The BYU Comprehensive Clinic is a mental health facility located diagonally across from the Creamery on Ninth and offers affordable counseling services for individuals, couples and families.
The clinic, although free for students, provides services primarily targeted to the broader community.
Clinic supervisor David Fawcett said that while the clinic does not take insurance, it is still quite affordable.
“We do not take insurance, but we have a sliding scale and most of our fees are much less than even a co-pay,” Fawcett said.
Fawcett said fees range from $0-20 per session and are so low because of the way the clinic is structured.
“Our therapists are all graduate students who are working on their degrees and being trained to become licensed professionals,” Fawcett said. “They are all supervised by faculty who are, of course, all licensed therapists themselves. And so we're able to provide low cost services to the community.”
Fawcett explained that while these students may have less experience, each case gets more attention than cases at an average clinic.
“They have less experience but they are very excited and eager to learn,” Fawcett said. “And they work closely with supervisors. So one nice thing is that case usually has more eyes on it than you get anywhere else. Because they will do consultations with peers.”
Anastasia Rozumna, one of the graduate students at the clinic, said the clinic has been a great experience for her to learn.
“We have so much practice and this is the main thing I suppose I like about this program,” Rozumna said. “And the rates of people receiving the license after graduation is very high.”
Quinton Hunt, one of the assistant professors at the clinic, said that working with the students has been very fulfilling for him.
“My favorite part is working with the students because I think helping them learn how to care for a variety of people, in a way that they probably haven't before, helps them learn how to love and accept and care for themselves,” Hunt said.
The clinic has about 85 therapists and serves close to 800 clients Fawcett said. He added that 15-20 percent of the clients are BYU affiliated but the majority are from the community and so spots are limited.
“We're open 13 hours a day. And so 13 times 13, there's a number of open slots available in a day. During peak hours, it can get crowded. So, yes, I wish we could provide more, but we do what we can,” Fawcett said.
Fawcett also explained that each session is recorded and has the opportunity to be observed by students. He also said these recordings are highly confidential and have specific firewalls in place to protect them.
Rozumna said observing these sessions helps teach her and other students.
“We have a lot of options to observe others, therapists or students working and the rooms for that. So very nice. And very professional,” Rozumna said.
Rozumna encouraged those who would like to attend but are nervous to sign up and make an appointment to stop by the clinic.
“Well, of course they're nervous at first. Even if no one is observing you, it's not easy to come around the person and say everything that you don't usually say to other people,” Rozumna said. “Just make this first step and you'll feel much better.”
Fawcett said he hopes the community knows the clinic is a resource for them.
“We're trying to get the word out so that people know we are a resource and that, you know, they can come. And sometimes it's a few weeks wait. But we try to get people in as quickly as we can,” Fawcett said.
Those interested in the clinic’s services can check their website here.