COUNSELING CENTER ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023
CONTENT 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13
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MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS TIMELYCARE CLINICAL OUTCOMES CLIENT EXPERIENCE SURVEY OUTCOMES GROUP SERVICES OUTREACH, PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, AND CONSULTATION TRAINING STAFF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD
University of South Florida
®
| COUNSELING CENTER
MESSAGE FROM THE COUNSELING CENTER DIRECTOR
SCOTT STRADER, PHD
Director, Counseling Center
The Tampa campus Counseling Center was honored to continue providing an array of mental health and wellness services to the USF community this year. As we continued to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and students returned to a busy and vibrant campus, we met our community’s mental health needs by flexibly providing individual and group counseling services, outreach, mental health prevention and consultation services timely, efficiently, and effectively. We remained responsive to immediate needs on-campus, served students with minimal wait times for initial appointments, and provided services both in-person and via secure telehealth videoconferencing. Meeting the needs of students is not without challenge: students present with increasingly acute concerns, and the rising shortage of mental health services in our communities has made recruitment and retention of qualified counselors especially difficult this year. Still, amidst these headwinds, the Counseling Center continues to develop innovative and effective solutions to the varying mental health concerns of our diverse community. Thank you for continuing to trust us with your mental health needs.
Go Bulls!
Counseling Center | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023 3
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY We provided individual counseling services to students with minimal wait times. Students continued to have access to mental health services without extended delays. Over three-quarters of requests for routine mental health services were scheduled within 14 days of the request, even when preferences for time of day and provider are accounted for. We remained responsive to immediate mental health concerns on-campus through our urgent care system and outreach response. We continued to provide same-day urgent mental health services upon request, and responded to immediate on-campus needs timely and compassionately. Requests for same-day urgent mental health services increased 25% in 2022-23 as compared to 2021-22. Students express a high degree of satisfaction with services. As in previous years, well over 90% of students served expressed overall satisfaction with the services they receive from the Tampa campus Counseling Center. We enhanced our campus mental health services through affiliation with TimelyCare. The affiliation provided all USF students with access to convenient and prompt virtual mental health services. We were reaccredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS) through July 2031. In May, 2023, IACS site reviewers visited our campus, noting that the Tampa campus Counseling Center “offers a well-regarded program… of comprehensive, high-quality services, employs a well-trained, professional staff who work well together, and is respected and appreciated by the University’s administration, campus constituents and students.”
CLINICAL SERVICES SUMMARY* of overall student 2,572 unique clients served body served 5.7% percentage
501
single session, same-day consultations
186
average number of individual
after hours calls
*Yearly comparisons of data are complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in staffing. 4
University of South Florida
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| COUNSELING CENTER
14,635 scheduled appointments sessions per 4.3 counseling student served
CLIENT CHARACTERISTICS Race/Ethnicity 42.5% Caucasian/White
Additional Client Characteristics International Students:
12.7%
Transfer Students:
23.0%
13.8% Asian/Asian-American
First generation college students:
24.0%
10.8% Black/African-American
Diagnosed with a disability:
17.7%
3.4% Other 6.1% Multiracial 17.5% Latinx
Gender Identity 7.9% No Response 1.0% Self-Identify/Other 5.6% Trans/Non-binary 24.5% Man 61.1% Woman
Sexual Identity 1.6% No Response 14.1% Self-Identify/Other 13.2% Bisexual 57.2% Heterosexual/Straight 4.9% Gay/Lesbian
Counseling Center | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023 5
TIMELYCARE Starting in August, 2022, USF contracted with TimelyCare, a virtual mental health and well-being platform, providing enrolled students with free, 24/7 access to mental health services via phone or secure videoconference. TimelyCare is especially designed for college students and can be accessed anywhere with a computer or smartphone. In addition to scheduled counseling sessions, TimelyCare also provided USF students with “TalkNow” services (24/7, on-demand emotional support), health coaching, and self-care content.
TimelyCare Utilization (Tampa campus only)
877 unique clients served 2.0 percentage of overall student body served 1,673 scheduled counseling appointments 609 TalkNow consultations 161 Health Coaching Sessions
TimelyCare Client Caracteristics Race/Ethnicity Black/African American
15.3%
Asian/Asian American American Black/African
14.7% 15.3%
Latinx Asian/Asian American
14.7%18.6%
Multiracial Latinx
6.5%
Other Multiracial
3.8%6.5%
Caucasian/White Other
18.6%
38.3%
3.8%
Caucasian/White
38.3%
Gender Identity Woman Woman Man
22.8%
Man 1.1% Self-select
22.8%
Self-select 1.1%
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| COUNSELING CENTER
76.0% 76.0%
CLINICAL OUTCOMES Each USF student who used individual counseling services at the Counseling Center completed a brief pre-visit assessment to help their provider establish a baseline and assess their progress in counseling. They also completed the assessment at each follow-up appointment. The Outcome Questionnaire (OQ-45-TA) assesses functioning in multiple areas and suggests that the majority of students who use the Counseling Center improve their functioning over the course of their counseling experience. These results reflect students who attended at least three (3) visits between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023: all students reported an improvement in 72% offunctioning between their first and last visits
82
of all students reporting trauma-related
% symptoms reported an improvement in
functioning between their first and last visits.
