Texas Wesleyan University is broadening its counseling services to include local residents, particularly those in east Fort Worth. The Texas Wesleyan Community Counseling Center, located on East Rosedale Street, offers both short-term and long-term therapy options. While counseling is free for students, community members can access services on a sliding scale, ranging from $10 to $50 per session based on their income and family size.
The center primarily serves the Polytechnic Heights community, where it addresses various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and trauma. Amy Battles, a 66-year-old doctoral student in marriage and family therapy, emphasizes the importance of listening to clients as they express their feelings and experiences. “If you listen to somebody talk long enough, you will hear their heart. They will tell you,” Battles shared, underscoring her commitment to understanding and supporting clients.
Master’s and doctoral students at the center gain clinical experience while working under the supervision of faculty members. This hands-on training not only helps students fulfill licensing requirements but also contributes to their professional development. Many graduates from the master’s program have gone on to work in various healthcare settings, including veterans affairs clinics, hospitals, and private practices.
Kathleen Wallace, the former clinical director at the counseling center, highlights the center’s role in shaping students’ identities as they transition to adulthood. Faculty members actively guide students in developing their therapeutic skills, focusing on how to help clients build resilience and problem-solving abilities. Wallace notes, “How can we help you lean into who you want to be as an adult and really build your identity and your strengths?”
The center’s comprehensive approach to counseling not only addresses individual needs but also aims to strengthen community ties. Battles sees her work as an opportunity to give back, stating, “You have the opportunity now to pour into this person’s life and fill whatever that hole is that has been in their life for however long it’s been there.”
Through these counseling services, Texas Wesleyan University is not only supporting its students but also actively contributing to the mental health and well-being of the surrounding community. The collaboration between students and faculty fosters a nurturing environment, where both therapists and clients can grow together.
