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Shaking her head and gesturing noncommitally to a computer screen, Counseling and Psychological Services secretary Rhonda Aaronson announced the clinic only had appointments available after a year of medical leave.
Aaronson turned to Becca Winger ‘17, a student seeking counseling for worsening issues of depression and anxiety, and told her she could only see a therapist after suffering a major mental health breakdown, taking two semesters away from Brown, and following an opaque readmission process to come back and finish her senior year.
“The next slot we have is going to be on September 21, 2017,” Aaronson said. “In order to take that slot, you’ll have to give me your name and address and also withdraw from Brown for at least a year as proof of your mental illness.”
Aaronson said the policy change is in response to recent administrative pressure to make the clinical scheduling process as stressful and inaccessible as possible.
“You’ll just have to take a year off and see how you feel and then we should be able to fit you in,” Aaronson said. “A couple of students have had success with it in the past, so maybe you’ll get lucky.”
At press time, Aaronson offered to print Winger out a list of private therapists who don’t accept her insurance.
