D'YOUVILLE UNIVERSITY 17 Practicum experiences, Boersma has found, are often “hit or miss” with students. Sometimes they get to work with patients. Sometimes they can only observe. D’Youville’s model ensures the former. “We decided this was key to strengthening the program,” she says. “Let’s see if we can train our practicum students in-house, where there’s tons of oversight. It will make them such stronger and more viable candidates when they graduate.” Master’s graduates can go on to become licensed mental health counselors, and that title can lead to a number of different careers, Boersma says. Behavioral health clinics. Psychiatric facilities. State agencies. Schools. Universities. Private practice. Anywhere that can use a licensed clinician. And when they enter the workforce in the next few years, the jobs should be plentiful. According to the American Psychological Association, 90 percent of Americans think their country is in the midst of a mental health crisis, and roughly 25 percent of U.S. adults say they suffer from some form of mental illness. Yet a third of those surveyed admitted they could not get the mental health services they needed, citing costs, shame and stigma and no access to care as their main reasons. On average, it takes someone 11 years to seek help after first experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder. And those who do seek help are finding months-long waiting lists, even in cases where they need immediate care. Ninety percent of Americans who die by suicide (the second leading cause of death among persons aged 10 to 34) experience symptoms of a treatable mental health condition such as depression, anxiety disorders or other forms of serious mental illnesses, according to the Los Angeles-based Mental Health Foundation. One of the silver linings from the COVID pandemic was the public spotlight on the mental health effects brought on by isolation, remote learning and working and widespread unemployment. As people became more comfortable sharing their feelings and struggles, the demand for professionals who could listen rose and continues to rise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the demand for mental health counselors will grow by 25 percent by 2029, compared to pre- pandemic levels. In four years, there will be an additional 79,000 certified counselors employed in the U.S. alone. “What we love about our students at D’Youville is their diversity of backgrounds,” Boersma says. “It’s from those backgrounds and those unique experiences where you find that desire to help and support their communities. The ideal student in our program is someone who really wants to focus on behavioral health and improving the lives and the wellbeing of others.” Rebecca Wolf represents that ideal student, but she’s far from a traditional student. She earned a degree in humanities and psychology from Houghton University in 1990 and a degree in education from Brock University six years later. In 1998, she got her master’s in reading education from Clemson and earned her doctorate in education (organizational change and leadership) from the University of Southern California in 2022. For the past nearly 12 years, she’s worked as an associate professor and writing center coordinator at the University of Rochester’s School of Nursing. Going back to school (again) to study mental health counseling might seem to many like a “pivot,” she says, but Wolf sees it more as a mid-life calling. “I’ve always been fascinated by the concept of resilience,” she says. “More people, especially younger generations, are seeing the value and benefit of having professional support for their mental health. And there’s such a shortage of people out there who are qualified to help. There are so many underserved communities — so many places like prisons — that need more of these programs. “I want to be a part of the effort to address those needs. That’s why I’m here.” PAIGE SCHULTZE’S DESK IS SURROUNDED BY CHILL. Miniature zen gardens, fidget toys, coloring books and Thinking Putty are all within reach of the comfortable chairs and futons found in D’Youville’s Wellness Lodge, located on the third floor of the Koessler Administration Building. Schultze — a licensed clinical mental health counselor who oversees the Lodge and the mental health support and wellness initiatives offered to D’Youville students — prefers to work in the same room where those students can come to relax, unwind or refresh. She isn’t there to interrupt those visits The demand for mental health counselors will grow by 25 percent by 2029, compared to pre-pandemic levels. In four years, there will be an additional 79,000 new certified counselors.
