Teletherapy & Mental Health Support for University of Alabama Students
At Taproot Therapy Collective, we understand the unique challenges faced by college students. Our specialized teletherapy services are designed to provide accessible, effective mental health support that fits into your busy academic schedule while addressing the specific pressures of university life.
Understanding the Mental Health Needs of University of Alabama Students
College years represent a significant transitional period filled with academic pressures, social challenges, identity development, and preparation for future careers. At the University of Alabama, with its enrollment of approximately 40,846 students, these universal challenges are compounded by specific factors that can impact mental wellbeing.
The Current State of Student Mental Health
Recent data highlights the growing mental health concerns among college students nationally and at the University of Alabama specifically. Understanding these statistics helps us better address the unique needs of UA students and faculty.
Anxiety Diagnoses
Of college students nationwide report being diagnosed with anxiety, making it the most common mental health concern among students.
Depression Diagnoses
Of college students report being diagnosed with depression, highlighting the significant impact of mood disorders on student populations.
Overwhelming Anxiety
Of college students reported experiencing overwhelming anxiety during the past academic year, affecting their academic performance.
Treatment Gap
Of college students who drop out due to mental health reasons never accessed mental health services while on campus.
The Alabama Experience: Expectation vs. Reality
For as long as you can remember, you have been looking forward to going away to college. You've been coming to Alabama football games at Bryant-Denny Stadium since you were little. So many memories tailgating on the quad, hearing the sound of Denny Chimes, and celebrating after big wins. Additionally, you have dreamed about what sorority or fraternity you would join when you arrived on campus.
Either way, you were excited about being on your own; making your own choices and "adulting." No one, besides your advisor, to tell you what to do or what classes to take. Maybe you would live on campus in the Tutwiler or Lakeside your freshman year, with a plan to move into your sorority or fraternity house or in a little house on 9th Street or Reed Street with your friends. You had dreams of hanging out with friends eating breakfast at Heritage House or dinner at FIVE or Taco Mama, or simple things like grabbing coffee at Monarch.
But now you are here, and college life is not exactly as you imagined. Getting to make your own decisions has turned into HAVING to make so many decisions. There is so much to navigate and so much stress that goes along with it.
Mental Health Resources at the University of Alabama
The University of Alabama offers several on-campus resources to support student mental health. These services provide valuable support, but may have limitations in terms of availability, session limits, or specialized treatment options. Taproot Therapy Collective serves as a complementary resource when students need additional or specialized support.
On-Campus Resources
-
University Counseling Center
The Counseling Center offers individual counseling, group therapy, crisis intervention, and psychiatric services to enrolled students. Located in the South Lawn Office Building, the center provides short-term therapy with session limits per academic year.
Contact: (205) 348-3863
-
Student Health Center - Mental Health Services
Medical professionals provide psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and coordination with counseling services for comprehensive care.
Contact: (205) 348-6262
-
Psychology Clinic
The clinic provides affordable mental health services from doctoral students in clinical psychology, supervised by licensed psychologists.
Contact: (205) 348-5000
-
Women and Gender Resource Center
Offers counseling services specifically for issues related to gender-based violence, relationship concerns, and trauma.
Contact: (205) 348-5040
Community Resources in Tuscaloosa
-
Indian Rivers Behavioral Health
Provides comprehensive mental health services including counseling, psychiatric services, and crisis intervention.
Contact: (205) 391-3131
-
Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center - Mental Health Services
Mental health services for student veterans, including counseling, substance abuse treatment, and PTSD services.
Contact: (205) 554-2000
-
DCH Regional Medical Center
Offers emergency psychiatric services and referrals to outpatient treatment options.
Contact: (205) 759-7111
Resources for UA Students
Helpful Articles and Resources
We've created several resources specifically for University of Alabama students to help address common mental health concerns:
Additional Community Resources
-
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Tuscaloosa
Local support groups and resources for individuals and families affected by mental health conditions.
-
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 for free, 24/7 crisis counseling.
-
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call or text 988 for immediate support if you're experiencing suicidal thoughts.
-
ULifeline
Online mental health resources specifically designed for college students.
-
The Jed Foundation
Resources for protecting emotional health and preventing suicide among college students.
-
Active Minds
Student-led mental health awareness and education organization with chapters on many campuses.
