Psychological Center Services
Therapy, Counseling and Evaluations
The Murray State Psychological Center provides confidential, evidence-based mental health care and diagnostic assessments. We serve community members in Western Kentucky, including Calloway County, and for Murray State students, faculty, and staff.
Medical Providers: Please have your clients contact us directly. We do not take outside referrals.
Emergency Help
If there is an emergency, call 911 or the 24-hour Crisis Hotline 1.800.592.3980 or the Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1.800.273.TALK (8255).
Confidentiality
Your discussions with your counselor, any paperwork you complete, and test results are treated confidentially by the Center. Your records are NOT part of your academic or administrative records. If you would like us to release any information to another person or agency, you must sign a written request permitting us to do so. No information will be transmitted to any other individual or agency without the express permission of the client, except as required by law.
Psychological Center staff adhere to the ethical principles and code of conduct for psychologists of the American Psychological Association, as well as the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Services We Offer
You must complete paperwork before we schedule your first visit. We use this information to determine your concerns and which of our services would be appropriate for you. A clinician will call you to schedule your first appointment once your paperwork is complete. Initial paperwork is done on a walk-in basis during Center hours. Paperwork must be completed on site and cannot be mailed out. These forms take approximately one to two hours to complete. A clinician will be available to answer your questions about the services and the forms you are asked to complete. There is no charge for this initial meeting.
We provide individual counseling for children, teens, college students, and adults. Therapy sessions are tailored to your unique goals and personal growth.
AREAS WE TREAT:
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Managing Stress
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Life transitions and academic/work stress
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Anxiety, fear, nervousness
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Relationship issues
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Depression
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Poor anger control, aggressive behavior
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Grief
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Eating disorders
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Trauma recovery, as in situations of rape or abuse
COST
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Free for MSU students, faculty, and staff.
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Community members pay a sliding scale fee based on income.
We offer couples and family counseling designed to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and rebuild healthy dynamics.
AREAS WE TREAT
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Relationship dissatisfaction and communication breakdowns
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Navigating family life adjustments and stress
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Parent-child relational conflict
COST
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Free for MSU students, faculty, and staff.
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Community members pay a sliding scale fee based on income.
We offer comprehensive testing and evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults. Our assessments provide detailed diagnostic clarity and personalized recommendations.
The availability of assessment appointments is limited, so if you don't come in the first few weeks of the semester you may be placed on a waiting list.
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ADHD Evaluations
Diagnostic testing for attention disorders, impulsivity, and executive dysfunction. -
Learning Disability Assessments
Comprehensive testing for dyslexia, dyscalculia, processing speeds, and academic performance. -
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening
Diagnostic assessment for social-communication and developmental traits. -
General Diagnostic Testing
Behavioral and psychological testing for emotional or cognitive concerns.
WRITTEN REPORTS
Evaluations include a comprehensive written report detailing diagnostic results and recommended testing/classroom accommodations.
COST
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$50 flat rate for Murray State students, faculty, and staff.
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Community members pay a sliding scale fee based on income.
The Psychological Center is a resource for concerned professors, friends and family members who are seeking help for others. We are available to answer questions, provide referrals and otherwise support members of our community. If you are wondering what options for psychological assistance exist or want suggestions about broaching the topic of getting help with someone you know, you can call or stop by and ask to talk with our on-call clinician. You can also read more about warning signs of suicide and other serious mental health problems.
If you would like to report concerns about other individuals on campus, particularly if you are concerned about the safety of the individual or others, please contact Murray State's Student Intervention Team using this link: Report Concerns. The team's purpose is to collect, track, and evaluate reports from all parts of campus concerning students who may pose a threat to their own safety and/or the safety of others. Students and faculty can do their part by reporting concerns on the Student Intervention Team website. Help us to promote a safe and supportive campus.
As a clinical training facility and part of the Department of Psychology, the Psychological Center periodically hosts Continuing Education workshops and events for area mental health professionals, social workers, and counselors.
What is therapy like?
Therapy is not easily described in general statements. Therapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for an active effort on your part. In order for therapy to be successful, you will have to work on things both during your sessions and at home. Therapy can have benefits and risks. Because therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings such as sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, therapy has also been shown to have many benefits. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. However, there are no guarantees of what you will experience.
Your first few sessions will involve an interview to determine your needs. By the end of the interview, your clinician will usually be able to offer you some first impressions of what your therapy will include. If you decide to continue with therapy, you and your clinician will work to determine an appropriate treatment plan. You should evaluate this information in addition to your opinion of whether you feel comfortable working with your clinician. If you have questions, you can raise them at any time, either with your clinician or with the Center Director.
Once therapy has begun, sessions are typically scheduled once a week for 50 minutes.
Let us know if you have questions.
How do the assessment and diagnostic testing processes work?
Here is a guide orienting you to the process most assessments follow.
You should come to the Center to complete initial paperwork, which can be done without an appointment during any of our open hours. Please allow at least 1-1.5 hours as you will fill out several forms and a somewhat lengthy questionnaire.
Cases are assigned to clinicians once a week. When your case is assigned, the clinician will call to schedule your first meeting. Unless there is a waiting list, your appointment will be scheduled within one week of completing your paperwork.
Intake Appointment - This is a 1 to 1 1/2 hour interview meeting with a Clinician during which many questions will be asked about your background and history.
Any materials you have from previous assessments or mental health encounters would be extremely helpful. Please bring any such materials with you.
Payment for the assessment is due on the day of this appointment.
Evaluation/Testing Appointments for Assessments
- At least two separate 2-hour meetings with the Clinician will be required to complete all of the testing. These meetings may take place over two consecutive weeks.
- Some assessments may require additional meetings.
- Please be sure to arrive on time for these appointments and arrange your schedule so you will be available for the full time allotted for that day's session.
- You will need to turn off your phone or pager during that time as interruptions can invalidate the results.
Report and Feedback - Within two weeks of the completion of the testing the Clinician will schedule a meeting with you to review the results of the evaluation. In addition, if you request it the Clinician will provide you with a written report detailing the results and any recommendations.
Please note that other service entities on campus or in the community may not be bound to protect the confidentiality of your report. Always discuss the legal limits of confidentiality and choose carefully those with whom you share copies of psychological reports or other sensitive information.