSULTATION & REFERRAL TEAM (CART):
6 ON CALL SERVICES 1,413 2022 2021 2020 On-Call Appointments 1,939 2,514 PSYCHIATRY @ CWC 1,0949,176 2022 2021 2020 Psychiatry Appointments Psychiatry Clients 7,7361,103 8,4661,083 GraduateSeniorJuniorSophomoreFreshman& Professional 5,367 STUDENTSSERVED 881827859729956SDS data = 4,401 forms CCAPS data = 4,239 formscounselingservices PRESENTING PROBLEMS AT INTAKE Clinical Data ALVIN LAWRENCE, PHD, CLINICAL DIRECTOR
CLIENT CONTACTS 20,2525,3676,6441,8436.49.40%56743,349Students served by CWC Individual counseling sessions Group and group related sessions Non-Client Consultations (students, faculty, staff, family, community members, etc.) Average number of individual counseling sessions per client % of enrolled students seen at CWC Case Manager Consultation Appointments Total number of appointments 2022 2021 2020 41,5059.40%17,0334,8226,4731,1526.81,337 41,53415,2385,3956,3249955.9983 APPOINTMENTS 43,34943,349As primary providers of mental health counseling services at the University of Florida, we aspire for every UF student to have timely access to quality care, prevention, and education. UF CWC at Peabody Hall UF CWC at Radio Road
8 COLLEGE OF PHARMACY 80Clients Served 2021Fall Spring2022 Summer2022 2021-22Total 70 34 184 HOUSING 303Individual Appointments 2021Fall Spring2022 Summer2022 2021-22Total 277 56 636 CIME 182 2021Fall Spring2022 Summer2022 2021-22Total 192 50 424Individual Appointments counselingservices AREAS IMPACTED NEGATIVELY BY COVID-19 Embedded counselors, Drs. Philip Daniels, Stephani Jahn and Brittani Hudson provided multiple trainings, facilitated support groups, workshops and presentations for Outreach Services. EMBEDDED COUNSELORS
To meet the ever-evolving needs of our students, the CWC offered several new groups this academic year. These include groups to support students struggling with anxiety (i.e. Anxiety Skills and Support, Calming Anxiety with Nature), substance use (Mindful Recovery) students of marginalized social identities (Understanding Self and Others: Black, Indigenous People of Color, Understanding Self and Others: LGBTQ+) and a number of groups to promote general student wellness (i.e., Wellness Support and Wellness Experiences Through the Body).
The CWC continued to offer a wide range of groups including psychoeducational and skills- focused groups (i.e. meditation, mindfulness, body based movement) geared to support students to better cope with specific concerns
Group Therapy
related to anxiety, stress, ADD/ADHD, body image and/or self-esteem. Other group offerings focused on providing emotional support and interpersonal learning and growth. These offerings were both general and specific to either a particular student population (i.e., international status, graduate-level, Black women+, LGBTQ, transgender and Spanish speaking) or a specific mental health related concern (i.e. grief, sexual assault, eating and body image, substance use, and more).
GROUP COUNSELING SERVICES 2,203.51913214Total Number of Counseling Groups Total Clients Receiving Group Services Total Client Hours Provided in a Group Counseling Setting Number of Groups Co-Lead by a Trainee 2021Fall Spring2022 Summer2022 2,875.5244409 2021-22Total 856901810 5,9355259033
The CWC continues to be one of the leading providers of group counseling in collegiate mental health. As with other collegiate programs, the ongoing global pandemic (i.e. COVID-19) continued to significantly impact group offerings. While the CWC re-introduced in-person groups to the campus, this number was limited due to fluctuating infection rates and concerns about safety given that our group services require extended close contact indoors. Given this, the majority of the CWC’s group offerings for this academic term were conducted through an online platform. During the 2021-2022 academic year the CWC provided 90 groups. Research indicates that group counseling and individual counseling have equivalent outcomes, and for many presenting concerns, group counseling is the treatment of choice. Group counseling also allows the CWC to help more students than we could if we solely offered individual therapy. Likewise, offering groups both in person and online increased UF student’s access to quality mental health services.
The CWC Groups had an average of 4.89 members in attendance at each session. During the academic year, the CWC logged over 2,620 more client hours than if each group leader saw 2 individual clients instead for the same time period!
