Texas A&M University-Commerce

Counseling Center

Making a Difference

Annual Highlights Report

Fall 2016 – Spring 2017

OUR MISSION

The Counseling Center provides mental health services to assist students in maximizing their potential for

personal growth and academic success. Our purpose is to complement the University's academic mission and

goals by initiating interventions to promote a healthy campus environment and meet the psychological and

educational needs of the University community. Our challenge is to nurture and support students and address

the changing issues and concerns of a diverse University community.

OUR VISION

The Counseling Center aspires to help students develop the insight, resources, and courage that lead to lifelong

healthy choices. Our aim is to provide holistic, individualized attention in a welcoming, safe environment,

characterized by respect, compassion, and a genuine desire to make a difference.

AN OVERVIEW

The Counseling Center offers the following services:

Individual counseling

Couples counseling

Group counseling

Faculty/staff and parent consultation

Educational outreach

Crisis intervention

After-hours crisis assistance

Mental health screenings

Psychiatric services

Biofeedback and relaxation room

This year, our staff consisted of a director, seven full-time clinicians, one contract counselor, a consulting

psychiatric nurse practitioner, an administrative secretary, and four student workers. The Counseling Center

continues to maintain a staff of diverse clinicians from different backgrounds and clinical specialties and offers

bilingual counseling services in Spanish, Chinese and Hungarian.

ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS

Developed an online Outreach Request Form for outreach services

Began case-oriented peer review to ensure quality and consistency

Launched ProtoCall, an after-hours call service staffed by professional counselors

Conducted the first annual Advisory Board meeting

Initiated and hosted the inaugural Vet Net Symposium

Played a vital and active role in the Safe Spaces Ally Project

2373 2174

2457

3522 3214

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Total Appointments

2013-2017

Total Counseling Appointments

360 426

477

551 590

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Total Number of Clients

2013-2017

Total Clients

DIRECT COUNSELING SERVICES

The Counseling Center provided a total of 3,214 appointments to 590 clients this academic year.

7% increase in total number of clients compared to 2015-16

9% decrease in total appointments

Data variation may be related to different number of FTE each year and also the implementation of

treatment plan to facilitate short-term counseling

*Comparison is calculated based on Fall and Spring semesters.

Individual, Couples, and Group Counseling

Counseling services include individual, couples, and group counseling. Individual counseling involves clients

meeting one-on-one with a counselor weekly to bi-weekly depending on the nature of their presenting concern.

Couples counseling is provided to students and their partner who are both enrolled at TAMU-C. A counselor

meets with the couple for a consultation and makes recommendation about type of services to best match with

their needs. In addition to one-on-one counseling, a variety of groups are offered to help maximize students’

well-being for greater success.

Individual Counseling

The Counseling Center values the use of short-term therapy to help clients address a variety of issues they may

face in a university setting. This year, the average percentage of individual counseling sessions is at 5.45

appointments per client. In general, the patterns in the previous two years were similar and consistent.

36% 31%

37% 34% 34%

62% 68%

62% 65% 66%

2% 1% 1% 1% 0% 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Percentage Comparison

by Gender

Male Female Transgender

45%

27%

14%

6% 4% 2% 1% 1% 0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Race/Ethnicity

Client Demographics

Clients’ demographic information was gathered as part of their intake process. In the following paragraphs,

analyses by gender, race/ethnicity, academic level, relationship status, and other demographics are included.

Gender

The following graph shows the percentage of male,

female, and transgender clients receiving counseling

services in the past five years. This year, there were

66% female clients and 34% male clients. The pattern

has been consistent in the past five years.

Race/Ethnicity/International Students

The percentage of clients by race and ethnicity is

presented as follows (also see the bar graph):

White: 45%

Black: 27%

Hispanic: 14%

Asian: 6%

Biracial/Multiracial: 4%

Other: 2%

American Indian: 1%

Pacific Islander: 1%

Other Client Demographics

International Student: 7%

Veteran Student: 3%

Transfer Student: 32%

First-Generation College Student: 44%

Currently on Academic Probation: 9%

Live On-Campus: 47%

Currently Employed: 53%

Without Health Insurance: 34%

Has a Disability: 12%

Registered with Disability Office: 7%

Prior Psychiatric/Counseling: 49%

Prior Psychiatric Hospitalization: 9%

Currently on Psychiatric Medication(s): 36%

Freshman

21%

Sophomore

18%

Junior

26%

Senior

21%

Masters

12%

Doctoral

2%

Academic Level Academic Level

The pie chart shows the percentage of clients by

academic levels. Results indicate that

approximately 26% of junior students sought

counseling, followed by seniors and freshmen

(both at 21%), sophomores (18%), master’s

students (12%), and doctoral students (2%).

