East Ventura News

In recent years, mental health care has become increasingly prominent in American society. As stigma around treatment diminishes and telehealth advances, more people are seeking therapy. According to Statista, 59 million U.S. adults pursued therapy or counseling in 2023, up from 34 million in 2013.

California Lutheran University's Community Counseling Centers in Westlake Village and Oxnard address this demand by offering affordable therapy while training future clinicians. "We’re unique in that we’re equally client-centered and student-centered," says Rick Holigrocki, PhD, dean of the university’s Graduate School of Psychology. He adds, "We want to make sure our students are getting the best education and being trained on state-of-the-art tech."

Established in the 1970s, these centers conduct around 10,000 sessions annually, providing care in English and Spanish for roughly $25 per visit. External grants sometimes cover the full cost. The clinics feature 17 rooms for in-person or telehealth sessions. Approximately 60 students offer therapeutic services annually.

Holigrocki explains, "Clinical experience, working with real clients, is always part of a graduate student’s training." Students obtain clinical hours without leaving the university. They gain experience working with a diverse group of patients—individuals, couples, families—"to make it so this is an experience where they’re exposed to a wide swath of what’s out there."

Second-year student Javier Cano pursued therapy after personal tragedy motivated him to help others. Describing his initial nervousness with a child patient, Cano says, "I was able to have him sit down and talk to me." Cano is now open to a career involving children, though he prefers working with couples.

Another student, Dar Farzaneh, shifted careers after the pandemic, now focusing on Dialectical Behavior Therapy. Farzaneh appreciates impacting clients, saying, "There’s almost always a moment during each session where it hits me, ‘This is why I’m doing this.’"

Former students like Rochelle Gillespie and Kristina Rodriguez have returned to mentor new trainees. Gillespie recalls her own journey, emphasizing the value of watching recorded sessions for improvement. Rodriguez highlights the importance of administrative skills and serving Spanish-speaking clients, stating, "In order to better serve our families and communities, we have to first take care of ourselves."

Holigrocki credits the program's success to its dedication to making mental health care accessible. "The clinics really provide the community with a service, because mental health care is out of reach for so many people," he notes.