USD’s Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic Receives $2.5 Million Grant

The Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic housed within the University of San Diego’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences has received a $2.5 million grant to provide free telemental health services to military personnel, veterans and their families. This initiative aims to address the growing mental health needs within the military-connected community.

Currently, USD’s Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic provides high-quality and affordable counseling services for school-age children and adolescents, their parents, and college-age adults. The California Veterans Health Initiative (CVHI) Mental Health Support Grant, awarded by the California Department of Veterans Affairs, will allow the clinic to expand its reach and provide free mental health support to more than 100 military-connected community members throughout California starting in early 2025.

“I am deeply grateful and excited for the support the CVHI ​​Grant will offer the Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic,” said Lauren Bruaski, PsyD, LMFT, clinic director of the Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic. “This grant enhances our ability to serve the military community by expanding our telehealth services to address their urgent needs and provide them with essential mental health resources. My team is committed to ensuring that every individual who has served our nation and their family members can receive the mental health support they need and deserve.” 

“The clinic was created as an outward-facing enterprise to provide real-world training experiences to our graduate students in counseling while also providing accessible mental health services to the community at large. The CVHI Grant is an opportunity to expand the scope and depth of our services to the military community throughout California,” explained Wendell J. Callahan, PhD, professor of practice and founding executive director of the Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic and co-principal investigator of the CVHI Grant.

“This grant offers a great opportunity for USD to lead the way in providing high quality, evidence-based mental health treatment for Veterans while also addressing the behavioral health workforce shortage in California,” said Nick Boyd, PhD, assistant professor and principal investigator for the CVHI Grant.  

“With an eye toward community engagement and changemaking, this grant allows for the expansion of our clinic,” added Sean Green, PhD, assistant dean of the Office of Community Engagement and Innovation. “To say that I am excited would be an understatement, and I am thankful to Drs. Boyd, Bruaski and Callahan for their work on this incredible project.”

The Tele-Mental Health Training Clinic is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment that fosters resilience and well-being for all clients. Counseling services are provided by graduate-level counseling trainees under the supervision of the clinic director, who holds a PsyD and is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Those interested in making an appointment, can call (619) 260-7670 or email telehealthclinic@sandiego.edu.

— USD News Center