Relationship Status

The bar graph on the right shows the percentage

of clients by relationship status. Approximately

48% of clients identified themselves as single, 25%

were in a committed relationship, 15% were dating,

7% were married or partnered, 2% marked as

divorced or “other,” and 1% were separated.

Top 3 Referral Sources:

1) Self (38%)

2) Friend (23%)

3) Faculty/Advisor (14%)

Common Presenting Concerns

As part of the intake process, clients are asked to

identify concerns they would like to address in

counseling. They are given a list of 40 items to

“check-all-that-apply.” This year, the top five

concerns are depression, stress, generalized anxiety,

academic distress, and lack of motivation. The

following table shows the top 5 concerns in the last

three years, which remain fairly consistent.

Top 5

Concerns

2017 2016 2015

1 Depression Depression Depression

2 Stress Stress Stress

3 Generalized

Anxiety

Generalized

Anxiety

Academic

Distress

4 Academic

Distress

Academic

Distress

Generalized

Anxiety

5 Lack of

Motivation

Lack of

Motivation

Low

Self-Esteem

48%

15%

25%

7%

1% 2% 0% 2%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Relationship Status

Risk Assessment at Intake

Risk assessment is an important part of the intake during which seven questions are asked. If a client answers

“yes” on any of the seven items, the intake counselor will follow-up with further inquiries and assess for

his/her safety during the session.

This year, 48% of clients reported thoughts of self-harm, 31% had engaged in self-injury behaviors, 22% had

been victim of a violent act, 20% had a prior suicide attempt, 13% had engaged in violence against another

person, 11% had current suicidal thoughts, and 1% had a current desire to harm someone else.

After-Hours Crisis Assistance, Consultation, and Hospitalization

The Counseling Center offers quality and sustainable after-hours crisis assistance to students by contracting

with ProtoCall services. It is a clinical call center staffed by mental health professionals providing crisis

assessment, intervention, and stabilization.

During regular business hours, students can walk in to the Counseling Center and request a same-day triage

appointment should a personal crisis occur. This year, a total of 210 triage sessions were conducted.

With regard to hospitalization, a total of 8 clients were hospitalized with 3 clients hospitalized by the

Counseling Center, 4 clients hospitalized by others (e.g., self, family, or UPD), and 1 student referred to the

hospital for further evaluation.

1%

11%

13%

20%

22%

31%

48%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Currently have desire to harm someone else

Currently have suicidal ideation or thoughts

Ever engaged in violent behavior against another person

Made a suicide attempt before

Been the victim of a violent act

Ever engaged in self-injury behaviors

Ever had thoughts of harming self

Risk Assessment at Intake

37%

44%

9% 7% 2% 2% 2%

0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%

Referral Source

for LEAP Program

Percentage

LEAP Program

The Lion—Education, Assessment, and Prevention (LEAP) is a 2-session substance use intervention program

for students referred from other campus departments. The goal of the program is to provide students with

psycho-education on substance use issues and its consequences to help them develop a deeper insight into their

own use and empowers them to make any change they wish to make in their substance use. During the sessions,

clients are assessed for their current and history of substance use and learn about possible triggers and

underlying factors associated with family dynamics, personal characteristics, and social support. This year, 44

students started in LEAP with 37 students completing the program. Of the attendees, 44% were referred by

Dean of Students, 37% by Athletics, 9% by Academic Department (faculty/advisor/staff), 7% by friend, and

2% by self, Residential Living and Learning (RLL), and University Police Department (UPD), respectively.

Couples Counseling

The Counseling Center offers couples counseling to student couples who are both currently enrolled at the

University. Common concerns include communication problems, family of origin complications, loss of

attraction and infidelity, as well as other impacting factors such as grief, trauma history, addictions, and mental

or physical health problems.

Students who are interested in seeking couples counseling are referred to a couples’ counselor for a

consultation session to discuss and determine appropriate treatment. While some students may benefit from

couples counseling, others may be recommended for individual counseling to address personal issues. This

year, there were a total of 8 couples’ consultations and 16 couples’ counseling sessions.

34 37 39 58 39

170

109 118

356 329

0

100

200

300

400

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17

Psychiatric Appointments

2013-2017

New Patient Psych Follow-up

Group Counseling

The Counseling Center offers group counseling to clients who may benefit from learning and supporting each

other in a group format. This year, two different groups were formed with each group conducted twice.

Becoming Socially Successful

Conducted two groups for clients with social anxiety

The group was focused on:

o relaxation techniques

o cognitive restructuring

o social skills training

o assertiveness

o self-affirmation

Power of Connection

Provided two workshop-oriented groups

for international students

Strengthened skills in:

o cultural adjustment & global awareness

o communication & problem solving

o team collaboration & leadership

o stress management & self-care

Psychiatric Services

Ms. Susann Adams has been serving as a psychiatric nurse practitioner since January 2015. She provides

psychiatric evaluation, consultation and medication management at the Counseling Center for 8 hours a week.