ANALESA CLARKE, PHD : GROUPS COORDINATOR
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WHO AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED
counselingservices
This robust group program allows more UF students to be seen for therapy, provides them the best treatment fit for their concerns, and offers a form of treatment not easily accessible in the community or at other counseling centers. 73% of students who attended group attended at least sessions or 10.5 hours of group therapy, with groups being offered for upwards to 16 sessions a semester!
The group counselors created a safe and supportive group environment I felt engaged and participated as much as I wanted to Group improved my ability to communicate and interact with others Group helped me learn ways to work through my problems I am satisfied with the quality of my group experience Given my experience, I would recommend group to other UF students Group improved my overall well-being 499% 496% 498% 493% 497% 498% 497%
What clients are saying about group...
“Being vulnerable and asking for help is difficult but talking through my concerns with other people really improved my ability to take control of my mental health.”
“I learned that I have more in common with others that I thought.”
WHAT OTHER FEEDBACK WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE?
WHAT ASPECTS WERE THE MOST HELPFUL?
“It helped me to have a safe space to practice being vulnerable around others and being able to share experiences with my peers.”WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF FROM THE GROUP EXPERIENCE?
“Having a designated safe space to share things that were weighing on my mind.”
“…I really got a lot out of this group and couldn’t have asked for a better experience!”
At the end of each semester, students who have attended group therapy are provided an opportunity to evaluate their group experience. At the completion of the academic year, 176 group members from 60 Fall and Spring semester groups completed evaluations about their group therapy experience. Here are some highlights:
“…having a place to talk about things related to our daily lives and our families were extremely helpful to have every week, and I grew to wanting to attend group more and more as the weeks went on.”
“Havinghelp.”aspace to talk about things that I otherwise would not be able to, connecting with people similar to me, gaining a sense of community.”
“I learned that I am not the problem in these spaces. I internalized a lot of systemic issues, but I recognized that I was not at fault through the group.”
“[Having] my eyes opened to the fact that I’m not the only person struggling, and that struggle is just a part of the human experience was very helpful - I viewed my group experience as finally getting my foot in the door in terms of seeking mental health
“Communication skills and how I relate to other people.”
“Through group I was able to process my emotions about what happened in a deeper way that improved my quality of life and made me appreciate myself and my body more.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you! I loved meeting and hearing from all of my group members, and I hold you all in a very near and dear place in my heart.”
“Just thanks for everyone at the CWC. It’s wonderful we have you all to help.”
“I learned that I am brave and that I can stand up for myself when needed and that I speak my mind.
“I learned my blind spots and how to self-validate and build self-confidence.”
“I think [the Trans Empowerment] group is absolutely vital for trans people... I have loved every moment I have been a part of this group, and the guidance it has given me has made a real difference in my life.”
“Being able to open up about vulnerable and private topics to a group of people that always showed me compassion and comfort taught me the importance of dissecting my feelings to successfully face them. The group and their support helped me improve my self-confidence and their advice has now placed me on the road to improve the way I see myself and my worth.”
“[Sacred Space: Black Women+] group was extremely helpful in providing support as a Black student. There were a lot of times in my education at UF when I felt invisible, invalidated, and ostracized. Some days, this group felt like my only safe space on campus.”
“I learned how easy it is to think your alone.. and how much your actually not alone.”
12 14,4982,5822802218238451457119,465Academic Faculty, Staff and/or Administration Combined Campus and External Community Division of Student Affairs Unit/Staff External Community Family Members Other Campus Community (non-DSA, nonacademic, non-student, ex. UPD, Library) Professional Org (non-UF, ex. NAMI, NFPA) Student or Student Org Total PEOPLE APPOINTMENTS HOURS 6985732053310341211 929.4225.508.2563.7510.7543.671418.50745 ROSA WEST, PHD : OUTREACH & CONSULTATION DIRECTOR From 2021-2022, CWC reached 19,465campus and community stakeholders. This was a 50% increase (from FY 2020-2021) in the provision of mental-health related outreach services provided for the University of Florida and surrounding community. OUTREACH DATA consultation&outreachOUTREACH PORVIDED TO CWC REACHED CAMPUS & STAKEHOLDERSCOMMUNITY 20,00015,00010,0005,0000 19,46519,465 9,0829,082 2020-2021 2021-2022
“It was a really great event”
• Supportive circles
Wellness Events
• Mental Health-related workshops and presentations
“I think this is great how it is! I am looking forward to lunch and I am really glad there were online offerings too as it allowed me to attend the workshop I was interested in! Thanks for your time and efforts in creating this space!”
