College hires evening mental-health counselor

Heather Murphy

Whitney Knight
Staff Writer
staffwriter1@occc.edu

Evening students who are struggling with stress, depression, anxiety or who simply need someone to talk to, have a new face on hand.

The college recently hired Heather Murphy as the evening mental-health counselor.

“I think college students are amazing,” Murphy said.

“But a lot of them get lost along the way. That’s why I want to help.”

Before coming to OCCC, Murphy said, she worked with troubled families at Shadow Mountain Behavioral Health System in Oklahoma City.

Murphy obtained her master’s degree in Community Counseling from the University of Oklahoma.

She said she hopes her addition will help more students.

“Hopefully, having a counselor available at different hours of the day will encourage more students to get help,” Murphy said.

Murphy said she will work in partnership with Jenna Howard, the college’s other mental health counselor, who provides services during the daytime.

Murphy will be available from 4 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, in the Student Support Services office.

She said no appointments are necessary for students who find themselves in need of assistance for depression, substance abuse, relationship problems or other mental-health issues.

If any student is found to require long-term counseling services, Murphy said, he or she will be referred to an affordable, off-campus service for assistance.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” Murphy said.

“I love people. It’s the perfect job for me.”

For more information, contact Murphy at 405-682-7520.