Portland State University (PSU) is making strides in offering mental health support to students through its College of Education’s Community Counseling Clinic.
This clinic provides affordable counseling services facilitated by pre-licensed counselors who are supervised by licensed professionals.
This innovative approach not only addresses the urgent need for mental health services but also allows aspiring therapists to gain invaluable real-world experience with clients—an essential element in their path to becoming fully licensed.
April Dodson-Ferris, the Director of Portland State’s Counseling Clinic, expressed the collaborative environment of the clinic, stating, “I wish I could somehow help the clients to understand that you’re not in just one counselor’s hands you’re in like, three counselors’ hands, and all of us are really good at our job, and we’re constantly making sure you’re cared for.”
The clinic currently comprises between 30 and 40 graduate student counselors who have completed prerequisite educational requirements.
Though their experience level varies, all counselors have undergone one to two years of training before attending to clients at the clinic.
Dodson-Ferris noted the range of students, mentioning, “They’re graduate students, and they’ve received one to two years of training before they move into the clinic to start seeing clients.
Some of them are interns in their third year, and then some of them are practicum students in their second year of the program.”
Students at the clinic regularly assist individuals facing complex or overlapping mental health challenges.
“From their first year, they’re learning what it looks like to work with complex mental health issues and co-occurring diagnoses.
And everyone who works with the students is either a doctoral-level faculty member or a working clinician,” Dodson-Ferris added.
This framework cultivates a supportive environment where trainees learn necessary skills while providing quality care.
Leap into her own experiences, Virginia Hicks, a Second Year Rehabilitation Counselor at the clinic, remarked, “My peer supervisor, when I served in practicum, is currently working with couples and doing, like, Sex Therapy.
For instance, I’m studying rehabilitation counseling.
So, [I’m] working with people [on their] professional and vocational goals.”
Beyond general mental health support, many counselors engage in specific therapeutic specialties.
Some students specialize in areas like sex therapy, trauma, rehabilitation, and school counseling, while others focus on clients from the LGBTQIA+ community or utilize nature-based therapy techniques—an initiative supported by the clinic’s partnership with the Queer Resource Center (QRC).
This partnership allows the clinic to run support groups tailored to the needs of LGBTQIA+ students.
Despite its role in addressing mental health needs, the clinic now faces significant uncertainty regarding its future operations and access to services.
Starting July, Oregon’s regulations will no longer permit pre-licensed counselors to bill the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), which is the state’s Medicaid equivalent and serves as a vital insurance source for many low-income residents.
Katy Swordfisk, PSU Media Relations Manager, stated, “[This] will create a devastating gap in mental health care access—particularly for freelancers and lower-income residents who rely on the state insurance plan.”
Reflecting on these impending changes, Dodson-Ferris expressed concern about the accessibility of mental healthcare: “I wish that we weren’t putting mental health care in a place where it’s even less accessible when people seem to be needing it more and more.
So I feel grateful that places like this exist so that we can try to bridge that gap.”
When discussing the clinic’s capacity amidst rising demand for services, Dodson-Ferris remained optimistic.
“I’m always happy to bring on more counselors to make sure that we minimize waitlists.
We have a lot of students who are willing to come in and support the community.
I don’t foresee a waitlist problem in the future,” she affirmed.
Beginning therapy can often be a nerve-wracking experience for many.
Dodson-Ferris recognizes this apprehension as a normal response: “I’d be surprised if someone was not just a little apprehensive about starting.
You’re essentially meeting someone and saying, ‘Let me tell you the most vulnerable parts of who I am.’”
Yet, she believes deeply in the transformative power of therapy.
“Therapy is magic,” Dodson-Ferris declared.
“It’s the space in this world that belongs entirely to you.
Your therapist is there to hold your grief, your sadness, and your joy.”
The counseling model at the clinic also aims to dismantle barriers often faced in more traditional therapy setups.
Due to their proximity in age and experience, many student counselors can relate more closely to their clients.
Dodson-Ferris stated, “We’re here to just walk in and say, ‘We’ve had experience with this—how can we support you?’”
As those at the clinic continue to navigate challenges, they emphasize the need for increased awareness and support, especially as state-level changes threaten continuing access to vital services.
Nevertheless, Dodson-Ferris remains hopeful that awareness about the clinic will grow.
“It’s okay,” she said.
“Eventually, we’ll get the word out there.”
image source from：https://psuvanguard.com/portland-states-community-counseling-clinic-offers-therapy-for-20-or-less/
