By Jill Pease
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.
Meeting a critical need
Florida consistently ranks near the top in the U.S. for the number of people with mental health conditions. Many of Free Therapy Night’s patients report they struggle to get the mental health care they need because of lack of insurance, the high cost of insurance co-payments and difficulty getting appointments with providers.
In 2024, 43 Free Therapy Night student volunteers provided more than 200 patient appointments under the supervision of Department of Clinical and Health Psychology faculty members. Following an initial 30-minute visit with a student coordinator to determine eligibility, a patient can participate in five weekly sessions with a psychologist-in-training.
“I am honored to be able to start that conversation with these individuals who have found the courage to reach out in hopes of prioritizing their mental well-being,” said Ph.D. student and Free Therapy Night coordinator Hannah Johnson.
Free Therapy Night is one of three student-led clinics in the College of Public Health and Health Professions that offers no-cost health care services for people who are uninsured or underinsured. The OT Equal Access Clinic provides free telehealth and in-person occupational therapy services, and the PT Equal Access Clinic offers physical therapy evaluation and treatment. All care is provided under faculty supervision.
Caring for the community
For Shar Aghabeigi, a clinical and health psychology Ph.D. student and Free Therapy Night co-director, witnessing patients’ commitment to treatment fuels her passion for volunteering.
“Seeing how motivated and dedicated they are to getting help is inspiring,” Aghabeigi said.
In addition to treating patients for a broad range of mental health conditions, students help patients develop problem-solving and coping skills they can apply long after treatment ends.
“I have had patients express significant gratitude for the amount we were able to accomplish in only five sessions,” said Ph.D. student Anjelica Body.
Students also connect patients with crisis centers and local resources for issues such as substance abuse and domestic violence.
“I recall working with an individual who was facing unemployment, food and housing insecurity, and unmanaged health conditions due to a lack of insurance,” Leget said. “During their time at our clinic, we provided short-term mental health support and were able to connect them with essential sources, including food banks, a free primary care clinic, social work services and financial assistance programs.”
Students say Free Therapy Night is a powerful mechanism for gaining real-world experiences while directly supporting the community.
“Through this program, we are expanding the accessibility of mental health services for those who cannot otherwise afford this type of care,” Johnson said. “Prioritizing mental health should be a right, not a privilege, and I am so grateful to have even a small role in this shift in Alachua County.”