Operating a University Counseling and School Psychology Training Clinic in a Global Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 global pandemic has shaken the status quo including the way university counseling and assessment centers provide training to graduate students and psychological services to the community. The pandemic brought high levels of uncertainty and contradictory telehealth guidelines across organizations. Guidelines related to telehealth assessment services were especially challenging to navigate. Center directors worked collaboratively with faculty and campus leadership to follow best practices and mitigate training and service disruptions to the best of their ability. The tension created by the pandemic offered an opportunity for centers to challenge long-standing practices, experiment with new practices, and ultimately enhance their programs. This paper offers reflections on our experiences in following best practice guidelines for telehealth counseling and psychoeducational assessment service delivery within a university counseling and diagnostic training center. Training considerations for directors and faculty affiliated with counseling and diagnostic training centers are provided.