DENTON, Texas — Since its establishment in 1972, the Psychology Clinic at the University of North Texas (UNT) has been offering accessible mental health services to the Denton area. The clinic, part of UNT’s Department of Psychology, aims to provide doctoral students with practical training, advance research in psychology, and deliver evidence-based care to the community.
Clinic director and board-certified psychologist Jennifer Schwartz emphasized the comprehensive approach taken in understanding and treating clients. The clinic’s services are provided by doctoral student clinicians supervised by licensed psychologists, catering to diverse concerns such as depression, anxiety, and personal growth. The student clinicians work with clients to develop treatment plans, helping them monitor their progress and build confidence.
Serving approximately 300 clients annually, the Psychology Clinic is one of several public-facing facilities at UNT designed to give students hands-on experience while benefiting community members. Other such centers include the UNT Speech and Hearing Center, the Child and Family Resource Clinic, and the Kristin Farmer Autism Center.
The clinic offers a free intake session for new clients, with subsequent services provided on a sliding scale. “Many of our clients might not have access to this level of care elsewhere due to various factors,” said Schwartz.
Doctoral students in the clinic are pursuing degrees in clinical or counseling psychology and begin client work after one year of coursework. They rotate through various roles within the clinic, gaining experience in counseling, assessments, and administrative duties.
Ph.D. candidates Charlie Su and Lauren Kemble are examples of the dedicated students at the clinic. Su’s research focuses on improving psychological screening tools for different racial and ethnic groups, while Kemble has developed a trauma exposure checklist that includes less commonly acknowledged traumas, such as medical trauma and spiritual abuse.
Many of the clinic’s student clinicians go on to become practicing psychologists in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Kemble, who aspires to a career in child and family counseling, spoke of the honor in being part of clients’ lives during therapy.
For appointments, contact the UNT Psychology Clinic at (940) 565-2631 or visit their location at 1611 W Mulberry St #171, Denton, TX 76201.