Therapists on Campus: What 'Embedded' Care Means for Students

Universities across the United States have increasingly placed embedded therapists in locations where students live, learn, and train, a shift that began in some places as early as 2016 and has expanded since then. Penn State established an embedded counselor program for residence halls in 2016, while Virginia Tech created a dorm-based embedded-counseling program that started in the fall of 2022. The University of Iowa has dedicated embedded counselors in specific colleges such as business, dentistry, and law, and it also deploys clinicians to serve residence halls. Each campus adapts the model to local needs, which means staffing, hours, and the balance between drop-in care and ongoing therapy can vary considerably.

At Virginia Tech embedded counselors reported meeting 1,183 students in one academic year, and many appointments occur after classes when traditional counseling centers are closed. Counselors there provide drop-in consultations, crisis response, short-term individual therapy, and group sessions, and they often consult with resident assistants to manage immediate concerns. Although formal outcome studies remain limited, university reports and practitioner accounts indicate that embedded clinicians can lower barriers to care and normalize mental health support on campus. Moreover, some campuses have embedded clinicians in athletic departments, specific colleges, and even with campus police to reach students where they interact with university systems.

Program leaders caution that careful role definition and clear communication are essential if campuses are to avoid confusing boundaries between living spaces and professional care; otherwise, both students and staff may face unclear expectations. Research published in a 2025 psychiatry and campus-police study highlights interest in embedding clinicians across campus units but also notes funding and staffing challenges. If institutions define measurable goals and collect usage data, they will be better placed to judge whether embedded models improve access and outcomes over time.