Harold Murphy Counseling Center Expands Services to Collin County

The Harold Murphy Counseling Center (HMCC) in McKinney, Texas, invites residents of Collin County and surrounding areas to elevate their mental health and empower their lives. As a partnership between the Department of Counseling at Texas A&M University-Commerce and McKinney ISD, the center provides low-cost, quality mental health services for adolescents, adults, couples, families and groups.

When the collaboration began in 2011, services were offered to McKinney ISD students and faculty. Now the center—named for Dr. Harold Murphy, former head of the A&M-Commerce counseling department—offers services to all residents of Collin County and surrounding areas.

Director Candace Chuyou-Campell said the center provides graduate and doctoral counseling students the opportunity to hone their skills under the guidance and supervision of licensed professionals.

“We are a training facility,” said Chuyou-Campbell. “We're able to use our master's and doctoral level students to provide quality mental health services at an affordable price.” Students are monitored by Chuyou-Campbell and their A&M-Commerce instructors.

Chuyou-Campbell, who received her doctorate from A&M-Commerce, is a licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist with nine years of experience at a non-profit agency dealing with trauma and abuse. She said HMCC serves a vital role in the community.

Counselors at the center emphasize a wellness model that seeks to realign mental health by addressing underlying issues.

“Where the clinical model assigns a diagnosis and medication, the wellness model focuses on what happened to get the client off their path, and how we can get them back there,” Chuyou-Campbell said.

“We focus on obstacles that keep clients from being where they want to be,” she continued. “We work with our clients' behaviors, depression and anxiety, and really help them with their feelings and let them find their voice and take charge of their lives.”

Dr. LaVelle Hendricks, interim head and professor in the Department of Counseling at A&M-Commerce, said the department is dedicated to providing mental health resources to communities served by the university. “The Harold Murphy Counseling Center is an excellent example of the university's partnership with regional school districts,” Hendricks said. “Providing services to these communities is critical during this global pandemic.”

HMCC offers counseling services, parent education classes and psycho-education assessment for children age six through 16. The center currently only provides services virtually due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19.

Chuyou-Campbell said starting treatment is easy. Upon calling, a brief interview ensures that the center's services are a good fit for the patient. Then, a counselor is assigned and the appointment is scheduled. Clients who need more intensive care are referred to outside providers.

Located at the Greer Annex at 510 Heard Street in McKinney, HMCC operates from 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Since the center does not accept insurance, services are provided on a sliding fee scale, with patients providing a W-2 to determine pricing.

Learn more about the HMCC.