UF students offer free therapy to help meet Floridians’ mental health needs

A University of Florida program is filling an important gap for Alachua County residents who cannot afford treatment for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions.

Run by student volunteers in the UF College of Public Health and Health Professions’ Clinical and Health Psychology Ph.D. program, Free Therapy Night is believed to be the only student-led free psychology service in the country. Every week, students provide telehealth counseling for area residents who would otherwise not be able to access mental health services.

“It is very powerful to see how access to free mental health services can support individuals through challenging life circumstances, serving as a bridge to more comprehensive and long-term systems of support,” said Dakota Leget, a clinical and health psychology doctoral student and Free Therapy Night co-director.