In recent years, students have presented concerns about accessing healthcare services at Ohio University due to the lack of providers on campus.
A main concern among students is the accessibility of therapists on campus, with some students applying weeks before the semester to be seen.
Ohio University provides Counseling and Psychological Services, or CPS, for all students. The services include 24/7 crisis evaluations, drop-in services, Group Counseling, Individual Counseling, single sessions, psychiatry consultation, medication referrals and various specialized treatments.
Additionally, CPS offers “Let’s Talk Hours,” “Coping Cafe,” support spaces and online self-help therapy modules.
Let’s Talk Hours are available Sunday through Friday, 5 p.m. and 10 p.m., at the Living and Learning Center in room 160.
Paul Castelino, director of CPS, wrote in an email that CPS provides evidence-based, clinically driven and short-term therapy.
Castelino said each student and their counselor will develop treatment goals and plans at the beginning of therapy and work toward accomplishing them.
“If it is urgent, we encourage students to use drop-in hours and, in the evening, Let’s Talk Hours, so students do not have to wait to see a counselor whether they are waiting to be assigned to a therapist or between their appointments,” Castelino said.
Some students are concerned about accessibility to these services, as it can be difficult to get an appointment.
Bob Walters, a senior at OU, has used CPS since freshman year but has switched to another provider.
After Walter’s initial booking process with CPS during freshman year, the waitlist was a couple of months to get the necessary help, and Walters did not receive a therapist until the following semester.
Walters said CPS had a lot of staff turnover, so he frequently received a new therapist. Within four years at OU, Walters has had five different therapists, which led to having to start from square one every couple of months.
Walters has since switched to the Psychology and Social Work Clinic in Porter Hall since they better meet his needs.
Walters said CPS was trying its best to accommodate as many students as possible despite having a limited number of staff members.
“One thing I was hoping for through the school services was the potential of an ADHD diagnosis, or at least testing to see if I would get a diagnosis,” Walters said. “I have not even pursued because they said that the sign-ups for that are literally months out.”
Additional costs for ADHD testing at OU are another burden associated with the diagnosis process, according to Walters.
Despite this, Walters also said CPS is good at providing referrals outside the school's help but might present a financial problem for students.
According to the CPS webpage, they do not bill health insurance. Students in The Ohio Guarantee tuition plan are eligible for CPS services without an additional fee.
Students not enrolled in The Ohio Guarantee tuition plan are automatically enrolled in the Wellbeing Fee, a university program that helps reduce patient costs for services at CPS.
Students pay $20 per individual therapy session if the Wellbeing Fee is waived.
Castelino said 12% of the student body uses CPS. Between 2022 and 2024, there has been an 8% increase in individual therapy sessions.
Castelino said CPS emphasizes access to these treatments, offering classroom visits throughout the university to spread information about their services and the importance of mental healthcare.
“Our goal is that students are well aware of these resources and services and utilize them when they need them,” Castelino said.