Students
• Art Therapy
“Providing this space for UF faculty and staff is wonderful. Thank you.”
BLACK WELLNESS DAY
On October 7, 2021 the CWC, in collaboration with the Office of Black Affairs hosted its first Black Wellness Day Event. Black Wellness Day was a day created to promote and encourage mental and emotional wellness practices among the UF Black Community through provision of workshops, presentations, and resources which included:
• Individual mental health “check-ins” and consultations with a counselor
• Psychoeducation programming on topics racial trauma, self-care, grief, various types of therapy, etc.
• Yoga & other meditation practices
During Black Wellness Day, students participated in such events as “Melanin & Music: Wellness Edition”, “Sacred Space: A Healing Space for Black Folks”, “Black Folx Need Rest Too”, “Co-Creating: Sharing a Meaningful Space”, and a “Drumming Circle for Healing”. And, over the course of the event, over 200 Black students, faculty, and staff participated. commented...
&outreach consultation STUDENTSSERVED 14,62614,626
CWC’s workshops and presentations program provides UF students, faculty and staff an opportunity to learn new skills to strengthen personal resilience, develop healthy self-care habits, and grow their mental health awareness. Topics include (but are not limited to), “Overcoming Procrastination”, “Understanding Imposter Syndrome”, “Coping with Anxiety”, “Time Management”, and “Riding Emotional Waves”. This year the CWC offered 480 workshops & presentations, serving 14,626 students, faculty, and staff.
Programs & Resources
WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS
CWC’s Ask-It! is an online program that allows students to ask mental health questions and have them answered by a CWC associate. “Ask It!” provides responses to a range of inquiries, such as when to ask for help, how to manage day-to-day stress, how to support a fellow Gator, existing resources for addressing mental health concerns, etc. This year Ask-It responded to 115 mental health related questions from UF Students.
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CWC’S ASK-IT!
JUNE 2021-MAY 2022
“It’s tough being away from my family for so long since this semester they are unable to visit me. I also miss my friends back home. I love UF but it sucks that it’s so far away from my hometown.”
June 2021-May 2022: 20 episodes released, 4,667 downloads
LETTERS OF CARE
CWC TALKS PODCAST
CWC TALKS DOWNLOADSPODCAST
“Feeling lonely and anxious about not doing enough, both socially and career-wise”
“I would love to know some everyday habits that could help me boost my mood when I have bouts of depression. What would you suggest might be helpful?”
CWC’s Letters of Care (LOC) program is a unique way for Gators to connect with peers and receive compassion, support, and understanding from a fellow student. LOC was developed as an opportunity for UF students to receive asynchronous peer support from a UF students trained in emotional support and helping skills. UF students can submit a request for a letter of care which is responded to by one CWC’s AWARE Ambassadors. Over the past year, the LOC program has received 143 letter of care requests from UF students.
4,667
“Been struggling with my depression since the first week of classes along with my anxiety and I’ve been struggling to get out of bed and go to class because of it.”
Our CWC Care Bears provide responses to submissions like…
Most popular: The World of ADHD, Part 1 Time Management and Sleep Habits Addiction, Substance Abuse and College Is There an Antidote for Shame?
The CWC Podcast is devoted to honest conversations about mental health and wellness, in college and beyond. Episodes for CWC Talks feature a variety of topics relevant to undergraduate and graduate students, from managing anxiety, coping with difficult emotions, to developing resources for hard times. To date, the CWC has released 58 episodes covering such topics as “Nutrition & Mental Health”, “Graduate Students & Mental Health”, “What does it mean to be a First-Generation Student”, and “The World of ADHD”.
“As a 4th year, I’m feeling a lot of stress about what comes next after I leave UF. I often am afraid of rejection and failure in my next steps. I’m having trouble feeling confident in my own abilities.”
From March 21 – 25, 2022, the AWARE Ambassadors hosted UFisAWARE Week a week-long event designed to raise awareness about mental health at the University of Florida. Each day students were able to “Zoom-in” or drop by in person to participate in mental health-related activities, receive information, and participate in giveaways. Over UFisAWARE Week, the ambassadors reached over 170 UF students who participated in: Healthy Habits, Keep growing (activity with plants), Multicultural Mental Health, Coping Mechanisms and Tie-Dye Fri-Dye.
