Grand Valley State University

Established in 1960, Grand Valley State University is a relatively new university. Committed to excellence, Grand Valley offers students personalized attention through relatively small classes and excellent student services. GVSU has an enrollment over 22,000.

GVSU's main campus is located in Allendale which is about 12 miles west of Grand Rapids and 12 miles east of Lake Michigan with its beautiful beaches. The 1,237-acre campus includes both rolling hills to the west and deeply wooded ravines to the east. Winding walkways between buildings connect with a series of natural trails along the riverbank. In addition to the main campus, Grand Valley also has campuses in downtown Grand Rapids and Holland, Michigan. 

The city of Grand Rapids provides many urban opportunities including a first-rate regional symphony orchestra, ballet, theatre, art galleries, and a number of ethnic festivals.  The city is also known for ArtPrize- a unique art competition bringing both national and international competitors, LaughFest- the nation's first ever community-wide celebration of laughter, its numerous craft microbreweries, and its wide range of dining experiences. The city and surrounding area offers a choice of urban, suburban, or country living. The region is well-known for its beautiful lakes, parks, forests, streams, hiking and biking trails which provide a variety of recreational opportunities for all seasons. Lake Michigan is only minutes away. In addition, the cultural opportunities of Chicago and Ann Arbor are only a few hours away.

The list below is a starting place for you to think about how you might enjoy your time at Grand Valley. 

• Utilize the GVSU Campus Rec or the Kelly Family Sports Center 
• Check out the Grand Rapids Museums
• Enjoy some of the wonderful parks or other nature spots in the area
• Spend a relaxing day at Frederik Meijer Gardens
• Take a long weekend and explore Lake Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes, Pictured Rocks,  Traverse City, Mackinac Island and/or other parts of the Great Lake State! 

The University Counseling Center

The University Counseling Center is part of the Division of Student Affairs at Grand Valley State University. The Center functions to provide confidential counseling for students with personal, developmental, social, and educational concerns; to provide outreach programming to meet the developmental needs of students; to provide programs and services to help meet the needs of special groups of students including minority and returning adult students; to provide mental health consultation for members of the university community; and to provide a training center for undergraduates, graduate students, and interns.

Approximately 38% of Grand Valley State University’s students are first generation, and 8% of our learners identify as nontraditional. While GVSU remains a predominantly white campus, there is a strong commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. The diversity present in our student body and the concerns students present with at the University Counseling Center provides interns with an opportunity to work with a wide variety of issues via both short and long term therapy.

The Center is housed in the Lubbers Student Services Center. The Center consists of 4 group rooms, testing facilities, a large reception area, and a large eat-in kitchen. Staff members and interns are provided with an office at the Center. Each office is fully equipped with a telephone, bookshelves, lamps, a file cabinet, a desk and three chairs as well as video recording equipment. All offices are equipped with a personal computer which can access the university mainframe and electronic mail. The university library system, including library holdings and various abstracts services, can also be accessed.

The Counseling Center Doctoral Internship Program has been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 1993 and is currently accredited through 2032. The Counseling Center is also accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS), and is a participating member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC), the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD), and the Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies (ACCTA).

* Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association
750 1st Street NE Washington, DC 20002
Phone: (202) 336-5979
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

The Training Program