We have our ear to the ground and want to address some frequent misconceptions that may keep folx from utilizing UVU Mental Health Services.

Myth 1: It takes months to see a therapist once on the waitlist.

Fact: Often students begin individual treatment in as little as three weeks once on the waitlist. Wait times are often longest during the beginning weeks of the semester. However, being scheduled for therapy requires that the potential client and a clinician have mutual availability on their schedules and that a potential client is responsive to texts and/or phone calls from Student Health Services’ front desk staff. If you feel that your need for services is more urgent, do not hesitate to utilize UVU’s Crisis Services.

Myth 2: College counselors only provide academic guidance, not therapy. UVU SHS will provide peer mentors rather than therapists.

Fact: UVU Student Health Services currently employs 13 full time, doctoral or masters’ level, mental health therapists. We do not provide academic advising. In addition to our full-time therapists, UVU is a training site for qualified clinicians in pursuit of masters and doctoral degrees, and graduated clinicians pursuing licensure. Licensed therapists directly supervise trainees. We may also have part-time licensed clinicians on staff.

Myth 3: I shouldn’t get therapy at UVU, because I’d be taking the spot of someone that really needs the services.

Fact: If you think you may need services, we want you to reach out to us without any hesitation. Preventive care is as important as urgent care. We respect that every student has unique challenges, and we hope to validate that your struggles and successes do not look the same as everyone else’s. For example, for some concerns, long-term therapy may be recommended and other concerns may be treated in relatively few sessions. In short, we are concerned with the mental health of every Wolverine in our den!

Myth 4: Folx don’t need therapy. They just need to grow/toughen up.

Fact: First, reaching out to resources, such as a therapist, takes courage and strength! Tough folx recognize their challenges and do something to conquer them. Second, mental health disorders are scientifically identifiable phenomena, which occur in response to biological and environmental variables. Third, Trauma is very real. PTSD was only recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980; so, it is possible (though unfortunate) that some people’s developmental environments perpetuate stigma against mental health treatment. Fourth, therapists often collaborate and support the changes a client may already be making; going into therapy does not mean you are incapable but may be an opportunity to discuss your plans with a professional. Lastly, the emotions that affect people can be challenging to face such that avoidance or unhelpful coping strategies can be used—‘toughening up’ may itself be an unhelpful strategy. Trained professionals can help you confront, change, or adapt to the emotions or issues that hold you back and may be affecting your schooling.

Comprehensive List of Services Offered

Group Therapy – Group therapy is an evidence-based modality of treatment. For many concerns, group therapy has been shown to be as effective (or even more effective) than individual therapy. It is understandably difficult for some folx to open up to a group of strangers; however, experiencing that anxiety is most often rewarded by the realization that others understand and empathize. Group therapy is a FREE option for all UVU students. There is no waitlist and students are only required to be enrolled for one credit to join any of our groups. Competent clinicians facilitate every therapy group. Until circumstances permit in-person therapy sessions, group therapy occurs via a secure video-conference platform.

Crisis Services – Need to talk to someone right away? We have crisis therapists available to help anyone on campus that is feeling overwhelmed. What constitutes a crisis is personal; one does not necessarily have to identify as suicidal or homicidal in order to speak with a crisis therapist. Crisis Services are available Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., excluding campus closures. You are encouraged to notice others on campus that may seem overwhelmed. Many students we have met with expressed gratitude for someone walking them to Student Health Services, or helping them to make a call. There is no charge to meet with a crisis therapist. For more information, please check out the Crisis Services webpage. To arrange to speak with a crisis therapist, please call 801-863-8876.

Outside of our business hours, there are other valuable community resources available by phone, text, or in-person contact. Phone: 1-800-273-8255 or 9-1-1. Text: Text “START” to 741-741. In-person: Find the nearest Emergency Room.

We invite everyone to download the SafeUT app. With this app you can start a chat or a phone call to help yourself through difficult circumstances; you can also provide a tip regarding someone else’s safety.

