News Editor
CSU Bakersfield’s University Counselor Training Clinic is currently accepting new clients for this new school year. Services in the clinic are provided by training Counseling Psychology students and are available to non-students.
The clinic operates by counseling psychology graduate students to help them earn training hours. Since they are students too, they are unable to see CSUB students as they would have a dual relationship with them. However, they are asking the CSUB community to inform their friends and family that there is an option on campus for them to receive low-cost therapy.
Jacob Kountz, clinic manager, said that the clinic offers counseling services in stress management, child therapy, group therapy and marriage counseling to name a few.
“Our training counselors have about two or three clients each. We are seeing about 80 to 90 people currently and we are hoping to increase,” said Kountz.
Appointments to the clinic are made over the phone and the staff evaluates whether they are able to see a person.
“We have a list of criteria that we follow, so if you are court mandated, we can’t do that. We can’t write letters on behalf of people. If we feel that you are a high risk client, we want to make sure that you are seen appropriately by someone who has been in the field for quite some time,” said Kountz.
The clinic functions by recording therapy sessions so that the training therapists can receive feedback from their supervisors. Prior to signing consent forms, clients are informed that the therapy session will be recorded and supervised.
“It is not for what they are doing but our supervisors want to see if the therapist is maneuvering in the right direction, asking certain questions, and the supervisor can suggest to try a different route. It’s like live critiques,” said Kountz.
Kountz mentioned that some clients have been attending the clinic for almost a decade and they are seen for as long as they need to.
According to Kountz, the first session costs $25 and $15 for every session after that.
“We don’t turn anybody away for lack of payment. So if they say they can only do five today then that’s fine. They can negotiate with their therapist,” said Kountz.
All fees are used to support the operation of the clinic.
CSUB enrolled students can receive free and confidential counseling in the University Counseling Center.
“Students think that these services could be for them but I want to inform them that there are services that their tuition pays for but if they have family and friends that are in need, they can come in here.”
Additionally, they will be hosting an Open House in the clinic for aspiring students on Friday, Oct. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Information on the M.S. Counseling Psychology program and Counselor Training Clinic will be provided.
The clinic is currently open during the school year Monday through Thursday from 1-9 p.m. and Friday from 2-6 p.m. and is located in the Education Building room 200. For more information, you can contact the University Counselor Training Clinic at (661) 654-3402.
