This is in relation to a female college student who is experiencing some depression.

Hoping to find someone who won't immediately say, "Nice to meet you, here are some pills.," but obviously we realize antidepressants may be necessary.

Christian perspective preferred but not at the expense of competence.

Thanks!

Dr. Barbara Sanford, if she is still practicing.

A&M Christian Couseling Center is wonderful. A&M has a behavioral and psychiatry clinic that is open to everyone.

I have a friend who is a counselor in CS and she reports that the anxiety and depression among kids of all ages K through college has skyrocketed since Covid started. Many kids struggle with on line learning academically and the lack of socialization when they are stuck in their apartments/dorm rooms.

I have a class of '23 Aggie and just the thought of her time in college is awful. She has taken more hours on line than in person. In the fall of 2020 she had half of her class on line and in person. By the end of the first month the two in person professors coaxed their students into on line and they didn't meet in person anymore. They told the kids you could get the lecture, notes, slides on line and the kids slowly stopped coming. Then the tipping point was reached and no one showed up. This was done on purpose because the professor obviously didn't want to work for convenience or fear. It still happens.

Her college experience is nothing like mine was and it's sad.

EDIT: I was informed the person I mentioned is not taking new clients.

Having recently gone through a similar situation but with a teen, I can tell you local mental health options are few and far between.

The wait times are really long (as in months). Everyone suggested the Emergency Room, which was overkill for our situation but I did keep it in my back pocket in case things worsened. We ended up at our Primary Care provider who was able to prescribe some basic meds and make a referral to a local psychologist who did not accept insurance. I had already gone through the list on our Blue Cross Blue Shield website (about 20 phone calls) to find exactly zero options. I found zero on the east side of Austin. I found one in the Woodlands.

Psychologists are easier to find than Psychiatrists. Psychologists don't prescribe meds. In our case, the meds were needed to interrupt the immediate downward spiral so that the talk therapy had a chance to work. It has been a month and 2 medication adjustments were needed along with weekly meetings with psychologist. We are on wait list for Psychiatrist but I think by time it is our turn, it might not be necessary. At least that is what I hope.

Good luck. It is tough out there

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Having recently gone through a similar situation but with a teen, I can tell you local mental health options are few and far between.

The wait times are really long (as in months). Everyone suggested the Emergency Room, which was overkill for our situation but I did keep it in my back pocket in case things worsened. We ended up at our Primary Care provider who was able to prescribe some basic meds and make a referral to a local psychologist who did not accept insurance. I had already gone through the list on our Blue Cross Blue Shield website (about 20 phone calls) to find exactly zero options. I found zero on the east side of Austin. I found one in the Woodlands.

Psychologists are easier to find than Psychiatrists. Psychologists don't prescribe meds. In our case, the meds were needed to interrupt the immediate downward spiral so that the talk therapy had a chance to work. It has been a month and 2 medication adjustments were needed along with weekly meetings with psychologist. We are on wait list for Psychiatrist but I think by time it is our turn, it might not be necessary. At least that is what I hope.

Good luck. It is tough out there

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Agree with this . Especially for teens still in high school, mental health support is very lacking in our community. Many of the few psychiatrists won't take teens or new patients. TAMU has some good resources but my experience working with students is that the number of appointments can be limited as it's not meant to be a prolonged solution.

I'm a Marriage and Family Therapist in town and while I agree that many therapists do fill up at different parts of the year, there are actually quite a few more mental health options than there were when we moved to town about 8 years ago. A&M Christian Counseling has a good reputation and many therapists there will see kids and adolescents. Oakwood Collaborative and Oakwood Roots also has many fantastic therapists. College Station Christian Counseling is also in South CS and has some great folks there as well. Feel free to DM me if you need more specific referrals.

For depression, most PCPs or OB/GYNs can do medication management. For counselors, I would recommend looking into virtual options- I had a great experience with Talkspace and a friend has had good luck with BetterHelp as well. You can get in right away and also get on a waitlist for in person therapy if that's what you prefer.

Thanks to all.

[This is not the General Board and you are on a break. -Staff]

I recommend Dr. Cody Lindsey at the Baylor Scott & White location on University. Really nice guy and really knows his stuff. I have been seeing him for anxiety issues and he has been great.

Shawn at A&M Christian Couseling Center saw me a few years ago. He was great and the staff was awesome as well.

Jessie Lee - she's a therapist but has resources and colleagues she can refer to if medication management is needed. (979) 202-0400