UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN IOWA
COUNSELING CENTER
ANNUAL REPORT 2010
Counseling Center: At-A-Glance
M I S S I O N : The Counseling Center promotes the personal development and psychological well-being of all students and
encourages a college environment that is conducive to growth and learning. We provide high quality, ethical counseling and
psychological services to UNI students and consultation services to UNI faculty and staff.
We fulfill our mission by providing counseling services, conducting outreach to the campus, and providing education and
training. In order to maintain the quality of our services, the Counseling Center staff engages in professional development
activities, scientific research, and utilization of data to assess and improve our services. The Counseling Center is fully
accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services.
Goals & Accomplishments 2009 - 2010
1.
2.
3.
Fully implement use of Titanium
a. Clients are now able to enter information directly into Titanium (electronic record system).
b. Use of the Standardized Data Set was implemented.
c. IRB approval for participation in Center for the Study of Collegiate Mental Health was in process and approved in
the 2010-11 academic year.
Increase Outreach
a. Number of individuals participating in outreach activities increased but the number of activities and programs
decreased slightly.
b. Counseling Center staff increased their attendance at campus activities and events.
c. Counseling Interns increased the number of outreach programs conducted to 18.
Add to Continuum of Clinical Services
a. Establishment of therapy groups was unsuccessful. We continued to be unable to get enough participants to start
and maintain therapy groups. A consultant was brought to the Counseling Center for additional training on group
therapy programs.
b. Counseling Center staff served on the Veteran's Student Services Committee, attended training on serving
Veterans, and assisted with the planning of a Student Affairs Diversity Committee program on Veterans. The
implementation of the Standardized Data Set allowed clients to indicate if they were military veterans and
whether they experienced stress due to their service.
Counseling Services
Month
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
New Clients
60
145
116
77
37
50
89
46
37
12
12
7
Therapy Sessions
73
436
606
525
351
343
569
501
649
175
106
73
New Clients Seeking Counseling
Seen same day
Seen next day
Seen within 2 days
Seen within 7 days
%
23
15
12
89
Staffing
The Counseling Center staff consisted of 3 full-time psychologists, 4 full-time mental health counselors, and 1 part-time mental
health counselor during the academic year. Services were also provided by 5 part-time Counseling Interns. One counselor and
both clerical staff members were on FMLA leave for significant periods of time during the year. One psychologist resigned,
effective at the end of the 2009-10 year, and searches were successfully conducted to replace the psychologist and add an
additional mental health counselor.
Professional Staff Members:
Joseph DeWitz, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist & Outreach Coordinator
Paula Gilroy, Ed.D.
Licensed Psychologist & Training Coordinator
Stephanie Harken, M.A.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Gretchen Honsell, M.A.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Jennifer Murra, M.A.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor & Clinical Coordinator
Amy Roling, M.A.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
David Towle, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist & Director
Priscilla Villarreal, M.A.
Mental Health Counselor
Practicum Counselors:
Counseling Interns:
Jessica DeBoom, B.A.
Randi Burns, B.A.
Katie Gregor, B.A.
Julie Kneip, B.A.
Sara Lenz, B.A.
Lindsay Linck, B.A.
Nicole Nees, B.A.
Kim Rogers, B.A.
Katrina Webbeking, B.A.
Angela Bigelow, B.A.
Cassie Welsh, B.A.
Jim Griffin, Ph.D. Licensed Psychologist & Faculty Supervisor
Outreach
The Outreach Team, consisting of DeWitz, Harken, Villarreal, & Honsell, planned and assessed outreach activities. Outreach
Team members included DeWitz, Harken, Villarreal & Honsell.
The Counseling Center conducted 112 outreach programs to 2,264 individual recipients.
Counseling Center staff members participated in Foundations of Excellence, the Student Affairs Diversity Committee, the
Assessment & Consultation Team, the Critical Incident Planning Team, the University Health Services Eating Disorders
Treatment Team, the Veteran Student Services Committee, the Employee Assistance Committee, and the Alcohol Advisory
Committee.
