Thirty Years of the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors: A Personal Account

Abstract

This article reviews important trends in college counseling work over the past 30 years revealed through an annual survey of college counseling center directors. The article also focuses on questions raised in the survey that generated important professional discussions and on other contributions the survey has made to the counseling profession. Initially the survey results provided important information to counseling center directors and their staffs. However, due to media interest, the survey gradually gained an expanded audience among higher education administrators and also helped to educate the broader public about the nature and importance of counseling center work.

Keywords:

• college mental health trends
• college students
• counseling center directors' survey

Notes

Robert P. Gallagher was Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (1996–2000) and Director of the Counseling Center (1971–1996) at the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Administrative and Policy Studies Department in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh.