The Counseling Center is an integral part of the Emerson community, providing services to both undergraduate and graduate students. It is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services.
The Center's clinical staff is composed of three licensed psychologists, two licensed clinical social workers, and two part-time consulting psychiatrists. The Center offers brief individual psychotherapy, crisis intervention, and the option of group therapy. When appropriate, we also provide referrals to outside agencies/clinicians for longer term therapy and/or psychiatric evaluation.
Senior staff members consult regularly with the Residence Life staff and other College personnel regarding their questions and concerns about student behavior. Senior staff and trainees also provide outreach programming for students and staff members on a variety of topics (e.g., stress management, relationships, and computer addiction).
Mission and Philosophy
Our primary goal is to help students fully develop their intellectual, emotional, and social potential. We believe that your psychological development is affected by your personal history and the larger social, cultural, and physical environment. Our work is focused on helping students prevent, reduce, or eliminate emotional and psychological barriers that may interfere with this developmental process. It is a sign of strength to explore personal concerns and feelings in therapy, and we regard your concerns with respect, curiosity, and interest.
Our Services
At the ECCC, we provide brief psychotherapy for students as individuals, couples, and groups, as well as consultation to faculty, staff, and concerned friends and family as needed. We provide training and outreach to the campus community to contribute to the creation of a healthy campus environment in which students can thrive. The ECCC is committed to creating and maintaining an open and accepting environment in which all clients feel welcomed and valued.
Confidentiality
At the ECCC, we care about protecting your privacy, and believe that counseling is most effective when students feel comfortable speaking openly with their counselor. Under ordinary circumstances, no one outside the ECCC is given any information—even the fact that you have been seen here—without your written consent. There are a few exceptions to confidentiality that your counselor will discuss with you in your initial session. These typically refer to situations in which safety is a concern.
Counseling Center Staff
All staff members are committed to using a developmental framework that validates the academic, social, emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and spiritual aspects of undergraduate and graduate students.
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Patricia A. Challan, PsyD
Dr. Patricia A. Challan is the interim director of the Counseling Center. She also serves as the director of training. Patty received her PsyD in clinical psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology and her MA in clinical psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Patty has more than 10 years of experience in college mental health, as well as specific training in child and adolescent psychotherapy. Patty’s clinical interests include mindfulness, expressive art therapy, play therapy, and the personal and professional development of mental health trainees. Patty has been at Emerson since October 2003, and she is inspired by the creativity, passion, and talent of Emerson students. A native of New Jersey, Patty is a writer who enjoys reading, the ocean, and listening to music.
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Jenn Brandel, LICSW
Jenn Brandel, LICSW, has been an Emerson College staff social worker since 2006. She received her MSW from Boston University School of Social Work. Jenn has worked with adolescents and young adults as both a clinician and a health educator for more than 10 years. Jenn's clinical interests include work around resiliency; healthy sexuality; relationships; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender issues; STDs; and HIV. Jenn relies heavily on her sense of humor and spends much of her time writing, watching The Daily Show, and playing dress-up with her daughter.
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Emily Inglesi, PsyD
Dr. Emily Inglesi is a staff psychologist in her first year at the Counseling Center. She received her PsyD in clinical psychology from Argosy University, Washington, DC and her MA in journalism from NYU. Before working at various college mental health centers, Emily was a travel writer and interior design editor—experiences that have enriched her current clinical work with the creative Emerson community. Emily integrates mindfulness and humor into her therapy approach, and her clinical interests include relationship dynamics, working with international students, body image issues, anxiety and stress management, and helping clients navigate life transitions. In her leisure time, Emily loves taking her energetic dog on walking adventures, exploring places near and far, getting lost in art museums, and watching everything from indie films to Three's Company reruns.
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Kerri Murphy, PhD
Dr. Kerri Murphy is a staff psychologist at the Counseling Center. She earned a master's degree in mental health counseling and a PhD in counseling psychology from Boston College. Kerri has worked in various college mental health settings and acute residential and partial hospital programs, where she has enjoyed combining relational approaches with more mindfulness and behaviorally based therapies. Kerri also enjoys teaching and is an adjunct faculty member at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Boston College. Her research focuses on the intersections of student engagement, career development, and mental health of underserved adolescents and young adults. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with family and friends, who bravely let her try out new recipes on them; to spend time outdooors hiking and swimming; and traveling to visit family living overseas.
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Maureen Crowley, BA
Maureen Crowley has been the staff assistant at the Counseling Center since May 2006. She received her BA in social and rehabilitative services from Assumption College. Maureen spent more than 10 years as a healthcare recruiter and several years at Merrimack College before coming to Emerson. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running around Lake Quannapowitt, and exploring Boston by foot. She loves working in the Theatre District and being around the creative Emerson students.
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Barbara Lewis, MA
Barbara is a master's candidate at Simmons School of Social Work. She recently trained at the Dual Diagnosis/Day Treatment Program at Faulkner/Brigham & Women's Hospital. After earning a BA in English from Wesleyan, she both worked and studied writing at Harvard and later received an MFA in Fiction from Emerson. Barbara's clinical interests include psychodynamic and narrative therapy, and the role creativity can play in enhancing mental health. An avid reader, walker, and foodie, Barbara's guilty pleasure is watching Chopped and Iron Chef with her fourth-grader.
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James P. Roehrig, MA
James is a graduate intern at the Counseling Center and a third-year counseling psychology PhD student at Northeastern University. He received his BA in media studies from Emerson College and his MA in psychology from Wesleyan University. James’s clinical and research interests involve eating disorders and developmental issues of early adulthood. In his free time, James enjoys spending time with his dog, watching films, playing video games, swimming, and biking.
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Shelley Schlief, MA
Shelley is a graduate intern at the Counseling Center for the 2011–2012 academic year. Shelley received her PhD in neurosciences from Washington University and is currently pursuing a doctorate from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. Previously, she also worked as a network news producer. Shelley has worked in community mental health with adults with anxiety, depression, and major mental illness. Her clinical interests include work around creativity, relationships, and decreasing stress using mindfulness-based cognitive-behavioral, relational, and internal family systems therapy. Shelley loves reading (fiction and nonfiction), experiencing avant-garde film, and learning how to DIY.
