Same day mental health walk-ins
Students in need of mental health services can stop by for “Walk-in Wednesdays” at the Student Health Center
If you’ve ever thought about going to therapy, but you’re hesitant, you might consider trying the Counseling and Psychological Services “Walk-in Wednesdays” program.
The “Walk-in Wednesdays” program offers single session therapy (SST). SST is like a shortened version of the normal therapy process since students only come in once. It’s a way for students to see if therapy is something they’d like to pursue. After the session, if students feel like they’d like to continue, they’re able to schedule another appointment.
Staff Psychologist and Campus Outreach Coordinator, Elizabeth McCallion, who has a doctorate in clinical psychology, believes that SSTs increase access to the CAPS center. She believes that students should take advantage of this because talking with a professional about an issue that a student has can be very helpful.
“The walk-ins can be a really great way to work through a problem,” McCallion said. “A lot of times, we talk to our family and friends but sometimes it can be helpful to talk to someone outside of your current situation and get an outside perspective.”
According to therapist Lindsay Dwelley Russ, doctorate in psychology, the walk-in appointments are important because some issues don’t require the entire therapy process to be resolved. Sometimes, students want to be seen immediately and just one session may be all that they need.
“There’s an advantage to talking to someone quickly because sometimes intakes might take a while,” Russ said.
HSU student Celene Gonzalez believes that in the past it’s been difficult for students to get the help they needed due to having busy schedules, but the SST has changed that.
“I think the thought process with the ‘Walk-in Wednesdays’ was that maybe people just needed someone to talk to about one thing,” said Gonzalez.
Every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., students can go to the CAPS office, located on the second floor of the Student Health Center, and meet with a counselor to talk about anything. Sessions last 50 minutes and they’re on a first come, first served basis, it’s recommended to come early if you want to be seen that day. Appointments can also be made 48 hours in advance.