Connect with a Teletherapist Specializing in College Student Mental Health
Begin Your Journey Today
To learn more about our teletherapy services for University of Alabama students or to schedule an appointment, please contact us today. Our team understands the unique challenges of college life and is committed to providing the support you need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
If you're experiencing symptoms but aren't sure where to start, our guide to recognizing anxiety and depression symptoms can help you better understand what you're experiencing before your first appointment.
Starting Teletherapy is Simple:
- Contact Taproot Therapy Collective and set up an appointment.
- Get to know our experienced therapists who specialize in college student mental health.
- Start your journey toward a more self-confident, clear future.
Other Services We Provide
Online therapy for college students at the University of Alabama is not the only service we provide. We are able to see clients in our Birmingham, AL counseling clinic or through online therapy. We provide:
- Anxiety therapy
- Depression counseling
- Counseling for difficult life transitions
- Counseling for teens
- Life coaching
- Healthy technology lifestyles
- PTSD counseling
- Trauma counseling
- Perfectionism counseling
We look forward to getting to know you better!
Contact UsDisclaimer: Taproot Therapy Collective is not affiliated with the University of Alabama. We are an independent mental health practice dedicated to supporting college students and university staff with specialized teletherapy and in-person treatment options. This website is for informational purposes only and does not replace official university resources. We encourage students to utilize both university-provided services and external resources like ours for comprehensive support.
Our Holistic Treatment Approaches
At Taproot Therapy Collective, we believe in treating the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. Our therapists are trained in multiple evidence-based approaches that can be effectively delivered through teletherapy, with options for in-person sessions when beneficial.
Available via Teletherapy
- Somatic Therapy - Body-centered approaches that address trauma's physical manifestations
- EMDR Therapy - Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for trauma and anxiety
- Brainspotting - Innovative approach for processing trauma and enhancing performance
- Lifespan Integration - Healing technique that addresses the timeline of traumatic experiences
- Parts-Based Therapy - Exploring different aspects of self for integrated healing
- ADHD and Anxiety Treatment - Specialized approach for co-occurring conditions
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) - Skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance
Available In-Person Only
- Emotional Transformation Therapy (ETT) - Utilizing light and color frequencies for rapid healing
- QEEG Brain Mapping - Advanced neurological assessment for personalized treatment
- Neurofeedback - Brain training to improve regulation and function
- Neurostimulation - Technology-assisted brain regulation techniques
- Hardy Micronutrition Consultation - Nutritional approaches to mental health
Our Hybrid Approach
Taproot offers the flexibility of combining teletherapy with occasional in-person sessions when beneficial. This hybrid model allows students to maintain the convenience of online therapy while accessing specialized in-person treatments when needed. Our Birmingham location is approximately a 60-minute drive from the University of Alabama campus.
Our Teletherapy Specialists
Our team of licensed therapists specializes in working with college students and young adults. Each brings unique expertise to address the diverse needs of University of Alabama students.
Pamela Hayes, MSW LMSW
Pamela specializes in supporting college students dealing with complex PTSD, OCD, anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. Her approach blends experiential techniques with evidence-based modalities like Brainspotting and Somatic Experiencing.
For students with overlapping anxiety and attention difficulties, she offers specialized approaches addressing both anxiety and ADHD symptoms, which is particularly relevant for managing academic demands.
Book with Pamela
Dr. Haley Beech, PhD MSW LMSW
Dr. Beech specializes in anxiety, depression, and trauma recovery. Her approach incorporates somatic and experiential modalities like Brainspotting to help students navigate through trauma held in the body and emotions.
For students experiencing anxiety and depression related to academic pressure, she may discuss both therapeutic approaches and medication options when appropriate. Her compassionate, non-pathologizing approach creates a safe space for deep healing.
Learn more about Dr. Beech
Becky Milstead, LPC
With over 20 years of experience, Becky specializes in helping young adults navigate life transitions and develop effective communication skills. She's particularly skilled at working with college-age clients who are establishing independence while managing academic demands.
Becky incorporates practical exercises and teaches DBT skills to help students recognize and regulate their emotions. For students with both anxiety and attention issues, Becky offers specialized approaches addressing anxiety and ADHD symptoms together.
Connect with Becky
Marie Danner, LICSW-S MSW CCTP-II
Marie is a seasoned trauma therapist who employs a multi-modal approach to create personalized treatment plans for college students. Her therapeutic toolbox includes Brainspotting, Lifespan Integration, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT).
