OCU Counseling Services is offering remote counseling sessions because of OCU’s indefinite closure due COVID-19.
The sessions take place on doxy.me, a widely-used software for telemedicine. During the sessions, clients can talk with OCU counselors about any mental health concerns they have.
Counseling Services is one of several mental health providers to embrace telemedicine because of COVID-19. Recently, Congress waived several restrictions on telemedicine counseling services for Medicare recipients in order to make mental health services more accessible during the pandemic.
Mindy Windholz, director of Counseling Services, said the remote counseling sessions are the best way to currently help as many students as possible.
“With the move to online courses, we needed to find a way to continue to offer services to as many students as possible,” Windholz said. “Providing telehealth sessions made the most sense. We want to continue to offer support to students who are going to be greatly affected in ways that we have never seen before.”
Windholz said Counseling Services has seen fewer clients since they started using the online format.
“We are seeing some lessening in the sessions because we are not able to continue services due to restrictions from some states,” Windholz said. “But overall, we are steadily busy with appointments and working with those we can serve.”
Windholz said counseling sessions can address a variety of issues including anxiety, depression, grief, uncertainty about the future, loneliness, suicidal ideation, relationship issues and difficulty with adjustment.
Windholz said there are some restrictions on telemedicine services. For instance, some states may require a counselor to be registered in the same state where the client is located. If a student is ineligible for remote counseling sessions, Windholz said Counseling Services can still connect them with other mental health resources.
Besides counseling sessions, Windholz said there are other ways students can take care of their mental health right now.
“Students can download self-care apps which include mindfulness and meditation, work on getting a sleep routine, find a way to continue routines during the day, begin to rediscover abandoned hobbies or pick up a new interest, connect with friends on ZOOM or other platforms, or get outside and change surroundings,” Windholz said.
Natalie Gregg, English/education senior, said she thinks the remote counseling services are a great idea.
“I think it would have been unethical to suddenly cut off mental health services to students who use them,” Gregg said. “So, I think it’s really great that they are continuing to make these services available, especially in such a mentally exhausting time.”
Students who want to schedule a counseling session can do so by directly contacting the counselors or Chloe Roby, counseling administrative assistant at croby@okcu.edu. All of the counselors’ contact information can be found on the OCU website.
Currently sessions are being offered 8am to 5pm, Monday-Friday.
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