UFISAWARE WEEK
consultation&outreach
AWARE UNDERGRADUATE AMBASSADORS
AWARE is CWC’s mental health ambassador program. In 2021-2022, we had 49 ambassadors raising mental health awareness on campus through tabling, presentations, social media interaction and workshops. This includes two new AWARE signature presentations on “Procrastination” and “Perfectionism”.
EBONY OKAFOR, PHD, Oureach Coordinator
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Ambassadors Program
•
Ambassadors were able to engage in tabling at the 6th annual Graduate Student Appreciation hosted by the Graduate school.
FALL WELLNESS FAIR
Meilin BradTymber Lindsay
•
•
Fall 2021 saw the launching of new branch of the AWARE ambassador program, AWARE Grad. AWARE Grad was developed to advocate for the mental health awareness and wellbeing of graduate and professional students here at the university and provide a supportive space for professional development. In Spring 2022 there were four graduate ambassadors accepted. Ambassadors began developing programming that will be shared with the campus community in Fall 2022. Signature presentations will include: Boundaries & Balance Building Community Mental Health Literacy
LAUNCHING OF AWARE GRAD
On November 9th, 2021 AWARE Ambassadors collaborated with various campus stakeholders and student organizations to provide a Fall Wellness Fair where they were able to reach over 125 UF students. Students were able to interact and learn about each resource present at the fair. AWARE ambassadors encouraged students to complete mental health related arts and crafts activities and provided giveaways.
CWC NEWSLETTER
an effort to expand opportunities to inform and educate UF students, faculty, and staff, the CWC launched a new Newsletter which provides updates on CWC services, announces upcoming mental health programming (e.g., workshops, presentations, CWC Talks episodes, etc.), and shares resources. We currently have 604 subscribers. PAGEWEBSITEVIEWS NEWWEBSITEUSERS 2021-2022 (7/1/21-6/30/22) YOUTUBEVIEWS FOLLOWERSFACEBOOK ALL TIME (CURRENT) FOLLOWERSINSTAGRAM 2,3606,170374,49363,012 101,164 #UFCWC
18 &outreach consultation Promotion of Services SOCIAL MEDIA & OUR WEBSITE
In
• About how many students can the CWC support via individual counseling? Group counseling?
SHU-YI WANG, PHD, UFGIFT Coordinator
• What are some resources for distance students?
UF GIFT is a collaborative effort among campus partners who interact with international students on a regular basis, with the goal of supporting international students through providing consultations, holding workshops, facilitating cross-departmental communications, and identifying needs and challenges. This year, UF GIFT has continued to offer new outreach programs based on students’ needs, such as inviting international students to play pool in the Reitz Union, creating a casual space for international students to mingle (i.e., International Tea Time), extending support to F-2 spouses, and participating in International Education Week.
The CWC launched a new outreach campaign, “Ask-Me-Anything”, to reach UF students using the networking community Reddit. This year Outreach hosted three (3) AMA’s on Reddit to answer student questions about the Counseling & Wellness Center, address mental-health related inquiries, and connect students to helpful resources.
STUDENTSSERVED 201 OUTREACHHOURS 43.34 2021-2022 (8/15/21-7/6/22)
UF GATOR INTERNATIONAL FOCUS TEAM (UFGIFT)
CWC ASK-ME-ANYTHING (AMA) ON REDDIT
Students asked questions like:
• Will there be any mindfulness courses at UF this coming spring?
• What are your favorite virtual workshops currently offered?
Examples of groups trained include but are not limited to: Housing student staff, Greek life leadership, undergraduates through various classes, and College of Pharmacy. QPR GROUP TRAINING Crisis & Emergency Response TRAININGSQPR 17 TRAINEDPEOPLE 449 2021-2022 PROTOCALLHOURSAFTER CRISIS & EMERGENCY SERVICES TYPE OF CONTACT 4,0191,0898436654,8441,0901,320894512 2022 2021 Non-Client Emergency Consultation Appointments Client Emergency Consultation Appointments Reviews of Concerning Paperwork Scheduled After-HourBCRsConsultations Provided by ProtoCall 512 emergency&crisis
MEGGEN SIXBEY, PHD
The CWC’s Crisis and Emergency Response service is an emergency consultation service providing faculty and staff walk-in emergency service for students and crisis and behavioral-health training for Student Life, academic and public safety personnel. Additionally this service administers and implements the emergency counseling and behavioral health components of the UF Disaster Plan and maintains the Florida State University Systems’s Counsling Center Mutual Aid Agreement. This agreement articulates a system for providing immediate and/or short term assistance among Florida’s 13 student counseling centers in the event of a man-made tragedy or natural disaster that overwhelms their resources.
