Training tomorrow's providers by helping you today.
The Psychological Services Center (PSC) provides free outpatient treatment for central Ohio adults living with a variety of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, stress-related disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and personality disorders. Since 1981, it has served hundreds of clients per year using evidence-based therapeutic interventions, which have helped these individuals overcome problems and lead fuller lives. Data from PSC research likewise provides valuable information about effective mental health treatments to improve therapeutic service delivery nationwide.
The PSC is also a vital part of the Department of Psychology's clinical training program. Therapists are doctoral students in clinical psychology who receive supervision and training from licensed psychologists on the department's faculty. Many of these psychologists are nationally and internationally recognized experts in the field.
Learn more below about treatments available at the PSC and how to become a client.
Current Treatment Options
PSC clients receive treatment through speciality clinics focused on specific therapeutic methods. Clinic offerings may periodically change.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Clinic
The CBT clinic provides evidence-based treatment for depression and anxiety. Clients participate in 12 to 20 therapy sessions focused on implementing cognitive behavioral techniques to decrease symptoms and improve functioning. They also complete standardized questionnaires for ongoing symptom assessment and treatment planning. As a component of our treatment, we educate clients about mental health issues and, when appropriate, make referrals for other services.
Depression Treatment and Research Clinic (DTRC)
The DTRC is a tele-health clinic that offers cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. It is part of a clinical trial that tests two variations of CBT. You may be eligible for this study if you are at least 18 years old, suffer from depression, live in the state of Ohio and do not currently take psychiatric medication.
Learn more about the DTRC and participate in an online screening.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Clinic
The CBT clinic provides evidence-based treatment for depression and anxiety. Clients participate in 12 to 20 therapy sessions focused on implementing cognitive behavioral techniques to decrease symptoms and improve functioning. They also complete standardized questionnaires for ongoing symptom assessment and treatment planning. As a component of our treatment, we educate clients about mental health issues and, when appropriate, make referrals for other services.
Depression Treatment and Research Clinic (DTRC)
The DTRC is a tele-health clinic that offers cognitive behavioral therapy for depression. It is part of a clinical trial that tests two variations of CBT. You may be eligible for this study if you are at least 18 years old, suffer from depression, live in the state of Ohio and do not currently take psychiatric medication.
Learn more about the DTRC and participate in an online screening.
Contact the PSC
The PSC office is open Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm and on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 am - 7:30 pm.
If you are interested in becoming a client, call or email to schedule a phone screening. This 20 to 30-minute interview with an advanced graduate student will help determine if the treatments the PSC provides fit with your mental health needs.
Location
The PSC is located in Psychology Building Suite 105 at 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions
For any questions not addressed below, please contact the PSC front desk at 614-292-2345 or ASC-PSY-psc@osu.edu.
Because the PSC is a training clinic for department graduate students, it offers all services free of cost. It does not participate in any insurance panels.
Yes, we are happy to discuss the treatment options we offer. Please keep in mind that the client seeking treatment must contact us directly in order to be added to our waitlist. Per our privacy policy, we cannot add others to our waitlist through a family member or friend.
The first step in becoming a client is scheduling a phone screening. To set this up, you can contact our front desk Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. If you call the office after hours or on the weekends, you may leave a message on our confidential voicemail and someone will get back to you when normal business hours resume.
Following the phone screening, the PSC Clinic Director will review your information to determine if our services are appropriate for your needs and the training needs of our graduate students. If so, we will pair you with a graduate student therapist, who will reach out to you to schedule an intake appointment in the near future. If we determine you would be better served elsewhere, we will provide appropriate referral information so you can obtain assistance.
Appointment wait times vary by clinic and fluctuate throughout the year. Please contact the PSC for up-to-date information.
We can offer limited testing services if it will benefit an existing therapy treatment plan. Student therapists and their supervisors make this decision on a case-by-case basis. We do not offer psychological testing outside of consistent therapy treatment.
The goal of the intake appointment is for us to get to know a client and to gather information important for determining the most appropriate course of treatment. This typically includes information about the client's current concerns, social relationships, home environment and psychological and medical history. This session also provides an opportunity for you to become more comfortable with your assigned therapist and ask any questions you may have.
PSC clients are treated by graduate student therapists in the Department of Psychology's clinical psychology doctoral program, which is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Students are advanced, in their second year of training or above, and they receive supervision from a licensed psychologist. Extensive supervision ensures that we provide clients with high-quality care.
Individual therapy sessions typically last about 50 minutes and occur on a weekly basis. Session frequency may vary depending on a client's treatment needs.
Our clients typically receive between 12 and 24 therapy sessions.
We have a limited amount of reserved parking available for PSC clients during their appointment times. Please let your therapist know if you will need a parking pass so they can provide you with instructions.
No. We currently offer individual therapy sessions only.
No. The PSC is an outpatient facility.
No. Please contact your primary care physician to obtain an appropriate referral for medication management. We can also provide referrals.
Most PSC therapy sessions occur in person in our offices. Some PSC clinics may offer an option for virtual services provided via a secure telehealth system.
Resources
Learn more about treatment options outside of the PSC.