The Counseling Program (SOPP)

The Ellis Human Development Institute

The Program: The MHDP is a specialized program offered under the auspices of Wright State University's School of Professional Psychology (SOPP). The School of Professional Psychology is a generalist program which trains clinicians toward a Psy. D. degree in Clinical Psychology and places a great deal of its training emphasis on training within the practitioner/scholar model. The MHDP pulls the majority of its clinical team, including practicum students, from SOPP.  Students also come from other local mental health training programs such as the Mental Health Counseling Programs at the University of Dayton and Wright State University (WSU), Rehabilitation Counseling at WSU, and psychiatric residents from the School of Medicine at WSU. Supervisors and consulting clinicians come from the local area and consist of Psychologists, Psychiatrists, and Art Therapists. 

Orientation: The MHDP follows an integrationist model which adheres to a bio-psychosocial perspective. Theoretical models incorporated include Systems Theory, Cognitive Behavioral Theory, Gestalt Theory as well as Brief Strategic Intervention. All intervention is couched in a client-centered approach to therapy with special attention to empathy, respect, and honoring the client's position and right to confidentiality. 

Interventions: Individual Therapy, Family Therapy, Couples Therapy, Cognitive Assessment, Personality Assessment, Career Assessment, Career Counseling, ADHD Evaluations, and IEP Evaluations.   

Client populations: Deaf, Heard of Hearing, and Hearing clients are seen by MHDP. These individuals come from a wide variety of ethnic/cultural backgrounds including Appalachians, Caucasians, African Americans, child/adolescents, adults and elderly adults.

Referrals: Although the MHDP is not designed to handle clients in acute crisis or those not stabilized on medication, the program does accept referrals form Hospitals, School H-I programs, Community Services for the Deaf, BVR, and private practice clinics. Please note that potential clients who are dealing with chemical dependency will be referred to other agencies and would not be considered appropriate for our program unless they are receiving concurrent counseling for those issues.