Appendix P: Brandeis Counseling Center
Nov. 10, 2020
Mission and Vision Statements
- Mission Statement: We are a multicultural counseling center that responsibly and compassionately addresses the diverse psychological needs of our university students. We offer a variety of services on campus and facilitate referrals to outside resources. We are committed to social justice and dismantling systems of oppression, while fostering healing and wellness. We value the participation of all students inclusive of all intersecting identities.
- Vision Statement: We strive to promote positive social change and deep appreciation for the strengths represented cross culturally at Brandeis University. We continue to engage in culturally responsive training to further understand ourselves and our social location. We believe in transformation through dialogue and collaboration with students and campus partners. We will take collective, sustainable action to heal and transform ourselves, our students and our community.
Response to the Black Action Plan of 2020
Upon receipt of the BAP, the Brandeis Counseling Center Multicultural Committee met to review the demands. We began to work on a report summarizing the BCC’s current status on each demand mentioned. The multicultural committee then facilitated a 2 hour staff meeting focused on reflecting and mobilizing in reaction to BAP. In the meeting we read through the plan and worked in small groups to discuss the plan, our reactions, and ideas for meeting each demand. During this meeting we determined “current action steps” in response to the BAP, listed in the chart below.
Current Relevant Context at the BCC
The BCC’s multicultural committee meets weekly to guide the direction of the BCC’s multicultural development. We are currently working on the strategic plan for the multicultural goals for the remainder of 2020 and 2021.
Relevant History
Following the 2015 Ford Hall, the then director of the BCC, Joy von Steiger PhD, prioritized the demand to hire clinicians of color. Under Joy’s leadership several clinicians of color were hired between 2015 and spring of 2020, and a multicultural committee was assembled at the BCC. The co-leaders of the committee were Martin Pierre, PhD and Dennis Tyrell, PhD, later expanding to include Joy von Steiger, PhD and Amy Scobie-Carroll, LICSW. Presently, the multicultural committee remains intact, and is responsible for steering the direction of the BCC’s multicultural development. Since 2015, much of our professional development has been focused on diversity, equity and inclusion principles and development. The BCC benefitted from external training events and in particular, an extended series of workshops led by Mark Brimhall-Vargas, PhD, and Allyson Livingstone, PhD over a 2 year period from 2018-2020.
History of the BCC in Response to Our Student Activists since 2015 and Present Response to BAP
Expand All
Hire more Clinicians of Color to provide culturally competent care
- Action steps taken:
- Hired 13 Clinicians of Color between August 2016 and August 2020, including 2 trainees and a social work fellow.
- BCC current action steps
- Ongoing priority to hire diverse clinicians at the BCC and diversify our training program
Holistic view of mental health needs on campus
- Action steps taken
- BCC understands there was discussion about hiring a Muslim identified and another Black clinician / clinicians who have expertise in treatment of students of color and Muslim students.
- BCC current action steps
- Follow up with student affairs regarding additional positions
- Status
- Presently we have a Social work trainee who started 8/2020 who is Muslim identified. We are continuing to prioritize diversifying our staff and trainees.
Employ additional Black and Clinicians of Color within the BCC to offer culturally relevant support to students of all backgrounds
- Action steps taken
- The BCC seeks staff people with expertise in the treatment of Black students and Students of Color. We encourage diverse peoples to apply. We are creating ample opportunity for a candidate to be interviewed by staff as well as students.
- BCC current action steps
- Recruitment of clinicians with desired skill and experience through intentional advertising and interviewing. There is an ongoing emphasis to diversify our staff. We highly encourage BIPOC and people of historically marginalized identities to apply.
- Status
- This is ongoing and will be in perpetuity.
Cultural competency workshops for clinicians
- Action steps taken
- Historically we participated in workshops and training focused on multicultural development; this year we have developed weekly staff meetings starting in the fall of 2020 that are designed for transformative learning and development via affinity spaces, cross cultural case presentations, staff identity based presentations integrating personal experience and psychological implications. This weekly 90 minute session is aimed at development of multicultural awareness and skills.
- BCC current action steps
- Goal for 2021 is to bring in an ongoing facilitator for the BCC to engage in extended training and development. Focus is on Anti-Blackness, Whiteness, White Superiority, Privilege and Oppression and fostering a Culture of Inclusivity in Communities.
- Status
- Amy (Director) is in the process of determining the budget allowance for a training consultant who would focus on (DEI) training for 2020-2021.
Create a Workshop around Culturally Competency in the field of therapy/ counseling; Require that all Brandeis Counselors to participate in cultural competency workshop(s)
- Action steps taken
- We have created the program stated above. Each week we rotate themes, spend 90 mins on the following:
- meeting in affinity groups to discuss current issues, podcasts or articles.
- multicultural case presentations aimed at examining therapy practice with students of diverse identities and culturally sensitive care.
