Standing alongside students
Licensed Professional Counselor Anita Ofori joined Texas A&M’s Office of University Health Services in September and works full time at Texas A&M College of Dentistry.
This is the first on-site counselor in the school’s 119-year history and is part of UHS’ initiative to embed counselors within colleges, schools and departments across the university, establishing a “community of care” for Aggies.
Ofori, who earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from The University of Toledo, said providing counseling services in a professional school serves not only the client seeking help but also their future patients and clients.
“I know that when you provide support for people who are helping others, it creates a chain reaction of quality care,” she said. “A happy nurse, happy dentist or happy therapist, equals a happy client.”
Ofori said students face similar mental health challenges across higher education.
“I know there are statistics out there specific to dental school or medical school, but in my experience, every school is hard,” she said. “All students go through difficulties, and the no. 1 thing students struggle with is impostor syndrome. No. 2 is self-esteem issues, which goes hand in hand.”
In graduate and professional schools, students may have children or aging parents, potentially leading to more family stress. Financial stress is also widespread among students, as well as general anxiety.
“My goal is to provide a safe environment, a supportive environment for clients to explore their feelings and their thoughts as they work toward recovery or healing,” she said. “I want to be that space for them … If nowhere on campus is ‘good’ for you, this should be a good place, and I do everything in my capacity to provide that.”
Ofori’s office is Room 136 in the Administration and Education Building. Her hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Although walk-ins are accepted when possible, appointments are highly recommended and should be made online at uhs.tamu.edu.
In the event of a mental health crisis or emergency after school hours or off campus, call 911, 988 or the Suicide Crisis Center at 214-828-1000 or 800-273-8255.
Ofori is one of 12 counselors currently embedded across the university. Dr. Nancy Fahrenwald, UHS associate vice president, told Texas A&M Today the commitment is to “establish Texas A&M as a community of care, using a public health model for mental health and well-being.”
“Caring for our community is about reaching people where they are,” she said, “developing systems of support and making resources more accessible to students.”