Human Development Clinic

The Human Development Clinic is staffed by faculty and graduate students of the counseling program within the Department of Counseling at Montana State University. Services are offered to members of the community and to students and staff of Montana State University.  All requests for services remain confidential.  The purpose of the clinic is twofold:

• to provide low-cost mental health services to the adults and children of the Gallatin Valley and beyond
• to serve as a training facility for graduate students in marriage and family counseling and mental health counseling.  All graduate student counselors are supervised by university faculty who are licensed mental health professionals.

The clinic offers the following services

• Individual counseling
• Couple, child, and family counseling
• Career counseling
• Parenting Through Divorce workshops
• Consultation and referrals

We also offer opportunities for continuing professional development and education.  Research is conducted at the clinic to gain a better understanding of the counseling process and to regularly upgrade our services.

An essential component of counseling involves a collaborative relationship between the counselor and client in order to guide the client toward greater understanding of himself or herself.  The client and counselor work together to establish the client's goals and explore issues which may include those related to the client's family of origin history, repetitive patterns, or grief and loss.  An important aspect of the therapeutic relationship includes providing the client with an interpersonal experience that feels and looks different from other relationships in the client's life that have been difficult.  The idea is that, through this therapeutic relationship, the client may learn more effective tools and ways of being that he or she may take into their daily life.  The therapeutic relationship involves direct personal contact between counselor and client, mainly through talking during 50 minute weekly sessions. Owing to the intimate nature of these communications, client confidentiality is assured.

What kinds of difficulties often lead one to seek psychological services? Many people seek services when they are highly distressed and their ability to cope has been greatly challenged by stressful situations or by symptoms/behaviors that are problematic.  Thus, conditions such as depression, anxiety, excessive fears, eating disorders, and chronic sleep difficulties suggest the need for psychological consultation.  Also, strained relationships, school failure, parenting difficulties, loss of a parent, or other stressful occurrences often suggest the potential usefulness of psychotherapy.

Sometimes, individuals seek therapy to learn to cop with feelings associated with long-term issues such as childhood abuse, psychological or physical trauma, parental divorce, school achievement problems, or the lack of affection and nurturance during childhood.

Others initiate therapy when they become aware that their current relationships may be affected by ineffective communication and interpersonal styles.  Also, many individuals find counseling helpful in increasing their self-awareness or life satisfaction by clarifying their goals, becoming more aware of emotional needs and feelings, and addressing developmental tasks of life through the support of a therapeutic relationship.

Services for children experiencing behavioral/achievement difficulties at school or at home may include individual therapy, family counseling, parent training, psychological assessment, consultation, and other interventions.  Family therapy is offered for such issues as ongoing family conflict, sibling competition, concerns of blended families, unique demands experiences by single-parent families, and adjustment to divorce.  Couples therapy is available for relational partners working on communication issues, conflict resolution, sexual dysfunction, and intimacy concerns.  This type of therapy is often a helpful mode of intervention for pre-commitment couples.

You may contact the clinic at 406.994.4113 to schedule an appointment.  Anyone who answers will be able to assist you.  If you reach our confidential voice mail, simply leave a message with your name and contact information and someone will return your all within one day.  A variety of days and times will be offered to you for your first appointment.

Your first visit

• When you first contact the Clinic, an "intake" appointment will be scheduled for you.  This is a free, initial consultation wherein you will meet with an intern who will gather your history and information about what's currently troubling you.
• You will be asked to arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled time in order to fill out some initial paperwork, which includes a personal information form and information about the Clinic that we ask you to sign.
• When you arrive at the Clinic, come in the front door and you'll find an intercom in the entryway; push the button, identify yourself, and someone will bring down your paperwork.
• At this time, you will also receive information about the Clinic, including our policies and procedures.
• Your fee for ongoing sessions will also be determined at this time and is based upon a sliding fee.  We will ask you to provide us with your annual income in order to determine your fee.
• The intake appointment is a time to meet your and to be sure we can meet your needs.  If it is determined at that time that your needs may be better met elsewhere, we will provide you with competent referral resources.

Ongoing treatment

• Upon completing the intake session, you will be assigned to a counselor.  If you are seeking couples or family counseling, you will be assigned to two counselors who will both meet with you on a regular basis.
• You will meet with your counselor(s) once a week for 50 minutes.
• Your counseling sessions are your to use as you need; many people find it helpful to talk about their past, including their experiences within their family of origin and other relationships; others feel it's important to discuss what's happening in their life currently.  Counseling may be a place to make some connections between one's past and present experiences and to gain related insight.  Your counselor is available to support and encourage you during your sessions.

Counseling related to

• Personal adjustment: stress, anxiety, loss, depression, grief, self-esteem, confusion, anger, academic career, or lifestyle concerns
• Interpersonal relationships:  dating, premarital issues, sexuality, loneliness, or shyness

Parenting

• Parenting through Divorce:  this workshop is offered on the first Saturday of the month and focuses on facilitating children's adjustment and well-being through the divorce or separation process; the workshop lasts for three hours and follows a video format with related handouts

 

We are located at 1501 S. Third Ave. in Bozeman, Montana.  Our building is on the north side of Kagy Blvd.  You may park along the curb in front of the building.

Phone:  406 994-4113
Fax: 406 994-6417
Mailing address:  215 Herrick Hall, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT  59717-3540

• Monday - Thursday 9:00am-8:00pm
• Friday 9:00am-4:00pm

Clients are assured that any information concerning their involvement at the clinic will be kept confidential.