Counseling Center | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023 7
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University of South Florida
®
| COUNSELING CENTER
CLIENT EXPERIENCE SURVEY OUTCOMES Each student who utilizes Counseling Center services is invited to provide their reactions and feedback regarding their experience. We carefully review all client responses to inform our work and improve services. Once again this year, students reported positive experiences utilizing our services.
96% felt their counselor carefully listened to them 95% felt safe talking about their concerns 94% felt their counselor genuinely cared for them 92% felt positively about counseling as a result of their experiences at the Counseling Center 95% would utilize Counseling Center services in the future if needed 92% would recommend Counseling Center services to a friend who needed help 93% are overall satisfied with their counseling experience at the Counseling Center Client Feedback: • “I can't thank my therapist enough for being just the most amazing therapist. This is my first experience and it couldn't have gone better. I'm very grateful.” • “My counselor has helped me through what I consider to be one of the toughest times in my life. I am truly grateful for their ability to make me feel safe and heard when I needed it most.” • “I have had outside therapists/counselors before I came to this current counselor, and honestly, this was the best one I have experienced. I feel very comfortable expressing myself to her. I feel I am being listened to about the issues I have experienced, and the feedback I received so far has been helpful. I think she is a wonderful counselor.” • “I am just so thankful that USF offers this. My therapist has been exceptional. She is so kind and understanding, and just really makes me feel seen.” • “She has been absolutely amazing. I cannot thank her enough for giving me room to self-reflect and improve my character. She almost has superpowers.” • “MY COUNSELOR IS THE BEST COUNSELOR EVER!!!! I have never had so much progress as I did with her. She is willing to tailor sessions according to what works best for you and both listens and responds in a way that makes me feel respected and cared for. Genuinely the best experience.”
TIMELYCARE OUTCOMES: After each session with a counselor, TimelyCare invites students to rank their satisfaction with their session, and their counselor, on a 1-5 scale (5 is the highest rating). These results showed high satisfaction with TimelyCare services.
SERVICE
AVERAGE VISIT RATING
AVERAGE PROVIDER RATING
Scheduled Counseling 4.9
4.98
TalkNow
4.86
4.9
Counseling Center | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023 9
GROUP SERVICES The Counseling Center provided group services both in-person and via secure videoconference during the 2022-23 academic year. Groups provide students the experience of learning and developing through interaction with peers in a supportive and therapeutic environment. As in years past, students found the experience enriching and beneficial to their overall well-being and academic success.
What students said about participating in group counseling:
We offered 17 general and topical groups, serving 236 students:
• “Group is a safe space for open, honest, respectful communication. Being a part of group leads to new observations and perspectives.”
97
of students agreed that group services improved their
% ability to understand and interact with people who are different than they are
92% agreed that group improved their overall well-being 97% would recommend group counseling to a friend
Counseling Center community outing assisting with beach clean-up.
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University of South Florida
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| COUNSELING CENTER
• “Do it! It has changed my life, and I'm sure it will change yours, too!” • “You will feel supported and cared for by everyone involved!”
• “I think it’s a great opportunity to learn about yourself and gain self-confidence and self-esteem in your natural state of being.” • “Group is definitely a safe and warm place where you can share your feelings and thoughts.”
OUTREACH, PREVENTION PROGRAMMING, AND CONSULTATION The Counseling Center fosters resilience among students and the USF community through the provision of a wide variety of outreach programming, including: • Workshops: We deliver culturally-informed workshops focused on resiliency-based learning objectives that help students maximize their strengths, learn new ways to cope, connect with others, and prepare to be psychologically and academically successful.
Summary OVERALL OUTREACH APPOINTMENTS:
337
OVERALL CONSULTATIONS:
131
OVERALL PEOPLE SERVED:
15,880
• Crisis Support: We provide a compassionate presence and empathic support to groups on-campus during times of crisis. • Tabling & Information Sharing: We are present at university events to share mental health resources, information on accessing counseling services on-campus, tips to enhance mental health and well-being, and education on common concerns expressed by USF students. • Mental Health First Aid®: We provide this nationally-recognized, skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues. • Faculty and Staff Consultations: We consult with faculty and staff about how to best support USF students in and outside the classroom, on-campus, and when studying abroad.
OTHER VIRTUAL PLATFORMS In addition to the TimelyCare virtual mental health platform, the Counseling Center offered students online support through its affiliation with Togetherall and Therapy Assisted On-line (TAO). Togetherall is an online peer-to-peer platform that offers a safe space for students to connect with others experiencing similar feelings. Available to students online 24/7, Togetherall provides a platform for safe and anonymous peer support, with trained professionals on hand when needed. In 2022-2023, 271 students from all three USF campuses utilized Togetherall to enhance their mental well-being through this unique, peer-to-peer platform.
