Evaluating the effectiveness of short-term treatment at a university counseling center

The effectiveness of short-term treatment provided to 55 students treated a t a university counseling center was evaluated. The Symptom Checklist-90-R was administered at intake and at the termination of treatment for 41 clien ts, and at initial intake, again after a 6-week no-treatment wailing list p eriod, and again at the termination of treatment, for 14 clients. Statistic ally and clinically significant improvements in SCL-90-R scores were obtain ed following counseling for those receiving immediate treatment. Clients in the waiting list condition did not improve until after receiving treatment . This study adds to the existing empirical literature suggesting that univ ersity counseling centers provide effective treatment. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.