Therapeutic Assessment in a University Counseling Center: A Replicated Single-Case Time-Series Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Psychology

Background:

• University counseling centers face increasing demand for mental health services.
• Brief, effective interventions are needed to address student mental health concerns.
• Therapeutic Assessment (TA) is a potential intervention model for this setting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot test the effectiveness and applicability of Therapeutic Assessment (TA) in a university counseling center.
• To determine if TA can serve as a brief intervention for student mental health.
• To explore if different presenting concerns yield varied symptomatic improvement with TA.

Main Methods:

• A replicated single-case design was employed.
• Eight university students participated, receiving a five-session TA intervention.
• Individualized rating scales were developed based on presenting concerns.
• Data were collected across baseline, intervention, and follow-up periods.

Main Results:

• Therapeutic Assessment (TA) was associated with statistically significant symptom reduction in the university counseling center context.
• Idiographic trajectory analysis indicated that changes were linked to the onset of TA.
• Preliminary findings suggest TA's effectiveness may differ across various presenting concerns.

Conclusions:

• Therapeutic Assessment (TA) demonstrates potential as an effective brief intervention for university student mental health.
• The study highlights the need for further research into TA's differential effectiveness for specific student concerns.
• Findings support the consideration of TA implementation within university counseling services.