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Vanguard University (VU) is launching its new Journeys at Vanguard Counseling Center on VU's Santa Ana-based graduate psychology campus.
The center will allow anyone in need of mental health services to receive therapy, regardless of ability to pay. According to officials, both online and in-person sessions will be available for individuals, couples or group therapy for all ages. As the nation struggles with multiple issues a highlight has been placed on mental health and mental health services.
Officials say that even before the pandemic, one in six people in Orange County reported needing help with mental, emotional or substance abuse problems. One in ten Orange County adults were reported to be without health insurance.
“One in ten people do not have insurance just in our local area in Orange County,” says Dr. Brenda Gesell. “The nation is overwhelmed not only with the COVID crises -I think we just hit one million COVID deaths. And then we also have the New York shooting, the Texas shooting, the Orange County shooting. So we have those pieces of the mental health crises that are overwhelming the nation.”
Journeys at Vanguard will allow clients to pay what they can afford weekly ranging from $10 to $50 a session while those who cannot afford anything will still be able to receive therapy.
“This project is about caring for the mental, emotional and spiritual needs of our community. Everyone faces some form of mental health issue. We all need to have access to quality professional mental health services,” said Rev. Randy Powell, the founder of Journeys Counseling Ministry. “We at Journeys Counseling Ministry are excited to combine with Vanguard University's Graduate Clinical Psychology Program to offer easily accessible quality mental health services to the community in general, including the underserved in particular."
There is an ongoing mental health crisis in Orange County, according to the CDC with suicide remaining the second leading cause of death for people under 34 years old in California.
Officials say that the COVID-19 pandemic has only. added to Californians' mental health challenges.
“Mental Health access is now more critical than ever, and there is a shortage of therapists. We want to help – and this is an important opportunity for our graduate clinical psychology students,” said Dr. Brenda Gesell, Vanguard’s Graduate Clinical Psychology’s Program Director, who has collaborated with Rev. Randy Powell to launch Journeys at Vanguard. “Our therapists-in-training know that there is a mental health crisis in Orange County, and they want to volunteer their time and make a difference in their community."