New Faces in CAPS Reflect Diverse Student Population

The face of Duke Counseling & Psychological Services is changing to reflect the university’s expanding diversity among its student population.

Of the last eight staff members hired by CAPS, six are people of color and others identify as LGBTQ+, international and multilingual.

“Students often want to see and talk to someone who looks like them and who has similar lived experiences,” said Danielle Oakley, director for CAPS, which assists undergraduate, graduate and professional students in individual, couples and group counseling. The group also provides medication evaluation and management, referral coordination services, and campus community engagement activities.

The diversity of the new counselors reflects the growing diversity among Duke’s student population. During the last decade, the racial and international profile of undergraduates has changed significantly.  Within Duke’s Class of 2021, 53 percent identify as people of color and 250 as international students compared to the Class of 2011 where 44 percent identified as people of color and 138 as international students.

“Part of our strategic planning process is to hire staff who reflect the diversity of the students and offer services that are culturally congruent for them, such as being more present in the spaces where students live and learn,” Oakley said.

She said the new staff members were hired to serve all students, but they also expand the team’s ability to engage with a student population that has a range of experience with oppression, marginalization and discrimination.

“These issues are often related to identity, such as race, national status, religion and gender identity,” she said, “and they can lead to depression, anxiety and low self-esteem, which in effect hurts us all.”

All 32 staff members at CAPS participate in training and activities to help them better understand the ways such issues negatively affect mental health. Staff also participate in implicit bias training and how to understand perspectives from other cultural norms.

“Our individual performance plans prioritize goals related to this strategic plan so that everyone is accountable in their ability to work with students of all backgrounds,” Oakley said.

Students can drop by the CAPS office, located on the third floor of the Duke Student Wellness Center, anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. In a student’s first meeting, a counselor will listen to their concerns and work with them collaboratively to create a plan for services at CAPS, on campus or in the community.

Typically, CAPS sees about 14 percent of the study body. During the last semester, that number increased to 35 percent. Students generally receive counseling for an average of six visits.

Sue Wasiolek, dean of students and associate vice president of Student Affairs, believes the increase signifies a decrease in stigma for treating mental health issues and the diverse staffing in CAPS.

“Students will migrate to those that are more like them and understand them,” she said. “We want to make certain that we have counselors in the counseling center and staff in all Student Affairs departments who are able to serve our diverse community.”