University of Akron’s Psychology Department Counseling Clinic

Services & Staff

We provide individual therapy for both personal and vocational/career concerns.  Most of our clients are seen on a weekly basis, at the same time each week. Each appointment lasts 50 minutes. All services are confidential and free of charge.  Although we do not provide medication, group therapy, or couple’s therapy at our clinic, we often work with other local professionals to help clients get the type of care they need.

Due to our role as a training clinic, we do not have the resources to provide services to clients who are under the age of 18, actively suicidal, actively experiencing psychotic symptoms, court-referred, or actively abusing substances or recently released from inpatient substance abuse treatment.

Our Staff

All our clinicians are in a doctoral training program to obtain a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. However, our clinicians come into the program with a widerange of experiences.  Some have master’s degrees in counseling-related fields and years of experience providing therapy, while others are seeing clients for the first time. 

What to Expect during the First Appointment

Your first appointment is called an “intake assessment.”  During your intake, your therapist will ask many standard questions about your personal history, what brings you to therapy, and what you’d like to accomplish in therapy.  The intake session will feel different from a typical therapy session.  Your therapist will ask a lot of direct questions to get a sense of your background and what is bringing you to counseling.  We also encourage you to ask your therapist any questions you might have about the therapy process or your therapist’s approach. If you and/or your therapist determine that our clinic cannot offer the services that best meet your needs, we will work to connect you with a more appropriate resource.

What to Expect during Follow Up Appointments

If you have never been to therapy, your expectations might be shaped more by pop culture than reality.  You won’tbe lying on a couch while your therapist silently smokes a pipe and doodles in a notebook.

The therapy process will not look the same for everyone.  Your experience will depend on the concerns you bring to therapy, your therapist’s style, and your personal preferences. Some sessions may be difficult and emotional, while others are lighthearted and celebratory.  You might cry, crack jokes, and quietly reflect all in one session.  Your therapist might bring in worksheets or you might just talk.  This is all ok.  Each session is unique, but what they all have in common is that they’re a place to share thoughts and express emotions in a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental environment.  We encourage our clients to take an active role in shaping their therapy experience, and each of our therapists aim to be flexible and responsive to your individual circumstances and needs.