Student Counseling Services – Creighton University

Type of Facility

Student Counseling Services,  is a university mental health center serving more than 8,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Creighton University, one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities in the nation, enrolls students in nine schools and colleges, including medicine, dentistry, law, allied health professions, and nursing. Creighton has been consistently ranked as one of the finest comprehensive universities in the nation by U.S. News and World Report. Counseling Services has maintained accreditation by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS) since 1963.

Internship Training Model

Interns within the Nebraska Internship Consortium in Professional Psychology who are matched with Creighton University Student Counseling Services will receive a variety of training experiences based in individual psychotherapy, assessment, and structured groups. The training model emphasizes professional and personal development in these three areas. Individual therapy with university students uses primarily short-term, solutions focused work but there are opportunities for moderate and longer-term cases.  The most typical presenting problems include anxiety, depression, concentration, sleep, academics, and relationships. Assessment focuses on learning disabilities, ADHD, substance abuse, and personality. 

Groups and Workshops are offered to address specific issues related to personal and academic development. Group offerings vary based on student need and interest and there are opportunities for development of groups or workshops based on areas of specific clinical interest and client need.  

In addition, interns may select other experiences to participate in throughout their internship year. A menu of these experiences includes:, personality assessment, discipline referrals, development and implementation of outreach programs such as orientation trainings or workshops, supervision of practicum students, academic success groups, counseling service administration, consultation with residence life staff, and counseling on specific issues. 

Clinical training occurs on a regular weekly schedule. The training may involve all staff members or only interns. Throughout the academic year, didactic training occurs at least one hour weekly on specific clinical topics. Typical topics for didactic training include treatment of mental disorders (depression, panic attacks, trauma, bipolar, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behavior, social anxiety), systems of therapy (emotional focused, cognitive-behavioral, affective cognitive-behavioral, brief dynamic, gestalt), or specific techniques (motivational interviewing, culture-sensitive counseling, chemical dependency assessment). Didactic Seminars also operate via a lens of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and multiple trainings are offered to increase cultural humility and responsiveness. A weekly 60-minute case conference focuses on presentation and discussion of difficult cases with all clinical staff. The presentation rotates among staff. Interns typically spend 60-70 percent of their time in direct service (individual therapy, assessment, structured groups) during the academic year. The remainder of the interns' time is divided among documentation, preparation, report writing, supervision, staff meetings, consultation, outreach, and training. 

Supervision involves two hours of individual contact weekly with a licensed psychologist. The content of the experience usually includes discussion of cases, treatment plans, and counseling strategies and techniques; review of recorded counseling sessions; discussion of personal reactions to clients; review of assessment data; and discussion of therapist-client interactions. Informal supervision and consultation with other staff members is encouraged to obtain different perspectives. 

Interns have their own offices within Student Counseling Services. Interns' offices are completely furnished and include a computer and a telephone. The internship starts on August 1 and ends July 31 of the following year. Interns receive an annual stipend of $32,000. University benefits (medical insurance, parking pass, vacation, sick leave, fitness center membership) are available. 

Employment will be contingent on satisfactory completion of a background check. 

More information concerning internships can be found on the Counseling Services website.

Clinical Services

Student Counseling services are provided to full-time enrolled students in the University at no charge. The number of therapy sessions allowed for students is not limited. Students may be charged fees for some types of assessment services, such as ADHD and Learning Disability Assessments.  Student Counseling Services also employs a full-time psychiatrist whose services are billed through a student’s insurance.  Consultation services are provided to administration, faculty, staff, and family members of students.  

Services usually provided through a solutions-focused, hybrid/ flexible care model approach which enables a clinician to pull from a menu of treatment options to best meet the students’ needs.  Same day crisis appointments are available.  Clients are typically referred by residence life staff, faculty, university staff members, friends, and family members. Clients are usually seen in individual therapy or groups. On occasion, clients are seen with friends, significant others, roommates, or family members. There may be referrals for medication to our full-time psychiatrist. The referral depends upon the nature and severity of the presenting problem. Hospitalization, if needed, is provided through the Creighton University Medical Center, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, or the Lasting Hope Recovery Center. 

Location

Creighton University is located in metropolitan Omaha, an area with a population of over 900,000, situated on the banks of the Missouri River. Omaha is home to Mutual of Omaha, Union Pacific Railroad, ConAgra Foods, and a variety of thriving ethnic districts. Offutt Air Force Base, located in nearby Bellevue, is headquarters for the merger of the United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). Within the city limits are Bellevue University, College of St. Mary, Grace University, and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Fifty miles to the southwest is the state capital, Lincoln, and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Omaha boasts an excellent zoo, botanical gardens, and, within 20 minutes' drive, several state parks. Two riverboat casinos are located in Council Bluffs. 

Cultural activities include the Omaha Playhouse, the Omaha Symphony, the Omaha Ballet, and Joslyn Art Museum. Venues such as the Orpheum Theatre, the Holland Center, and the CenturyLink Center provide opportunities for a variety of entertainment events. The city sponsors a AAA baseball team, the Storm Chasers, and a junior hockey team, the Lancers. Creighton University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha provide intercollegiate athletic events. Go Bluejays! 

Staff

Rebecka Tompkins, PsyD

Director of Training

Jennifer Peter, PsyD

Senior Director, Student Counseling Services

Anne Conroy, PhD

Psychologist – Assessment Coordinator

Michael R. Kelley, PhD

Psychologist (Part Time)

Kitty Brougham, LMHP

Senior Counselor and Drug and Alcohol Counselor

Maddie Moore, MS, LIMHP

Mental Health Counselor

Sangeetha Kumar, MSW, LCSW

Associate Director for Student Care and Outreach

Supriya Bhatia, MD

Psychiatrist

Neris France, MA

Student Care Case Manager

SCS-Creighton will hold virtual open houses and interviews in December.