Victim’s Navigator – A student who has experienced abuse may not know where to turn first. That is why Student Health Services employs Sariah Collard, LCSW. Sariah is a qualified and caring clinician who can help orient students toward resources, including therapeutic options. For more information and to reach out directly to Sariah, visit her bio. To schedule an appointment, call 801-863-8876.

Sports Performance – Student Health Services employs Kevin “DoK” Woods II, CMHC. DoK specializes in issues pertaining to athletics and sports performance. His services include therapy geared specifically toward athletes. For more information, student-athletes may call 801-863-8876.

Presentations/Psychoeducation – Presentations and workshops on important mental health topics occur periodically and by request. Due to current circumstances around social distancing, and to meet the growing demand for online content, more presentations and workshops are now available online. Please follow our Instagram account: @UVUmentalhealth. Every Monday Dr. Ben Bailey hosts Meditation Monday, and other presentations are available in the Highlights portion of our Instagram bio. We are also working on expanding our online content with a new Mental Health Resources website. We are currently in the process of putting the ADHD Workshop into a digital format, which will be hosted there, along with other presentations from our Mental Health Series. We are available to present via Teams, and we can collaborate to design custom presentations based on the needs of your audience. By planning ahead, professors can consider utilizing one of our presentations, in their absence, instead of canceling a class. Please direct inquiries to [email protected].

Individual Therapy – One-on-one therapy is available on a first-come-first-served basis. The process for scheduling an individual therapy appointment includes visiting our website and following the instructions for making an initial appointment. When demand is high (and availability of services is limited), the waitlist is occasionally closed. The reason for closing the waitlist is to reduce the false impression that services are readily available. Students who are unable to join the waitlist during a waitlist closure are encouraged to utilize other services offered by UVU Mental Health Services, and/or seek treatment outside of UVU. We can help direct you to other resources if our waitlist is closed or if we recognize that other services may better serve your needs. The waitlist always eventually opens up. You are welcome to call back frequently to check if you can be placed on the waitlist; however, it is not recommended that you delay seeking treatment elsewhere if you feel your functioning may be jeopardized by so doing. Once you have been scheduled and met with your therapist, your therapist will instruct you on how to schedule future therapy sessions. You will not return to the waitlist for ongoing therapy sessions. Crisis Services are available to UVU students regardless of waitlist status, or whether you have a therapist at UVU or in the community.

Individual therapy sessions cost $10 per session and a credit limit of nine credits are required (six during summer semesters). Please do not hesitate to reach out to UVU Mental Health Services based on these requirements. We are still eager to help you access care, with us, or within the community.

Couples Therapy – Couples therapy is accessed similarly to individual therapy; the fee and credit limit are the same. Only one person in the partnership needs to be a UVU student. Couples therapy is open to all partnerships, without regard to marital status or sexual orientation.

Learning Disability Assessment – It is often helpful for UVU students to receive assessment services in order to determine difficulties that affect their academic functioning or other areas of daily living. Assessment Services can work with you to determine if you meet the criteria for Specific Learning Disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The fee for an assessment is greatly reduced for UVU students; however, the waitlist for these services can be lengthy. Wait-times for assessment can often be greater than four months, depending on the evaluation you are pursuing. If you are seeking ADA accommodations for your classes, Assessment Services may be helpful, as well. Students are encouraged to consider their options for assessment in the broader community as well as within UVU Student Health Services. For more information, visit the Learning Disability Assessment website or email questions to [email protected].

Psychiatric Services: Student Health Services employs a part-time Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Students taking at least six credits may access these services. Occasionally, when availability is extremely limited, a temporary moratorium will be placed on accepting new patient appointments. In such instances, all best efforts will be made to refer interested students to psychiatric service providers outside UVU. Students are welcome to call back frequently to check if the moratorium has been lifted; however, it is not recommended that students delay seeking treatment elsewhere if doing so may jeopardize functioning or well-being. You can call 801-863-8876 to make an initial psychiatric appointment. New patient psychiatric appointments cost $30. Follow-up psychiatric appointments cost $15.