SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — A dangerous collision between the need for mental health care and a shortage of behavioral health workers is looming in Utah, according to a recent study by the University of Wisconsin.
In the Beehive State, adults reported feeling that their mental health was “not good” on an average of 4.7 days in the past month. But Westminster University in Salt Lake City is stepping up, offering free mental health counseling services to anyone over the age of 5.
“And that is really life-threatening when it comes to mental health issues if you have to wait that long for treatment when you’re in crisis,” said Anna Lieber, Clinical Director of the Counseling and Counselor Education Department at Westminster University.
The counseling is conducted by graduate students, closely supervised by licensed therapists, offering a range of services from family and play therapy to couples and group sessions.
“Some are easier cases than others, some are hard, so you need a minute to process,” said Bridget Thackeray, a graduate student and counselor at the clinic.
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For graduate students like Thackeray and Julia Ashton, working as counselors is not just educational but is also fulfilling.
“When I talk to people in my cohort, it always comes down to the same thing; we all just want to help people,” Ashton said.
Lieber said the mental health struggles Utahns are facing the most include anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief, emphasizing the urgency of this initiative.
“Especially with our adolescent and young adults, just increases in depression, anxiety, and then suicidal thoughts” she said.
The clinic aims to provide more than just a training ground for future therapists.
“There’s so many people who don’t have access, whether it’s the financial burden or they just don’t know where to look,” Thackeray said.
It seeks to break down the financial and accessibility barriers to mental health care even for those without insurance, referring them to specialists if needed.
Initial intake sessions last 90 minutes, and ongoing sessions usually last 60 minutes.
“I’ve experienced therapy saving lives, and just talking and connection and that empathy, it saved my life, and it saved my family’s lives, and certainly my clients,” said Lieber.
The clinic is currently open and operates by appointment only. To schedule your first session, call (801)-832-2910.