Hiring Permanently Remote Clinical Staff at University Counseling Centers: A Descriptive and Qualitative Exploration of Barriers and Implications for Student Mental Health

Abstract

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has had a marked influence on the nature of psychotherapy in the transition from predominantly in-person services to predominantly remote, telemental health services, to an intermediary hybrid model. Increased availability of telehealth services has been denoted a point of equity in meeting service needs of diverse groups of people across the United States . However, some University and College Counseling Centers (UCCCs) have rapidly rolled back telemental health provisions in favor of in-person or hybrid models of practice, even amidst increased use of counseling services, pressure to expand service availability, and difficulties with clinical staff retention. To explore this phenomenon, 75 UCCC administrators in the U.S. were surveyed to elucidate the nature of remote staffing in UCCCs, including administrative perspectives regarding barriers to hiring permanently remote staff (PRS). Five thematic barriers to hiring PRS were identified: Institutional Roadblocks, Team Ethos, Equity in Clinical Duties, Student Demand, and Service Quality Concerns. A majority of these barriers coded into categories that were chronic and autonomy-limiting in nature. Implications and recommendations for UCCCs and college student wellness are discussed.