History of the UF Division of Student Affairs | Page 60

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The Mission of the Counseling and Wellness Center at the University of Florida
is to facilitate the total development of students by reducing psychological
problems and distress and by enhancing mental health, well-being, quality of
life, and optimal functioning, through the delivery of high quality, culturally
sensitive services to UF students and the larger campus community. Our
primary focus is on providing brief, confidential counseling aimed a t helping
students succeed academically and interpersonally.
Counseling and Wellness Center data collected since the 1960s indicates
considerable consistency in the most frequent concerns presented by UF student
clients: depression and loneliness; stress and anxiety; relationship issues; career,
major choice and future goals; and academic progress. However, nationwide
trends today reflect a college student client population that is presenting with
increased severity of concerns. Compared to the 1931 Bureau of Vocational
Guidance and Mental Hygiene, there is less testing and more individual, couples
and group counseling; campus outreach; crisis intervention; and trauma
response. New technology is embraced and harnessed to expand accessibility
and services to the growing campus and virtual campus communities. In
evidence based programs, technology is used as an adjunct to counseling or
as part of self-paced, interactive interventions. The webpage has become an
important and integral resource for imparting information about the CWC, for
supporting student wellbeing, and for assisting students in how to seek help.
Proactive outreach programs include prevention and health promotion activities.
Extensive consultation occurs with faculty, staff, administrators, parents,
students, and student groups. Counseling and Wellness Center faculty have
primary responsibility in mental health service delivery. Their work is enhanced
by other activities including professional training, teaching, research, scholarly
writing, and professional organization leadership roles at the local, national,
and international levels that befit a counseling center located at a Research 1
university. CWC staff work collaboratively with faculty, staff and administrators,
campus departments and student organizations to best serve UF students. Staff
is committed to infusing multicultural sensitivity in all aspects of programs, with
multicultural defined in the broadest, most inclusive way.
The CWC faculty address present day problems while recognizing the importance
of the past and the future in shaping choices. Working as change agents, faculty

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