UNCW Doctoral Clinic Offers Affordable Mental Health Services to the Community

Friday, January 31, 2020

A UNCW clinic is providing affordable mental health and testing services to residents of the Cape Fear region. The $20 sessions are conducted by UNCW psychology doctoral student clinicians under the supervision of licensed faculty in the Department of Psychology. 

The nonprofit General Psychotherapy and Assessment Clinic offers services to clients ages 7 and older who may be experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or who need help problem solving or coping with a variety of difficulties. It also provides gifted-and-talented student evaluations and testing for learning disabilities, as well as other diagnostic assessments for all ages. 

“We established this clinic as a center of excellence for training psychologists and serving the community,” said UNCW psychology professor and clinic director Kate Nooner. “This will be the same high-level, evidence-based testing and treatment you would get in the private sector.” 

The staff includes second- and third-year doctoral psychology students who are supervised by Nooner and psychology professors Sally MacKain and Len Lecci. Currently, third-year students conduct therapy sessions. Second- and third-year students perform testing services. 

In addition to training psychologists, the clinic was established to help meet a critical need for mental health services. 

“There are people out there who haven’t sought help because of cost, lack of insurance or other factors,” she said. “Anyone in the community can come to the UNCW clinic and there are none of those barriers.” 

Insurance is neither required nor accepted. The $20 fee was intended to be comparable to Medicaid copays for psychological services to help make it affordable to all. Nooner said the clinic will work with clients on financial arrangements when necessary. 

“We will do our best to make it affordable for everyone who needs the services,” she said. “This is an important option for mental health services in the community. We are proud that UNCW is offering it.” 

The GPAC clinic is located across South College Road from the main campus at 720 St. James Drive. For appointments, call 910.962.7525 or email gpac@uncw.edu.

- Tricia Vance