This year, she accepted 39 new patients and provided psychiatric services to a total of 69 ongoing patients

with 329 follow-up appointments.

Client Satisfaction

Each semester, anonymous survey feedback is obtained from our clients upon termination, or at the end of the

semester, whichever comes first, to enrich the quality of our services.

This year, we received 257 client satisfaction surveys. Results in the following sections were combined

outcomes from the Fall and Spring semesters. Overall, clients offered very positive ratings for our Center

services and provided insightful comments as well as constructive feedback to help us enhance future services.

The following section shows the percentage of client agreement with each survey statement:

100% Front desk staff provided courteous and respectful assistance

99.5% Physical setting of the Counseling Center was comfortable, peaceful, and respectful of privacy

100% Information about confidentiality, rights and responsibilities was provided

99.5% Counselor understood client’s concerns and provided useful information and/or assistance

99% Counselor acted in a professional manner demonstrating courtesy, respect, and sensitivity

98.5% Client gained a greater understanding of how the presenting concerns are affecting his/her life

98% Client is better able to identify source of support in his/her life

98% Client has a greater ability to understand and express his/her thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and strengths

99% Client is aware of and actively practicing strategies to manage his/her personal and/or academic goals

99.5% Client believes that counseling has had an overall positive impact on his/her life

99.5% Client would return to the Counseling Center in the future if he/she needed assistance or information

98% The Counseling Center has had a positive impact on client’s decision to remain at A&M-Commerce

This next section provides a snapshot of the clients’ feedback to the Counseling Center. In general, comments

regarding the front desk staff, counselors and their counseling experience were quite positive. All of our

counselors were mentioned positively in one or more surveys.

The service was very satisfying, I feel as

though the reason for me being here was

resolved thoroughly and with pleasing results.

The counseling service was very available and

made it very comforting to know.

I’m able to identify what I struggle with, and I

have found ways to manage or overcome them.

I don’t think I would have been able to do this

without the Counseling Center services.

I have found that the Counseling Center has

helped provide ease to my anxiety and ways to

lessen the frequency and intensity of any panic

attacks. It has provided me with hope for my

future, friends, love, and for myself.

Thank you Dr. Clinton for putting this team

together and creating a department that really

works together.

The Center has been amazing, and my

counselor has helped me immensely. I feel

more students should know just how great this

Center is and how much it can help.

I can say for certain that this place and the

people in it have saved my life.

I have found my counseling sessions to be

effective and beneficial, and I recommend

everyone (who is going through any sort of

crisis) to seek counseling.

Student Retention

In the survey results, 98% of our clients agreed that the Counseling Center has had a positive impact on their

retention. These additional comments show some examples of feedback we obtained from clients.

Counseling has helped me better with my

academic goals and personal goals and to

understand and fix problems I have.

It has been a great experience helping me

through my academic program. It’s nice to

have someone to talk to without judgment. It

takes away a lot of stress. I could not get

through school without being able to talk to

my counselor. I’ve gotten help with stress and

coping strategies and sleep.

The Counseling Center has helped me grow

and learn coping skills through my college

career. I feel that it has been vital to how

successful I have been throughout my time at

school, and I would recommend that everyone

takes advantage of what it has to offer.

My counselor is the best. She has helped me

through some of my hardest times in college.

I have several mental health disorders and

transferring here has been tough. My

counselor has been wonderful at helping me

with those issues.

I enjoy going to counseling; it helps me deal

with all the stress and things that overwhelms

me at school.

I really like not only having help with my

mental health, but also with my academics

(like making plans for how I do homework).

I also really like that most of the session I am

the one talking and brainstorming solutions

with help from my counselor.

Client Feedback for Service Enhancement

When eliciting feedback to enhance our services at the Counseling Center, these were the comments received:

I would suggest longer time for counseling.

I don’t love the anti-phone policy as it is an

escape to myself and others, not to mention

that it can be boring to sit with nothing to do

which can cause frustration.

More and longer time for massage chairs.

Have the athletic department inform student-

athletes on the Counseling Center more.

Expansion of department may improve an

already excellent resource.

Possibly bring the horses or some other type

of activities out cause I love them!

I really enjoy the DeStress Fest you guys put

on. I really would like to see it happen more

times a year. Maybe around midterms.

More job positions in the Counseling Center,

and actual promotion of the outreach events.

I believe more objects for sand tray therapy

would be helpful to create more scenes for

when I or fellow students use the sandbox!

