By Sandra C. Roa, University Communications and Marketing
Heather Walders approaches mental health and well-being holistically. As a mental health outreach clinician at the USF Counseling Center, Walders uses her background in social work, public health and yoga to consider how social pressures and current events impact her student clients. Throughout the semester, Walders facilitates workshops, visits residential students and conducts weekly counseling sessions. “We want to make sure that we can provide coping mechanisms for our students,” Walders said.
Walders is also a USF alum and knows what it’s like to be a student balancing academics and the anxieties of young adult life. She earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications (‘98) and master’s degrees in social work (‘14) and public health (‘15).
The USF Counseling Center provides individual and group counseling services to more than 3,500 students each year, and extends its outreach and consultation services to more than 13,000 members of the USF community annually.
To meet increased demand for mental health services, USF expanded resources this fall, including the launch of TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being platform and mobile app that’s free to current students. USF also offers online platforms Togetherall and TAO.