SUNIE KIM, PHD
The program goal is to train Gatekeepers (faculty, staff, and students) to effectively recognize and refer persons in distress to campus and community resources. Faculty, staff, and students are ideal Gatekeepers since they are in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide. By the end of the QPR Training a Gatekeeper should be able to recognize the warning signs of suicide and apply three steps (question, persuade, and refer) with individuals in distress.
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At UF, it is our shared responsibility to look out for one another and we are here to support you help distressed students. The UF Counseling and Wellness Center offers a free online resource, Kognito, to help you notice when students show signs of stress.
KOGNITO, TRAINING
Between 7/1/2021 – 6/30/2022: “KOGNITO AT-RISK” TRAINING COMPLETED BY FACULTY & STAFF 6,609
In 2019 the Florida Board of Governors required FL SUS to have Kognito on their campuses for faculty to take. Over 3,000 UF students completed Kognito training to learn to identify and support peers in distress..
KOGNITO is a free online training simulation course to learn effective techniques to help and refer
Our psychology internship program is designed to facilitate the transition from student to professional through training seminars, supervision and clinical experiences. For the 2021-2022 academic year our program received 88 applications from across the US and Canada for 5 positions. Virtually all interns complete their internship with job placement across the country, in both academic and practice settings. This year our interns secured jobs at several sites including, The University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, group private practices, and the Veteran’s Recovery Resources.
INTERNS ADV PRAC TOTAL training1,671397146 81615912 100 471 571
The CWC’s training program is an integral part of our mission at UF. We strive to develop counselors and psychologists who are competent, highly ethical, and culturally sensitive. Our program utilizes competency and standards based training and requires participants to observe principles of cultural humility and inclusivity. Most of our trainees are UF students completing clinical requirements for their degree.
PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
22 Hours OutreachesGroups/couplesIndividual Trainees Service 2021-22 Hours INTERNS PRAC/ADV PRAC Testing/Assessment Training
NATASHA MAYNARD-PEMBA, PHD TRAINING DIRECTOR
Mallory Almengual
Perez2021-2022 PSYCHOLOGY INTERNS 2021-2022 PSYCHOLOGY INTERNS
Elizabeth McInerney
April Berry
2021-2022 PRACTICUM: Rachel Leder, Brittany Bridges, Jules Sostre, Gabriel Lockett and Gianella
We strive to develop counselors and psychologists who are competent, highly ethical, and culturally sensitive. PRACTICUM & ADVANCED PRACTICUM We also have thriving doctoral practicum/advanced practicum and master’s specialist internship programs that serve UF’s academic needs by providing Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology students a high-quality training environment to complete their experiential requirements. This year we had several part-time student positions, which included: 5 Practicum, 7 Generalist Advanced Practicum, 8 Testing Advanced Practicum, and 14 Group Advanced Practicum students.
Ankita Nikalje
Christine Fuston
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS
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TRAINING DURING A PANDEMIC
For the fifth consecutive year, a team consisting of the current academic years’ psychology interns and two supervising faculty, continued a year-long consultation relationship with staff at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Counselling Services. training
CONTINUING EDUCATION & TEACHING ON CAMPUS
The CWC training program has continued to modify and adapt to the needed changes with delivering counseling services during a pandemic. Our trainees were able to experience providing individual and group counseling via telehealth and in person modalities. In addition, advanced practicum testing students completed assessments via a hybrid model.