TAO is an online library of engaging, interactive resources that assists students to learn life skills and feel better. TAO quickly helps students learn new skills that have a lasting impact. Common concerns of college students such as anxiety, depression, and interpersonal relationships are addressed, along with emotion logs and journals that help students track their progress and gain self-awareness. TAO is also the secure and confidential videoconferencing platform used by the Counseling Center for telehealth appointments. A total of 2,141 students on the Tampa campus registered for TAO, with 1,907 engaging in some way with the TAO platform. Counseling Center | ANNUAL REPORT 2022-2023 11
Doctoral Interns at Orientation Team Building
TRAINING OVERVIEW Providing training opportunities to developing clinicians is fundamental to the Counseling Center's mission. In the past year we provided mental health training through our Postdoctoral Fellowship, Doctoral Internship, and Graduate Student Clinician programs. Our trainees had the opportunity to learn and apply evidence-based treatment practices that are relevant to college populations, while receiving competency-based supervision from the Center’s excellent training staff. Each year, our staff work to create a warm and inclusive atmosphere where trainees are valued members of the team. Nine trainees (three in each program) completed their training experience and all were successful in obtaining job offers when their training experience ended. TRAINING EXPERIENCES • Provided individual/group counseling and urgent/crisis consultation for USF students • Received weekly supervision and regular mentorship from a diverse team of clinicians • Conducted consultation projects and outreach presentations for the USF community • Participated in didactic seminars, clinical team meetings, internal committees and professional development trainings as integral members of the center 12
University of South Florida
®
| COUNSELING CENTER
TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS Doctoral Intern Consultation Project: Throughout the year, the three doctoral interns served as psychological consultants for the Office of Multicultural Affairs in developing a training designed to deepen the knowledge and skills of students, faculty, and staff to support diverse students at USF. Postdoctoral Fellowship Specializations: Two of our postdoctoral fellows developed areas of advanced training to further develop expertise in serving diverse client populations and serving clients experiencing trauma and/or grief. External Rotation: Four of our trainees partnered with Rogers Behavioral Health to complete ten-week, 16 hour-per-week external rotations focused on exposure-based behavior therapy for OCD, anxiety, depression, and disordered eating.
Postdoctoral Fellows Celebrating Completion
STAFF CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD Leadership and Professional Service Scott Strader, PhD completed his second three-year term as a member of the Elements of Excellence Committee for the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors, and his second year as co-chair of that committee. He also served as a site reviewer for the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS), reviewing accreditation materials from university counseling centers across the country working to maintain their accreditation through IACS. Michael Rogers, PhD served as a site visitor for the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA), ensuring that psychology internship programs are upholding the Standards of Accreditation set by CoA. Courtney Coggan, LMHC served on the USF Presidential Advisory Committee on Issues of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.
Lashley Marks, PsyD served as president of the Florida Group Psychotherapy Society, an affiliate of the American Group Psychotherapy Association.
Hege Riise, PhD completed her fifth year as a commissioner for the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (CoA). Serving as a commissioner involves active participation in multiple-day meetings each year, ensuring that over 1,250 doctoral internship and postdoctoral education and training programs maintain high standards of accreditation.
Professional Publications & Presentations Jason Axford, LMHC Dutil, J. & Axford, J. (2023, April). How to skillfully broach race and racism in the counseling session. [Conference Breakout] American Counseling Association Annual Meeting, Toronto. Michael Rogers, PhD Rogers, M. & Mitchell, J. (2022, September). Supervising CBT Delivery in College Counseling Centers. In. E.A. Storch, D. McKay, J. Abramowitz (Eds.), Training and Supervision in Specialized Cognitive-Behavior Therapy: Methods, Settings, & Populations. American Psychological Association. Scott Strader, PhD Strader, S.C., Abel, D., Irvin, V., & Rayburn, M. (2022, October). The changing landscape of college mental health as a profession: What’s the next normal? [Preconference Program] AUCCCD Annual Conference, Philadelphia. Ng., J., Strader, S.C., Sahgal, A., & Rotkiewicz, M., (2022, October). Reimagining counseling center work: Driven by equity and united in connection. [Conference Breakout]. AUCCCD Annual Conference, Philadelphia.
Team Building Events The “Bright Side Crew” of the the Counseling Center continued its tradition of planning team building events throughout the year to provide staff opportunities for connection and renewal. In addition to acknowledging staff birthdays and professional accomplishments, BSC organized a fall season door decorating contest, a spring movie and snack day, an end-of-year wellness day and bowling outing, and a beach clean-up day, offering the opportunity for staff to give back to the Tampa Bay community. These events help to foster a culture of belongingness and provides ways to connect and enjoy time with each other without the demands of our everyday work.
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www.usf.edu/counsel 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, SVC 2124 • Tampa, FL 33620, USA • 813-974-2831
