Sophie Kairouz – Contributor

On Sept. 15, a new mental health clinic opened in the Mackinnon residence here on campus. The facility now allows students in the new Doctoral Psychology program to obtain their “Ordres des Psychologues” – a requirement for graduation. 

To the clinic’s surprise, there was a considerable lack of psychological help available in the Eastern Townships, especially for those searching for services in English. The waiting list is currently experiencing a massive overflow that began only two days after opening. Although the care center was intended for standard therapy, they’re also equipped to help with a variety of psychological needs, including more complex chronic disorders. According to one of the clinic’s psychologists, Laurie Laberge, no psychiatrists are currently available, which is not expected to change in the near future. However, upon necessity, collaborations and referrals to psychiatrists can be conducted to allow patients to get the complete care that they require. The center’s main value is accessibility, currently standing at $25 per session, it is far under the $120 to $180 range that the Eastern Townships currently faces. This clinic also has the ability to make prices even lower if absolutely necessary for a patient. A drawback to this clinic is its restricted access to Bishop’s University students. Out of a necessity to assure patient confidentiality, no Bishop’s students can receive care from the clinic. 

Although students cannot receive care, the clinic is planning on creating volunteering and job opportunities for students outside of the doctoral program. As for the doctoral students, they are currently a cohort of 16 students who have been guaranteed the opportunity to help 150 community members. The clinic’s sessions are being recorded and reviewed by the facility’s supervisors, who then bring feedback to the students of Bishop’s. According to a fifth-year student, Emilie Mclean, this experience has given her real-world experience in the field she hopes to pursue after university, which has been invaluable in reinforcing her career choice. Furthermore, the students benefit from being able to pull data from their clients at the clinic for research purposes. According to Emilie, in addition to the excellent career opportunity, the students take great satisfaction in helping the local community. 

Thus far, the Psychology Care Center has had a resounding positive impact on the Doctoral Program and Eastern Township citizens alike. This is just the beginning for the clinic, and although not all information is currently public, a lot is in the works to allow this facility to flourish to its full potential.