A renewed grant from the St. Louis Mental Health Board will allow the Saint Louis University (SLU) Psychology Center to continue offering free mental health assessments to St. Louis City residents — a resource aimed at closing long-standing gaps in care for BIPOC communities.
The only eligibility requirement is residency in St. Louis City.
The grant, totaling approximately $1 million, helps eliminate the cost of evaluations. University officials say assessments typically cost between $2,000 and $4,000 out-of-pocket.
“This clinic specifically, especially under Dr. Burch, has been incredible for kind of revolutionizing the way that this clinic is taught and really the work we’re doing,” said Zoe Schultz, clinical psychology doctoral student. “We’ve made a lot of different efforts to make sure that we’re being an inclusive clinic.”
Laura Burch, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor and Clinic Director of Psychological Services Center in the Psychology Department at Saint Louis University.
The assessments evaluate children and adults for a wide range of cognitive, educational, emotional and behavioral concerns. Autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety and depression are among them. While every client begins the process with an initial questionnaire, evaluation paths are customized based on individual needs – often incorporating hands-on testing for neurodevelopmental disorders and intelligence.
The funding is intended to make psychological evaluations more accessible to St. Louis City residents who might otherwise struggle to afford them. According to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), significant treatment disparities are common with only about 25% of Black Americans with mental health conditions receiving care, compared to roughly 40% of white Americans.
Schultz emphasized that historical injustices in psychological and medical research have left a legacy of mistrust, particularly among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
“It is definitely, unfortunately, stigmatized in many communities, specifically among BIPOC folks, largely because there has been a history of injustice towards Black people within the broader psychology community,” Schultz said.
Dr. Melissa Hamilton, a licensed clinical social worker, noted that overcoming this hesitation is a key part of her work — especially with older adults entering therapy for the first time.
“We have to name it and claim it,” Hamilton said regarding the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black community. “And it’s not going to hurt you, even though, of course, we know historically there’s a history of hurt.”
Hamilton, who is not affiliated with the SLU Psychology Center, owns and operates Elevation Counseling, LLC.
To help bridge these historical gaps, clinicians at SLU are trained to critically examine both their personal perspectives and the diagnostic tools themselves.
“Part of being a clinical psychologist is that you have to recognize your own biases and your own privilege,” Schultz explained. “That’s something that we talk a lot about in our program: as a white woman, what is the privilege that I bring into the room? And how do I understand the measures I’m giving in terms of how were they studied? Were they studied in norms using Black populations or representative samples, or were they heavily formatted towards white folk?”
Schultz stressed that psychological evaluation should never be a one-sided diagnosis, but rather a collaborative process between the clinician and patient.
“We like to work collaboratively with clients,” Schultz added. “So, it’s going to be a teamwork effort to try and figure out what’s going on… I want to understand your lived experience. Having that autonomy of being like, ‘Hey, something’s missing here’ is always really important, and a good clinician is going to be there and figure it out with you.”
For some patients, hesitation also stems from fears of diagnosis and how a clinical label might affect their daily lives. However, providers stress that an accurate evaluation is often the crucial first step toward long-term recovery and support.
“Some people get caught up in being labeled,” Hamilton explained. “They’re worried about how it’s going to impact school, work, or relationships. But there is relief that comes from finally saying, ‘Oh, all those symptoms I’ve been experiencing for months and years — that’s what that’s called.’ Once you get connected to someone who can give you a roadmap to treatment, your life can change.”
Following evaluation, clients receive a personalized plan and referrals to care through the clinic or community partners. Staff say the clinic stays busy and encourages residents to reach out early, as there is a waitlist.
For more information or to schedule an assessment, SLU’s Psychology Services Center can be reached at 314-977-2278.