Specializing in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety, Marie is skilled at recognizing anxiety and depression symptoms common among college students facing academic pressures.
Book a session with Marie
Kristi Wood, LICSW MSW PIP
Kristi develops personalized treatment plans that incorporate cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), attachment theory, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy. She creates a safe, non-judgmental space for students to explore their experiences and work towards lasting change.
With training in EMDR for anxiety and Brainspotting, Kristi specializes in helping college students manage anxiety, depression, and trauma responses that can interfere with academic success and social adjustment.
Book a session with KristiKey Challenges for University of Alabama Students
Academic Pressure
UA students face rigorous academic expectations across various disciplines. The competitive nature of many programs, particularly in business, engineering, and pre-professional tracks, can create significant stress and performance anxiety.
Financial Concerns
Many students manage the financial burden of tuition, housing, and living expenses, often while working part-time jobs. This financial strain can exacerbate stress and anxiety, particularly for out-of-state students facing higher tuition costs.
Social Adaptation
The large size of UA's student body and the prominent Greek life culture creates unique social dynamics that can be challenging to navigate. First-year and transfer students may particularly struggle with finding their place in this environment.
Geographic Transition
With students from all 50 states and many countries, many UA students are far from their support networks, creating additional adjustment challenges and feelings of isolation or homesickness.
Identity Development
Everything is changing so fast — your views about others, the world, and yourself. You don't know who you are or what you believe. It's unclear what you want your future to look like. The highs are higher and the lows are lower.
Career Preparation Anxiety
As graduation approaches, many students experience heightened anxiety about post-college plans, job searches, and career readiness in an increasingly competitive market.
The Impact on Your Wellbeing
It is hard to know where to turn for help, especially when it looks like everyone else has it together. You are beyond tired. Exhausted, actually. Everything is unclear. It can be so overwhelming.
We understand what a difficult transition college can be. Counseling can be a safe place, one with no judgment or expectations, where you can take a step back and have help examining your thoughts, feelings and options.
Benefits of Teletherapy for UA Students
Why Consider Teletherapy?
You know that you should start counseling, but it needs to fit your schedule and lifestyle. We get that. Starting online therapy with Taproot Therapy Collective can help. While campus resources provide valuable support, many students benefit from the additional flexibility, privacy, and specialized care that teletherapy can provide.
Accessibility & Convenience
Access therapy from your dorm room, apartment, or any private space, eliminating the need to travel across campus or navigate Tuscaloosa traffic. This is especially valuable during busy exam periods or inclement weather.
Privacy & Discretion
Maybe you don't want others to know your personal business. Fortunately, we get it. A benefit of online therapy is that you can have therapy from the privacy of your dorm room, apartment, or house. This way, no one will see you going in or coming out of a therapist's office.
Flexible Scheduling
Our expanded evening and weekend hours accommodate busy class schedules, extracurricular activities, and part-time jobs, making it easier to prioritize your mental health without academic sacrifices.
Consistency During Breaks
Continue your therapy sessions during semester breaks, holidays, and summer months, maintaining therapeutic progress regardless of your location.
Specialized Treatment Options
Access specialized therapeutic approaches that may not be available through university counseling services, including trauma-focused therapies, somatic approaches, and specialized treatments for anxiety and depression.
No Session Limits
Unlike many university counseling centers that cap the number of sessions per semester or year, our teletherapy services can provide ongoing support for as long as needed.
Consideration for Online Counseling
Most people don't know this but you need to see a counselor in the state in which you are physically located. This means that if you are living in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, you need to see a therapist in the state of Alabama. Taproot Therapy Collective is in Birmingham, Alabama. Because of this, we can work with college students at the University of Alabama.
Time Management Support for Students
Becoming a Time Management Ninja
Fall at the University of Alabama can be so beautiful. Tailgating before football games at Denny Chimes… Enjoying the energy of a football game in Bryant-Denny stadium… Hanging out at Galettes, or another favorite chill spot. There is always something to do. When there is so much fun to be had in other areas of your life, how do you manage to study and make the grades you want to make?
With so many social opportunities and so much fun to be had, it is incredibly helpful to become a time management Ninja. If you maximize your productivity and minimize waste of time, you can be very social AND do very well academically. This takes a system of time management, together with mindful and intentional planning.
