Mind Matters: Psychology Clinic Serves Arkansans

America is experiencing a mental health care crisis. The country does not have enough providers. And in rural states like Arkansas, patients often live far away from the mental health care services they need. 

For the past 50 years, the Psychology Clinic, run by the University of Arkansas’ Department of Psychological Sciences, has worked to address mental health care needs with low-cost therapy for the university community, residents of Northwest Arkansas and the entire state. 

With the support of psychology students and faculty, the Psychology Clinic turns every dollar in its budget into the equivalent of $7.50 in mental health care to Arkansas. 

This month on Short Talks from the Hill, director Jessica Fugitt discusses the mental health care needs of Arkansas and the work of the Psychology Clinic, which provides high-quality, evidence-based treatment. 

“One really special thing about evidence-based care is that it is designed to be time limited,” Fugitt said. “So something funny about psychologists is that when we’re doing therapy, we’re trying to work ourselves out of a job. We’re trying to help your symptoms improve so much that you really don’t need us anymore.” 

Short Talks from the Hill  highlights research, scholarly work and economic impact news at the U of A. 

Short Talks can be downloaded wherever you get your podcasts. 

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.

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