Topeka, Kan. – The Washburn University Psychological Services Clinic will provide free mental health screenings Thursday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The screening is available in person at the clinic or online. The clinic is located in Henderson Learning Center, room 111. This screening is free and open to the public, masks are required. Anyone is welcome to fill out the screening questionnaire online at this link: https://forms.gle/25V4cB3NXgh6Epmh6. Those who fill out the questionnaire online will be contacted by a member of the Washburn University Psychological Services Clinic.
Individuals will fill out a questionnaire about symptoms they may be experiencing. Common symptoms of mental health disorders include feeling more irritable or sad than usual, feeling isolated or lonely, having problems in your relationships, or simply not feeling like yourself. The screening is completely confidential and comes with no obligations. After evaluating the questionnaire, if the person would benefit from therapy, the clinic can provide a low-cost option or staff can refer to other resources in the area.
“The treatments that are used in the clinic have been shown to be beneficial in scientific studies,” said Kimberly Day, clinic director. “The most effective types of psychological treatment for depressive disorders include both cognitive and interpersonal process therapies. In either approach, treatment sessions are typically once each week and last for one hour.
“Through cognitive therapy, you learn about the various factors (situational, cognitive, emotional and behavioral) that maintain and exacerbate depressive symptoms, as well as develop active strategies for combating depression,” said Day. “In Interpersonal Process therapy, the focus is on social interaction, and the level of satisfaction you experience in relationships. You and your therapist will seek to first identify, and then specifically address and alter, patterns that may be maladaptive and therefore decrease your ability to develop and maintain a healthy and supportive social network.”
The Washburn University Psychological Services Clinic is a treatment, research and training clinic, offering services to Washburn students and members of the Topeka community. Graduate students in the masters in psychology program with a clinical emphasis, who are supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist, provide services at the clinic. All services are equally available to individuals without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sex, marital or parental status, genetic information or sexual orientation/gender identity.
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