The Psychological Clinic: Advancing Mental Health Care, Training, and Research
Our outstanding clinical faculty: Dr. Cavell, Dr. Fugitt, and Dr. Judah.
The Psychological Clinic is celebrating 50 years of service to the community! As part of the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Psychological Science, the Psychological Clinic serves as a cornerstone for mental health care, clinical training, and research.
The clinic pursues a three-part mission of training future mental health care providers, while supporting research into the causes and treatments of mental health problems, and providing direct mental health care services to individuals and families throughout the state.
We are on a mission to make a difference in the lives of all Arkansans.
Serving the Community with High-Quality Mental Health Care
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2023), “Our country is facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. The crisis isn’t just affecting adults, it’s devastating young people, and people from every background are impacted.”
Arkansans are especially hard hit. Arkansas has been declared a “health professional shortage area” with mental health needs being the most significant unmet healthcare need in the state.
About 1 in 3 Arkansas report symptoms of depression or anxiety disorder. But nearly 40% of Arkansans reporting problematic mental health symptoms are unable to access reliable and effective services. It’s a crisis with both a human toll and an economic impact.
To address this need, the Department of Psychological Science is committed to making the clinic a more visible, robust, and impactful resource for the university, the community, and the state of Arkansas.
The clinic is committed to expanding access to mental health services, particularly for underserved populations. By offering science-based, high-quality care, it provides a critical resource for individuals and families who might otherwise struggle to access mental health support.
Each year, the clinic serves over 150 individuals and families, ensuring each receives the care they need. The clinic provides nearly 4,000 hours of low-cost therapeutic services, equating to $350,000 in donated mental health care annually—all on an annual operating budget of just $44,000.
The Psychological Clinic also serves as the heart of the department’s Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, by providing rigorous training to prepare compassionate, scientifically informed mental health professionals.
Graduate students receive hands-on experience under the supervision of eight licensed psychologists, refining their skills to become both highly effective clinicians and clinically informed researchers. With 27 graduate psychologists in training, the clinic plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of mental health care.
The U of A’s clinical training program has been nationally recognized by the Council of University Directors of Clinical Training, the Council of Clinical HealthPsychology Training Programs, and the American Psychological Association.
Each year, the clinic supports two to four grant-funded and independent randomized clinical trials, leading the way in implementation science. By prioritizing evidence-based practices, the clinic not only improves patient outcomes but also contributes to the broader scientific understanding of mental health treatment.
“The need to expand clinic services is urgent, tangible, and immediate,” said James Lampinen, the department’s chair. “We are inspired by Chancellor Robinson’s call to fulfill the land grant mission of this university to improve the lives of all Arkansans.”
“We are uniquely positioned to do so and are committed to doing everything we can to leverage the talent and resources in the department to address the critical mental health needs of our community,” he said.
“One of our major goals is to work toward an endowment that would fully support the work of the clinic,” he added. “It’s amazing the work the clinic already does to improve the lives of people in our community. But there is so much more we could do.”
“We are working hard on plans that would allow us to expand services, train the next generation of mental health professionals, and conduct leading-edge research on the causes of and treatments for mental health problems,” Lampinen said.
About Our Services
Who We Serve
Students, U of A employees, AND community members across Arkansas No insurance, employment, or program qualifications needed—open to all! Affordable care: Sessions as low as $20 on a sliding scale
Our Services
Group & Individual Therapy
Personalized interventions tailored to your needs and grounded in evidence-based, empirically supported frameworks
Comprehensive Psychological Evaluations
Assessments for mental health concerns, ADHD, learning differences, and more
Specialized Services
Family-centered evaluation & treatment for autistic youth and adults, as well as effective treatment for trauma, OCD, anxiety, and other mental health needs