Skip to content
The University of Texas at Austin - What Starts Here Changes The World The University of Texas at Austin Division of Student Affairs


Psychology Internship Program
The Counseling and Mental Health Center

As the primary mental health service provider for students on the UT campus, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) includes psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, and professionals from a variety of other disciplines. Similarly, our training programs are enriched by trainees from various mental health disciplines. Our psychology interns thus have the opportunity to work closely with staff and trainees representing different professional backgrounds.

Since 1997, CMHC has been located in the Student Services Building that also houses, among others, University Health Services, where we occupy the entire top floor of this six-story structure with an area in excess of 17,000 square feet.

The space was designed specifically for CMHC and includes 40 counselor offices, five group therapy rooms (one with one-way observation mirrors and one with video recording capabilities), and two conference rooms. Each intern is assigned her/his/their own office with audio/video recording and playback capabilities.

Philosophy of Change.

The Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC) bases its services on the belief that change is an enduring element of the human condition; that perceptions, capabilities, beliefs, emotions, and actions can be intentionally modified with appropriate challenge and support. Further, we believe that such change employs not only self-direction, but also the assistance of supportive relationships. As university students encounter their developmental tasks and issues, they require mental and emotional knowledge and skills if they are to achieve their potential for enhancing their own personal and social development.

Multidisciplinary Focus

As a multidisciplinary mental health agency, our mission is to provide the UT student body with high quality services that promote their ability to develop academic competence, emotional stability, healthy relationships, life-long learning styles, and effective decision-making skills. Since students enter university with varying capabilities and sociocultural backgrounds, we plan our interventions to meet the unique needs of individuals, while also attending to the concerns of specific populations. Taking a community mental health and life-span developmental perspective, we strive to provide primary, secondary and tertiary prevention/intervention services for the well-being of the student body.

CMHC's Services

CMHC provides a wide range of mental health services to UT students through direct services such as individual, group, and crisis counseling; psychiatric services; structured and process-oriented group programs and workshops; and a 24-hour Crisis Line. In addition, CMHC has a number of prevention and outreach programs to support students’ mental well-being and partners closely with the Longhorn Wellness Center. CMHC also actively participates in the training and supervision of a multidisciplinary group of trainees.

Voices Against Violence Program
Voices Against Violence Clinical Services provides confidential advocacy, counseling, and group services to UT Austin students who have been impacted by any type of interpersonal violence including sexual violence, dating violence and stalking.

Mindful Eating Team
The Mindful Eating Team provides assessment and referral support for students dealing with food, weight, and body image concerns. The multidisciplinary team includes CMHC counselors, a psychiatrist, UHS physicians and registered dietitians.

Substance Use Support Team
The Substance Use Support Team is for students who have questions about their own or someone else’s substance use. They are a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to students’ physical and emotional well-being through assessment and referral, individual and group harm-reduction treatment, and outreach and prevention.

Integrated Health Program.
In 2002, CMHC established an Integrated Health program in conjunction with University Health Services (UHS). Through this program, CMHC counselors consult with physicians and work primarily with students who seek services from UHS.

CMHC's Services to the Profession

CMHC conducts research activities in the mental health field as part of a commitment to the practitioner/scholar model and to increase the knowledge base for mental health services for the college population. These activities include participation in the Research Consortium of Counseling and Psychological Services in Higher Education, of which CMHC was a founder, as well as more specialized projects that represent the wide variety of interests and energies of our staff and interns. CMHC also manages the national "Clearinghouse for Structured/Thematic Groups & Innovative Programs," which provides copies of guidelines and manuals either free or at low cost to assist professionals in conducting groups and workshops.

cmhc logo
facebook twitter instagram tumblr