Students in the Oregon State University-Cascades Campus graduate counseling program are providing free counseling to community members.

The sessions are held at the university’s Graduate and Research Center in Bend. The counselors have completed the first half of their course work and are using their time counseling community members toward a 900-hour internship requirement. Seventeen students provide counseling on issues such as stress, anxiety, depression and trauma.

“Confidentiality is very important,” said Teresa Thompson, one of the student providers who also coordinates the clinic’s day-to-day operations. “It’s a new and scary endeavor for clients. Because we have cameras and supervisors, we make sure that clients are well versed in confidentiality.”

Sessions are taped so that students are able, with their instructors, to review their work. Additionally, the rooms are visible through double mirrors. Supervisors are always available to become involved in a session if a situation exceeds a student provider’s training.

“Our clients are made aware that the counselors are students,” said Ryan Reese, an instructor and clinical coordinator for the program. “If there is an upcoming graduation, the client will know that and have some choices presented to them about how to proceed.”

There is no set number of sessions for clients, and Thompson said that the client population is very diverse.

“I’ve seen all ages, 9 and up, and all genders, couples and veterans,” she said. “The flow of patients has also been steady. I’m forecasting that we’ll have more clients than clinicians.”

Despite the diversity, she has noted that a common theme has been the effects of economic hardships brought on by the recession.

“There’s still a lot of fallout from the downturn, and a component of career counseling seems to enter quite often,” Thompson said.

Clients have found the clinic largely through word of mouth, said Thompson, but there are also fliers around town and a Craigslist post.

“Having free sessions or a really reduced price is huge,” Thompson said. “This population may otherwise not get services, so we see ourselves as helping the community heal while the community helps train students.”

Reese said that the university’s administration has encouraged the adoption of a small fee, between $1 and $10.

“Part of it is for the clinic’s sustainability,” Reese said. “But it’s also about greater ownership; even if you charge $1, there’s more investment from the client. Having to work on accountability with clients also simulates private practices for students.”

The free counseling began in January and has continued to grow since. Services are now also provided in La Pine once a week. Thompson hopes to offer group sessions and a young women’s empowerment group in the future.

The OSU-Cascades free counseling clinic will be on a break between Aug. 16 and Sept. 30.

Anyone interested in receiving counseling is encouraged to visit OSUcascades.edu/free-counseling.

A client’s first session will be an intake interview, which will not resemble a typical session. After the intake, the client will be paired with a counselor who is a good fit.