Free mental health counseling fits UHC’s mission

Having a strong track record as a mental health provider, the University of Holy Cross’ (UHC) Thomas E. Chambers Counseling Center quickly shifted gears in mid-March to provide continuity of care via free tele-mental health/teletherapy. 
    

Not only have its regular clients with mental health issues been served, but many new clients are being assisted. An average of eight persons a day are registered. 
    

“Ever since we transitioned to tele-health and free services – we have previously offered a nominal fee of $20 – we have received a slew of calls,” said  Dr. Roy Salgado, professor of counseling at UHC. “Our counselors-in-training have been busy. … People are calling in relation to their anxieties and fears and concerns surrounding the pandemic, but also in regards to personal issues – relationship issues, anxiety and depression. It all tends to be tied together.”
 

Counseling is free
    

UHC’s free mental health services for all citizens in Louisiana will continue until the pandemic is over, Salgado said.
    

“We are not charging anybody anything,” Salgado said. “This is something that the University of Holy Cross decided to do as a service. Part of the Marianites of Holy Cross’ (founders of the university) mission has been to help those in need – students and members of the community – to be that shining light through the darkness. And, right now, the world is experiencing this pandemic on a global scale.”
    

Salgado said the counseling center knew it couldn’t abandon clients, so its staff and about 80 master’s and doctoral-level graduate students were quickly trained to work remotely. 
 

New TV program on WLAE
    

In addition to tele-mental health services, the University of Holy Cross and WLAE-TV teamed up to broaden community awareness of the benefits of counseling by developing a 30-minute TV show, “Coping During the COVID Crisis.”    
    

The program is co-hosted by Salgado and broadcaster Janet Gross and airs on Fridays at 8 p.m. on WLAE-TV, Channel 32 Cox, Channel 714 and 1014, Charter Channel 11 and 711 and AT&T DISH Channel 32. 
    

Salgado and Gross interview counseling department faculty members such as Dr. Carolyn White, dean of counseling, education and business and a counseling professor, to provide tips to cope with life during the pandemic. 
    

Issues such as marriage and family problems, career loss and change, distance learning and home schooling, how to deal with being with loved ones 24/7, slowing the spread of COVID-19 and considering whether or not to travel are among the topics. 
    

Three episodes were taped initially centering on the community’s fears and concerns due to COVID-19 “to calm the public’s anxieties about the pandemic.” 
    

“As the pandemic progressed, the series took on a life of its own, and we were invited to do three more episodes and three more episodes,” Salgado said. 
    

A total of 15 episodes have been completed, and additional ones are planned “since this doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.”
    

“As concerns presented themselves in our counseling situations – as we see themes – we are developing episodes centered on them to address in the larger community,” Salgado said.
    

Salgado said the show is impacting the community. Even a Rotary club has reached out for him to talk to members about mental health.
    

“I would like for people to realize that the series and free tele-mental health services that the University of Holy Cross is offering to the community is here,” Salgado said.
    

“We want to let people know we don’t have control over the pandemic. But through counseling, individuals can find that there are things over which they do have control, and perhaps they can find solutions to those smaller things over which they do have control. Counselors and counseling can bring that to light and ease the insecurities we are experiencing during this time.”
    

Counseling is available Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call (504) 398-2168 or visit http://uhcno.edu.
    

Christine Bordelon can be reached at cbordelon@clarionherald.org.