The December 1999 Surgeon General’s report on mental health found that half of the people who would benefit from therapy were not receiving it.
Now, with budget cuts resulting from Measure 28’s failure, the mental health community in the Eugene area fell into a “tailspin,” according to John Miller, clinical director for the Marriage and Family Therapy Program in the University’s College of Education.
To provide services for hard-to-reach populations that need mental health treatment the most, the Center for Family Therapy, located at 720 E. 13th Ave., Suite 304, is offering a free Relationship Check-Up from noon to 8 p.m. today through Saturday. The event includes a free one-hour private therapy consultation for couples, families and individuals. The center will also serve refreshments.
Organizers said clients can expect therapists to help identify both strengths and areas to improve in the relationship. The consultation “is not designed only for people who have problems, but also for those who seek to enrich their relationships,” Miller said.
“We want this event to be an opportunity to celebrate relationships,” event supervisor and Assistant Professor Jason Platt said. He added that positive, practical changes are always possible and can improve even the healthiest relationships.
Appointments are available but walk-ins will also be accepted, as the event seeks to reduce the stigma of therapy and to cultivate a positive perception of the experience, pre-doctoral intern and event supervisor Rohini Vira and Platt said.
Jessica Champion, an MFT student and graduate intern at the center, said she wants people to feel good about the session and gain improved perspectives on therapy. However, she cautioned that participants should not expect major changes from a single one-hour session.
The Center for Family Therapy allows graduate interns in the MFT program to gain “direct exposure to clinical work,” according to the MFT Graduate Specialization brochure. Champion said the result is an effective exchange between therapy interns and the community as the students get valuable experience and clients have access to an important, low-cost service.
Platt acknowledged possible concerns about the gap in training levels between graduate interns and fully licensed therapists, saying that interns are aware of their lack of experience, are under more supervision than the state requires and actively seek supervisors’ input and advice.
Regular services are priced on a sliding scale according to income, ranging from $10 to $40 per session. However, a client will never be refused because of his or her inability to pay, and the center offers “therapy scholarships” to those who need them.
For more information about the Relationship Check-Up or the Center for Family Therapy, call 346-3296.