UCLA’s Student Psychological Services has moved from a
dual location to the recently completed Wooden West building.
The center, previously located in both the Math Sciences
Building and the Center for Health Sciences, provides
psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers for the UCLA
community, according to the SPS Web site.
Dr. Harold Pruett, director of the center, cited numerous
advantages of the move ““ the most obvious being the single
location.
“Having all of our therapists in one location will be much
more efficient,” Pruett said.
The previous split location, a result of a simple lack of space,
often resulted in students going back and forth between both
locations to see all the necessary people.
The center’s new location will bring an opportunity for
new resources, Pruett added. Such resources include self-help
programs, readily available educational materials and new support
groups.
The center saw 3,000 students last year, a significant
percentage of the student population, Pruett said. The weeks of
midterms and finals are their busiest times.
SPS provides free appointments for currently enrolled students.
The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
occupies the entire second floor and part of the first floor of
Wooden West.
The construction of Wooden West is a result of the Student
Programs, Activities and Resources Complex Referendum passed by
students in 2000. It was only the third time in UCLA history that
students voted to raise fees for construction of student
facilities.
“The Wooden West weight room and our offices are a direct
result of student referendum,” Pruett said. “We thank
the students for this beautiful building.”