The Counseling Center offers anonymous on-line screening through Mentalhealthscreening.org.
.Online Screening Topic
Depression
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Eating Disorders
Alcohol
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Number Screened
307
196
147
83
50
57
Training & Professional Development
During the 2009-10 academic year, we provided training to 5 interns and 6 practicum counselors from the Mental Health
Counseling Program in the UNI College of Education. The Counseling Interns provided 1342 counseling sessions to 422 clients.
They received 133 hours of individual supervision from licensed Counseling Center staff members. Practicum counselors
provided 114 counseling sessions to 29 clients. They received 79 hours of supervision and 35 hours of seminar with Jim Griffin,
Ph.D., a Licensed Psychologist.
Staff members participated in 44 professional development activities for a total of 190 hours. This does not include
independent self-study activities staff members engaged in to fulfill licensure requirements.
Counseling Center staff members participate in professional organizations, including the American Counseling Association, the
American Psychological Association, the Iowa Psychological Association, the Association of University and College Counseling
Center Directors, the Association for the Coordination of Counseling Center Clinical Services, the Society of Counseling
Psychology (APA Div 17), and the Section on College and University Counseling Centers.
Dr. Paula Gilroy served on the Editorial Board of the Journal of College Counseling.
Counseling Activities:
Number of Clients
Appointments Attended
Average sessions per client
Initial Assessments
Emergency Initial Assessments
Individual Therapy Sessions
Couple Therapy Sessions
Phone Consultations
In-Person Consultations
No Show Rate
2009-10
688
4,419
6.42
620
166
3,317
32
649
66
7.6%
2008-09
697
4,426
6.35
625
117
3,432
52
499
61
6.6%
2007-08
669
4,036
6.03
567
175
3,107
31
433
82
7.9%
C LIENT C HARACTERISTICS
Classification:
%
Marital Status:
%
Freshman
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
Graduate
15
15
21
29
12
Single
Serious
Dating/Committed
Married
60
Majors
Elementary Education
Psychology
Communication
Biology
Social Work
Music
Undecided
Art
Criminology
Accounting
Early Childhood
Earth Science
English
Rank
1
2
3
4
4
6
6
8
9
10
10
10
10
Gender:
%
Female
Male
Age:
Average Age
Median Age
Age 22 and Under
Age Range
Ethnicity:
Caucasian
African American
Hispanic /Latino
Asian American
Multiple ethnicities
Not Reported/Other
73
26
22
20
72%
18-61
%
86
3
4
2
1
4
30
7
Other Client
Characteristics
Financial Situation is
Always or Often Stressful
Religion is Important
First Generation College
Student
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or
Questioning
Intercollegiate Athlete
Registered with Student
Disability Services
International Students
Served in Military
Referred by:
%
47
49
26
9
7
6
4
2
%
Self
Friend
Family Member
Faculty
Health Clinic
Off-Campus Physician
Website
Staff
Hall Coordinator
Resident Assistant
28
12
7
6
4
3
3
2
2
1
Residence:
%
Residence Hall
Off-Campus Apartments
Other
University Apartments
41
32
14
6
Severity Factors:
Have a Family Member
With a Substance Abuse
Problem
Experienced a Traumatic
Event
Friend or Relative
Attempted or Completed
Suicide
Experienced Emotional
Abuse
Engaged in Binge Drinking
at Least Twice in Past
Month
On Psychotropic
Medication at Time of
Intake
Ever Considered Suicide
Previous Suicide Attempt
History of Self-Injurious
Behavior
Experienced Sexual Abuse
Experienced Physical
Abuse
Others Have Expressed
Concern About Your
Drinking
Use Drugs Not Prescribed
by Doctor
%
43
38
37
36
29
27
27
10
25
15
15
12
11
Counseling History:
%
Previous Counseling
Previous Counseling at UNI
Counseling Center
Prior Drug & Alcohol
Treatment
48
23
4