Kristin M. Vespia

Human Development

Most of my current scholarly projects involve topics important to my identity as a counseling psychologist. I am co-editing a special journal issue on the evolution of the scientist-practitioner training model in counseling psychology. I am examining the impact of a multicultural counseling course on undergraduates’ knowledge of and attitudes about diversity. I have also completed an investigation of counseling services on small college campuses. That project is described in more detail below.

A National Survey of Small College Counseling Centers: Successes, Issues, and Challenges

The policies and practices of small college counseling centers have been neglected in the literature at a time when campus mental health services are under scrutiny. A national sample of 181 small campus counseling center directors responded to the Iowa Counseling Center Survey-Revised. Their responses were compared to information about large university counseling centers, as assessed in a previous national survey (Stone et al., 2000). With a modal full-time staff of one, small centers faced professional isolation and diverse student needs. They were significantly less likely than large universities to employ psychologists, assign DSM-IV diagnoses, or use formal treatment plans. They were more apt to provide long-term therapy and follow-up with referred clients. Research, clinical and training implications are discussed.