Most people become overwhelmed when it comes to planning out and scheduling all that they have to do. This causes procrastination, stress, and underperformance. Counseling with Taproot Therapy Collective can help. We can teach you our time management system. We break it down in such a way that it is not overwhelming and completely doable.
Balance Academics and Social Life
Learn strategies to create a balanced schedule that allows time for both academic success and social enjoyment, so you don't miss out on either aspect of college life.
Reduce Procrastination
Develop techniques to overcome procrastination by understanding your unique barriers and creating systems that help you start and complete tasks in a timely manner.
Set Realistic Goals
Learn how to set achievable goals and break larger projects into manageable steps, reducing overwhelm and increasing productivity.
Develop Consistent Study Habits
Create sustainable study routines that work with your natural energy levels and learning style, leading to better retention and less cramming.
If you struggle with managing your life, think you are wasting too much time, and not achieving the results you want, therapy with Taproot Therapy Collective is for you. What you will learn in your 50 minutes once a week in online therapy will save you so much time in the long run. How much time are you wasting being overwhelmed and without direction?
Self-Esteem and Confidence Building
Building Confidence in a Challenging Environment
The social scene at the University of Alabama is no joke. If you are struggling with social anxiety or self-esteem issues, therapy can help. Self-esteem and social anxiety are closely related. If you are anxious about what others think of you, that is because of the image you have of yourself. It is because of how you criticize your imperfections.
If you don't love who you are, you will assume others are judging you as harshly as you are judging yourself. Therefore, if you do not enjoy high self-esteem, you will be anxious in social situations.
Trying to establish your own identity, outside of your parents, and outside of what society expects of you, can be difficult. You are trying to navigate relationships. Additionally, you're expected to choose a major and do well in your classes. Better decide whether to go to graduate school, or decide on what career to enter after college.
Challenge Negative Self-Talk
Learn to identify and transform self-critical thoughts that undermine your confidence and contribute to social anxiety.
Develop Stronger Identity
Explore and clarify your values, interests, and goals to develop a stronger sense of who you are beyond others' expectations.
Build Social Confidence
Develop practical skills for social situations, from making conversation to setting boundaries, that help you feel more at ease with peers.
Embrace Authenticity
Learn to value your unique qualities rather than comparing yourself to others or trying to fit a perceived mold of what a college student should be.
Through Acceptance Commitment Therapy, our therapists can help guide you from a place of low self-esteem and anxiety, to a place of high self-esteem and confidence. We can help you become clear about who you are, who you want to be, and what you want your life to look like. Then we help you with an action plan to get there!
Anxiety and Depression Support
Overcoming Mental Health Obstacles
If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, you are not enjoying your life and your college experience the way you could. Your grades and social life will both suffer. You do not have to live this way.
Conditions such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders may manifest during this transition period, making it vital for college students to have access to mental health resources. Depression and anxiety are two of college students' most prevalent mental health issues.
Anxiety disorders can cause excessive worry, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating. Alternatively, depression may lead to persistent sadness, loss of interest, and changes in appetite and sleep patterns. Academic stress is also a common problem, with students grappling with high expectations and a fear of failure.
Evidence-Based Anxiety Treatment
Learn practical techniques to manage anxiety symptoms, reduce excessive worry, and navigate high-pressure academic situations more effectively.
Depression Management
Develop strategies to address depressive symptoms, increase motivation, and reconnect with activities that bring joy and meaning to your life.
Stress Reduction
Master techniques for managing academic, social, and financial stressors that are common among college students.
Emotional Regulation
Learn practical skills to identify, understand, and manage difficult emotions without being overwhelmed by them.
At Taproot Therapy Collective, we use Acceptance Commitment Therapy and other evidence-based approaches to help you go from procrastination, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression to enjoying your most satisfying and fulfilling life. Online therapy for college students can help you find your way and highlight the actions necessary to be organized, to prioritize, to set, and reach goals.
From Overwhelmed to Empowered
We have helped many students go from feeling:
- Overwhelmed to being calm, deliberate, and organized
- Unclear about the future to having a plan for college and your future after college
- Confusion about who you are to knowing exactly who you are and what is important to you
- Lost and overwhelmed to having a strong sense of purpose and direction
- Insecure and lacking self-worth to being confident in who you are
- Constantly worried or nervous to excited and in control of your life and your future