Each year hundreds of area residents seek counseling at Ball State's Counseling Practicum Clinic on a variety of problems, said Christine Smith, who is studying counseling psychology.

Clients come to the clinic for assistance with anxiety, depression, relationships, family conflicts, school-related issues, spouse abuse, career and educational planning, health-related matters and chronic illness.

"We see a whole range of people from young school children to senior citizens," Smith said. "It is very exciting to see people grow over the course of the sessions."

The clinic is a training and research facility for the Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services. The counselors at the clinic are primarily graduate students in counseling psychology under the supervision of the department's faculty who are doctoral-level psychologists. Some faculty members also do counseling. The clinic is located on the sixth floor of Teachers College. It began operations in 1969.

There is a small fee for services received at the clinic. The money from this fee goes toward buying material related to the operation of the clinic. However, no clients will be denied services because of inability to pay.

While most of the clinic's clients are referred by area physicians and psychiatrists, counselors also do outreach work in the community.

"We also go out into the community to do workshops for various organizations and schools," Smith said. "We feel we can be effective by helping people learn to recognize potential problems that employees, students or friends may be facing."

The 38-year-old former Florida resident finds her work rewarding.

"It is all about talking and establishing a relationship between the client and the counselor," Smith said. "Once the relationship is established, then we can help that person overcome the problem."

For more information, call (765) 285-8047. 

By Marc Ransford, Communications Manager