University students have a lot on their plates:Â School, jobs, relationships, family life, being the best version of themselves, and, on top of all that, education-related costs.
Students are supposed to balance stressful responsibilities and commitments, all while making sure to prioritize their mental health. But, being expected to participate in the juggling act of life can quickly become overwhelming.Â
Dealing with hefty university bills doesn’t usually leave students with a budget that allows for a $60 to $120-hour therapy session. So, how are we supposed to work on maintaining a healthy mental state without receiving access to help?
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a strong support system or even feel like someone is in their corner, which is why I admire the work that the Toronto Institute for Contemporary Psychoanalysis (TICP) Community Clinic provides.Â
The TICP Community Clinic provides services to individuals who struggle with their mental health and other issues. The Institute is a clinically based program that allows psychotherapist students to receive their clinical training through the clinic and offers clients access to affordable psychotherapy.Â
According to the Institute’s website, “The dual purpose of the training site “allows students to meet their practicum expectations for licensure while being able to give back to their community.”Â
The analytic training cases at the TICP cater to individuals who cannot afford the fees associated with the services they are receiving. Their services suggest a fee between $5-$25 for a session, but if you aren’t able to give that, they offer their services free of charge. Â
In an emailed statement to Her Campus, one of the clinic’s student psychotherapists, who would like to remain anonymous, said, “Despite being a low-cost service, the clinic maintains a high standard of care. The students are closely supervised by experienced psychoanalysts/psychotherapists, which ensures that clients receive quality, empathetic, and professional psychotherapeutic care.”
Along with that, the TICP clinic has other benefits. Due to the cost, it creates inclusivity and broadens the reach of mental health services to a wider community.
“The clinic serves a diverse population, offering therapists in training an opportunity to work with a wide range of psychological issues and backgrounds, enriching their clinical experience. My own clients include people from 20s-70s, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, Immigrants, and various religious backgrounds,” the same student psychotherapist said.
Therapy is such a meaningful and enriching service in people’s lives. In today’s demanding, competitive world, therapy is more useful than ever for university students. Therapists at TICP all have university experience and can empathize with almost every problem students have. The clinic can equip students with effective coping mechanisms for stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues, which are crucial skills in their academic and personal lives.
“Highlighting the clinic’s work is part of my commitment to community service, ensuring that those in need are aware of the affordable mental health resources available to them,” said the same student psychotherapist. “By promoting the clinic, I aim to contribute to destigmatizing mental health issues and therapy, especially in communities where such discussions may still be taboo.”