Educational Outreach Services

The Counseling Center values the important role of educational outreach services in promoting mental health

awareness and offering prevention and resources to our campus community. Outreach events came in the

forms of classroom presentations, workshops, tabling events, and panel discussions. The goal is to educate and

inform students, faculty, and staff on various mental health topics as well as Counseling Center services.

In 2016-17, we conducted a total of 91 outreach programs with 52 events for our campus partners and 39

programs initiated by the Counseling Center staff.

Specialized Training

QPR

The QPR is a 3-step suicide prevention program—Question, Persuade, and Refer, that is

widely used in various settings: including universities, mental health fields, schools,

healthcare, law enforcement, business, and local communities.

The Counseling Center has joined over 160 universities and colleges in offering QPR training to our campus

community. The Counseling Center continues to have three counselors certified as QPR Gatekeeper Instructors.

To date, more than 200 faculty/staff and students have been trained to use this potentially life-saving

behavioral intervention.

Safe Spaces Ally Project

The Counseling Center continues to play a vital and active role in the Safe Spaces Ally

Project to create a safer, freer, and more welcoming environment for all individuals

regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. Students, faculty, and staff can take a 4-

hour training and pledge to become Safe Spaces Allies as they commit to serve as

welcoming and supportive resources for LGBTQ communities. To date, more than 300 allies have been

trained. For campus community members who are interested in receiving the training and/or learning more

about the project, please visit: Safe Spaces Ally Project

Vet Net Symposium

The Counseling Center developed and hosted the inaugural Vet Net Symposium in the

summer of 2017. The focus of the symposium was dedicated to educating mental health

professionals on the specific needs of veterans. A total of 6 CE hours were provided to

licensed counselors, social workers, and psychologists in Texas. The symposium

attracted more than 50 mental health professionals from all over Texas.

1805

2327

3289

4112

5335

133

284

382

279

0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

2012-13

2013-14

2014-15

2015-16

2016-17

Relaxation Room Usage

2013-2017

Fall & Spring Summer

Online Services

Counseling Corner Articles

Our counselors regularly publish mental health articles in the university newspaper, The East Texan, in a

column called the Counseling Corner. The articles are written to raise mental health awareness for our students

and campus community. This year, 20 new articles were issued in the newspaper and on the Counseling

Center website. To date, a total of 93 mental health articles are archived online. All articles can be found at:

Counseling Corner Articles

On-Line Screening

A link to an anonymous on-line screening is included on the Counseling Center website for students who wish

to learn about possible mental health concerns by completing a brief screening in one or more of the following

areas: depression, generalized anxiety, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, and

alcohol use. This year, a total of 543 anonymous screenings were conducted either online or by paper format.

Other Services

Relaxation Room

The Relaxation Room in

the Counseling Center

continues to gain its

popularity through

promotions at outreach

and by word of mouth. It

provides students, faculty, and staff a quiet place and

calming environment to relax, de-stress, and

rejuvenate. This year, we continued to reach a record

high of 5,335 visits, a 30% increase from last year.

Biofeedback

The Counseling Center offers the Relaxing Rhythms, an interactive 15-step guided

biofeedback program combining biofeedback training, breathing techniques, and

guided meditation. The sensory technology detects physical and emotional

responses as measured by heart rate variability and skin conductance.

This biofeedback program is regularly promoted and/or demonstrated on mental

health screening days, at various outreach events, and in stress management and mindfulness workshops.

Students are encouraged to come by the Counseling Center and use the Relaxing Rhythms as a way to expand

stress management abilities, enhance awareness and calmness through relaxation, and gain a sense of control in

their life.

Counseling Center Staff

Special thanks go to all of our staff who contributed to the accomplishments summarized in this annual report.

The Counseling Center staff for the year of 2016-2017 is listed below:

Director Linda T. Clinton, Ed.D, LPC-S

Counselor/Assistant Director Nick Patras, Ph.D., LPC-S

Staff Psychologist/Clinical Coordinator Tina Ya-Ting Yang, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

Counselor/Outreach Coordinator Agnes Gonzalez, M.S., LPC

Counselor/Multicultural Specialist Tameca Minter, M.Ed., LPC

Counselor Marty Marsh Jacobs, M.S., LPC-S

Counselor Shannon Moseley, M.S., LPC

Counselor Caleb Barnet, M.S., LPC-Intern

Counselor (Contract) Dean Mattox, M.S., LPC-Intern

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Susann Adams, RN

Legal Advisor Jay Garrett, J.D.

Administrative Secretary II Bettie Kennedy

Student Workers (Fall and/or Spring) Kiley Laminack

Molly Maroney

Emili McNellis

Kelsee Webb

Shalie Williams