Nestled on the fourth floor of the University Center is NKU’s Counseling Services. 

Amy Clark, who has served as the director for five years now, says it’s her mission that this space be seen as a safe and supportive area on campus for all students.

As World Suicide Prevention Day took place on Sept. 10, Clark said it’s her goal that students know what support is available to them and how to make use of their services.

“It’s a big leap of faith and courage sometimes to step out and ask for help, and yet it’s worth it,” Clark said. “We want to walk [students] through this journey.”

Inside the Counseling Services center, students can utilize individual counseling sessions, group counseling sessions or crisis services for urgent issues. Clark said individual sessions are the most popular with students.

At NKU, each student is eligible for 10 free individual counseling sessions per academic year, the director explained. This initiative started around the COVID-19 pandemic, when the university decided that it was essential for counseling to be free. Prior to the pandemic, counseling was $15 per session.

“Does it reduce our revenue? It does, but we also see that in the end, it’s paid off in many ways,” Clark said. “We’re seeing students that never would seek services previously, because they would see the fee as a barrier, who are now willing to come in and get services.”

For students who are interested in seeking counseling, Clark said the process is easy. Students can visit the office in person in University Center 440 or give them a call to set up an initial screening.

In this screening, students talk for about 20 minutes with a staff clinician to determine what they are seeking counseling for and if the university’s services would be an appropriate fit. 

“We see a spectrum of issues and concerns. I always tell students I would rather you come in and allow us to determine what services would be most appropriate for you,” Clark said. “You do not have to have a significant mental health diagnosis to seek our services.”

From there, the student would be set up with an ongoing staff counselor, like D’ominique Elie, who has been at NKU since January 2023. 

Elie started in the field working with children, then moved to teenagers and adults. She specializes in sex and relationship therapy and said that now working with college students has given her a full spectrum.

During individual counseling sessions, she meets with students in person or via telehealth for about an hour. Elie said she likes to open up the floor and let students tell her about what is going on in their lives.

Whether it be depression, academic stress, family matters, relationships or other topics, Elie said anything students want to discuss is important. What is a big deal to one person might not be a big deal to another person, but all emotions are valid, she said.

“The goal of therapy is to get that person back to a space where they feel better, where they feel regulated, where they feel grounded,” Elie said. “So if something small happens or something big happens, if you’re feeling dysregulated, that’s going to impact your day to day.”

For junior Ryan Nantz, seeking out Counseling Services was beneficial and convenient, since he already lived on campus. And the fact that the counseling was free was a big help.

“It was a lot more casual than you would think, but not in a bad way,” Nantz said.

The junior said he would drop into counseling about once a month when he was needing some guidance.

“In college, no matter what you’re going through, you’ve got a lot on your plate,” Nantz said. “We all have to be in class, most of us have jobs, most of us have extracurriculars. And that’s not even factoring in friends, family and other commitments, so sometimes you just hit a breaking point.”

Clark pointed out the progress they have seen in students who have visited Counseling Services.

“It’s valuable to everyone on campus, not just our little center,” Clark said.

When asked why college students should prioritize their mental health, Elie responded, “Well, why not? For students that come here, there’s literally nothing to lose.”