Evaluating the effectiveness of short-term treatment at a university counseling center

Abstract

The effectiveness of short‐term treatment provided to 55 students treated at a university counseling center was evaluated. The Symptom Checklist‐90‐R was administered at intake and at the termination of treatment for 41 clients, and at initial intake, again after a 6‐week no‐treatment waiting list period, and again at the termination of treatment, for 14 clients. Statistically and clinically significant improvements in SCL‐90‐R scores were obtained following counseling for those receiving immediate treatment. Clients in the waiting list condition did not improve until after receiving treatment. This study adds to the existing empirical literature suggesting that university counseling centers provide effective treatment. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 55: 1095–1106, 1999.

Comparison of cognitive-behavioural therapy and psychodynamic therapy in the treatment of anxiety among university students: an effectiveness study

“…Another limitation could be related to the fact that the sample investigated in the present study is mainly composed of females; however, this gender difference in requesting psychological help is well known and has already been documented in previous studies regarding the university counselling services (Connell et al, 2008;Hogg & Deffenbacher, 1988;Minami et al, 2009;Talley & Clack, 2006;Vonk & Thyer, 1999).…”

“…The first review examining the effectiveness of student counselling was published by Breakwell in 1987, summarising the works carried out between 1966 and 1986. Later, other works investigated the effectiveness of student counselling services in the Anglo-Saxon area (Connell, Barkham, & Mellor-Clark, 2008;Hogg & Deffenbacher, 1988;Minami et al, 2009;Talley & Clack, 2006;Vonk & Thyer, 1999). One of the main concerns regarding these studies is that they were conducted outside Italy, thus reducing the possibility of making their results generally applicable to the country (Connell, Barkham, Cahill, Gilbody, & Madill, 2006).…”

The Effectiveness of Counselling

“…Turner et al (1996) found that time-limited counselling had a modest impact on adjustment in a sample of student clients. Vonk & Thyer (1999), in a study of the effectiveness of short-term counselling (average 10 sessions), found that, compared to students in a waiting-list condition, those who received counselling recorded substantial levels of clinical improvement. In this study, 73 % of clients met the criteria for psychiatric 'caseness' at intake.…”

Research on Social Work Practice Does not Benefit from Blurry Theory

“…Itwasjustificationally concluded that "It is clear that the project was successful in accomplishing the objectives of moving a significant number of children out of foster home placement" (Stein & Gambrill, 1977, p. 509; see also Stein, Gambrill, & Wiltse, 1978). I note that this study did not involve a placebo control group, a failing it shares with much applied research involving real life clients in agency-based settings (e.g., Baker & Thyer, 2000;Vonk & Thyer, 1999).…”

“…But I did not use Baker and Thyer (2000) as an example of an atheoretical intervention. Similarly, the reader can review what I said about the Vonk and Thyer (1999) study. I said that·the practitioners used many diverse approaches to intervention .…”