Supporting student mental health: the effectiveness of university counseling services

University students often face significant mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression. Counseling services have emerged as effective tools to address these issues. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a university counseling program using the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM) over four measurement points: intake, pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up. The current study is a quasi-experimental design, specifically a one-group interrupted time series and included 86 Italian students, predominantly female, with an average age of 22.37 years. Results from linear mixed models revealed significant improvements in total CORE-OM scores and its subscales post-intervention, with sustained gains at follow-up. Notably, psychodynamic counseling reduced general distress, psychological symptoms (such as anxiety and depression), and functional impairments while enhancing subjective well-being. Findings confirmed the absence of significant effects during the waiting period, supporting the intervention’s specific effectiveness. Counseling outcomes were consistent across counselors, suggesting that standardized training and supervision contributed to intervention quality. While well-being and symptom reduction were maintained, functional improvements showed slight variations, potentially reflecting relational challenges associated with session closure. Limitations include the reliance on self-reported measures and a homogeneous sample, indicating a need for diverse populations and mixed assessment methods in future research.