- Identity presentations by staff members; presenting to the team on a topic related to one’s life that has clinical implications. For example, immigration (2 staff presented on their own experiences of immigrating to the US and the psychological implications of this experience).
- BCC current action steps
- Goals for this year: create or select an evaluation tool to measure cultural competency for each clinician.The goal is to have a way to measure skill development and inform the changing needs of the staff.
- Status
- In process; goal to have this completed in spring of 2021.
Integrate Clinicians of Color in departments around campus
- Action steps taken
- Community Therapy Program has been expanding to include four Clinicians of Color.
- BCC current action steps
- Ongoing - we will aim to assign Staff of Color / Staff with clinical expertise in treatment of historically marginalized students and Students of Color to provide community therapy in identified areas.
- Status
- October 2018 IBS
- February 2018 ICC & Heller
- September 2019 AcServe
- August 2020 DCL
Offer transparency for students about privacy; Disclose the BCC privacy policy in an email format during a clients first therapy session and remind clients of important policy arrangements at the start of each counseling session.
- Action steps taken
- Review of the consent form which details confidentiality and privacy.
- BCC current action steps
- Consent form is in the patient portal. It is required to be read and signed by students who work with us.
- Amy reviewed and changed language to be clearer.
- Clinicians review consent in sessions.
- The BCC will attach the privacy policy in an email or secure message following the first appointment with the BCC.
- Status
- More specific feedback is desired by BCC.
- Updated policy and practices of verbal explanation to be reviewed as a staff.
Free, unlimited care
- Action steps taken
- Students and families will not pay for services out of pocket. We submit claims to insurance to offset costs of care. Care is not limited based on insurance. Students with any insurance will be served by BCC.
- In terms of limitations of length or type of care, each student is evaluated independently during the assessment process and throughout the treatment course. Length of time varies based on students needs, the BCC’s capacity to meet the students needs, and the students response to care. Most students are with us for short term care to achieve stability or until transition to longer term care is appropriate. Group therapy is unlimited.
- If a student is in need of longer term individual care or specialized treatment, we work with the student to locate off campus providers. The BCC works with students to ensure the cost of care ( ie copays) off campus is not going to preclude the student from obtaining treatment.
- Status
- Evaluating programming to creatively meet the needs of the student body.
Hiring BCC counselors who specifically and collaboratively service departments such as the department of public safety, the department of community living, Brandeis athletic teams, clubs, etc.
To properly address the mental health needs of the Brandeis Black and POC Community, professional therapists should be accessible in all departments of the university. Therapist should be used as first responders rather than an optional second hand service. Police should not be responding to mental health issues
- BCC current action steps
- BCC will review this with student affairs: Consider developing “crisis or mobile clinician” positions for therapists who might be readily available to campus partners.
- Consider expansion of “community therapy” or liaison roles.
- Regarding separation of police from transportations from BCC to the hospital, policy has been rewritten and implemented to allow for separation of police from mental health emergencies. BCC uses discretion to involve police in an emergency.
- Status
- Items 1, 2: Status is under review
- Item 3: Completed
Black and POC athletes to go talk to someone of color within the athletic department about mental health and racially charged situations
- BCC current action steps
- Consider expansion of community therapy programs allowing for more Clinicians of Color in Athletics and/or other locations. Improve referral process for students to find a Clinician of Color when they need to access one.
- Status
- Community therapists are advising students and departments that they are not limited to their own Community Therapist. Students may access therapists at any site across the campus. This allows for students to access therapists with diverse identities and increases community therapy support for students.
Transitioning DCL from being the mental health support for residents (we need professionals)
- BCC current action steps
- Increase cooperations of BCC and DCL (expansion of community therapy program) or therapy liaison to DCL for immediate needs
- Status
- Being considered for implementation in the future.
Additional Information Regarding the BCC’s Future Direction
Key Initiatives of the BCC Strategic Plan for 2020-2021
- The BCC is currently designing plans for a student advisory group. The goals for this group are in development, with the overarching themes of: bridging the gap between the student body and the BCC by improving communications, helping in advising future programs and initiatives, and serving as a liaison between the BCC and the students. There will be special emphasis on recruitment of Black students and Students of Color, as well as students with other diverse identities. Estimated timeline: spring 2021.
- Training Program update: The BCC will provide weekly learning opportunities for trainees in areas of equity, diversity and inclusion. The goals of the training is to further foster culturally competent clinical practice and self reflections. The center is committed to aligning our mission, vision and strategic plan to meet the needs of historically underserved and marginalized communities, and fostering the development of multiculturally competent professionals.
- Hiring update for Associate Director: Student representation from BAP as well as other students will be invited to interview the candidate(s) for Associate Director
- Full strategic plan is in the final stages of review. Estimated completion of plan spring 2021.