The CWC sponsored 5 CE workshops for on-going staff professional development: Clinical and Forensic Issues in Pathological Bias and Hate Violence, Isms & Schisms: Addressing Race & Racism In Our Groups Through Anti-Racism, Trauma Informed with Intentionality: TraumaInfluenced Neurophysiological Narratives and The Counseling Relationship, The Highly Sensitive Person: An Introduction CE, and Chapter 490 Mandatories (Intimate Partner Violence in Diverse Communities, Suicide Risk Assessment: Common Medical Errors, & Suicide and Homicide Risk Assessment and Management: Laws, Rules, and Ethics).
processes and procedures. In addition, interns offered professional training workshops to deepen the clinical staff’s knowledge on specific mental health interventions (i.e., somatics and contemplative practices, and creative therapy interventions).
The training program at the CWC continues to actively participate in creating a more inclusive and culturally mindful campus community. Interns engage in a capstone experiential project, which involves providing ongoing consultation with professionals and communities in Jamaica. The project is primarily geared to expand intern’s cultural mindfulness and competence in professional consultation beyond the US context. The intern’s engagement in the project also often results in gained competence in psychology’s profession-wide and our program-specific competencies (Professional Values, Attitudes, and Behaviors; Communication and Interpersonal Skills, Individual and Cultural Diversity, Ethical Legal Standards, Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills, Assessment, Intervention, Organizational Consultation, Research, Supervision, Outreach). This capstone experience is supervised by two of the CWC’s clinical faculty - Drs. Analesa Clarke and Natasha Maynard-Pemba.
For the fifth consecutive year, a team consisting of the current academic years’ psychology interns and two supervising faculty, continued a year-long consultation relationship with staff at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Counselling Services. These efforts culminated in a cross-cultural immersive experience in which interns and the supervising faculty traveled to Jamaica to engage the staff in center-wide initiatives and strategies. These strategies assisted the center in addressing complex student needs and the center’s overwhelming clinical demands. Interns provided professional guidance and recommendations on how to incorporate single session therapy in the center’s offerings as well as ways to increase the efficiency of the center’s administrative
At the end of the academic year, interns shared their experience of the project with the CWC staff, highlighting the impact of their efforts as well as realizations and insights they gained. Likewise, they engaged the staff in a discussion regarding the impact on their understanding of social justice, diversity, and community outreach. Interns have noted the transformative nature of this training experience, especially as it relates to expanding their ability to practice cultural mindfulness. Many noted salience of their worldview, increased awareness of biases, and increased ability to engage in more culturally sensitive clinical practice.
The CWC internship program and advising faculty have been invited to return on an annual basis to work with the UWI Counselling Services’ team to expand on the current initiatives to further increase their capability to address clinical demand and address emerging needs. The interns and supervising faculty will continue to disseminate relevant information and skills to the broader CWC staff, trainees and other UF staff involved in direct student service. Increasing staff’s cultural sensitivity and mindfulness has a profound impact on interactions, retention and efficacy (i.e. improved communication, understanding and perceptions of support) for a diverse range of students. And thus, this is another way that the CWC hopes to contribute to creating a more inclusive environment in the Gator community.
5TH ANNUAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM OUTREACH IN JAMAICA
staffnew
Nakesha Upshaw Outreach &SupportCommunications
Rebecca Roberts, MED, EDS
La Toya Wanton Clinical Services Support
CWC welcomed 4 Support Staff members, 7 Student Workers, 1 Case Manager, 4 Consultation and Referral Team Specialists, 6 PhD counselors
UF
welcome NEW STAFF
Peggy AdministrativeTrudeauSupport
26 CARTSUPPORT-Consultation and Referral Team Specialists CASESusannahMANAGEMENTJefferyAdministrativeSupport
Ange Noel, MED, EDS Andrea Cheva, MED, EDS JamieMED,Edmondson,EDS
Gina Marie Russo, MS EDS
Mercedes Machado, PHD Nicolas Williams, PHD Taylor Morris, PHD
COUNSELORS
Kelsea Visally, PHD Billy Palmer, PHD Brittani Hudson, PHD
At the CWC, we value diversity and recognize the unique challenges students may face based on one’s race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, size, marital status, national origin, political opinions/affiliations, genetic information, veteran status, and the many other ways one might identify.
3190 RADIO counseling.ufl.eduFax:Tel:GAINESVILLE,ROAD,FL32611352-392-1575352-273-4738 about OUR CENTER At the Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC) we believe that the college years are a time for change, growth, inquiry, and development. We strive to help students learn the skills to cope with the stresses of change and growth so they are better able to learn and thrive after their time as a student is over.
