Anxiety clinic looking to ease students jittering concerns

Marian Lacey

The Anxiety Clinic in the Psychological Services Center on campus is looking to ease student concerns on counciling through advertising, and it seems to be working.

Particiaption at the clinic has increased quite a bit since last fall. The director of the clinic, Cynthia Turk, attributes the recent success to the amount of publicity the clinic has received.

“We have really been trying to do more advertising for the clinic and we’re hoping to do even more,” said Turk.

Some of the adverting methods used by the clinic are newspaper ads in the Topeka Capital-Journal, flyers, brochures and even a public service announcement.

The clinic treats such disorders as social anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder. They also deal with public speaking fears, worry, stress and obsessive compulsive disorders.

Potential patients of the clinic must first call in and have a phone interview to determine if they are a good fit for the clinic. Turk said most who call are accepted, but there are few exceptions. After the phone interview, patients would meet at the clinic for an intake appointment, where they would be diagnosed and given treatment options. Most of the time, treatment at the clinic is recommended. However, sometimes people aren’t a good match and will be sent elsewhere for treatment. Upon qualification, they will learn what their treatment would be like.

The cost is $5 per session. To learn more call (785) 670-1564 or go to www.washburn.edu/cas/psychology/clinic.