Eric Wood

Director of the TCU Counseling & Mental Health Center | Texas Christian University

Fort Worth, TX, UNITED STATES

Dr. Wood is the director of one of the leading institutions in the field of college counseling,

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Biography

Eric Wood is the director of Counseling & Mental Health at Texas Christian University. He is a past president of the Texas University and College Counseling Directors Association and a current executive board member of the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors. He wrote the award-winning eBook, A New Narrative for College Mental Health, and has been interviewed in publications such as The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, Texas Tribune, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, US News & World Report, The Chronicle of Higher Education and Insider Higher Education. He currently writes a weekly column for Forbes.com on College Mental Health and Emerging Adults. Dr. Wood has also trained more than 100 schools on various aspects of TCU’s Comprehensive Collaborative Care Model, which he founded in 2019. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at the University of Texas at Dallas and a master’s and doctorate in counseling psychology at the University of North Texas.

Areas of Expertise (5)

Student Mental Health

College Mental Health

Counseling Psychology

Counseling and Administration

Higher Education

Accomplishments (3)

TCU's Michael R. Ferrari Award for Distinguished University Service and Leadership Award (professional)

2022

Top 25 in Best Student Support and Counseling Center, Princeton Review (professional)

Since 2021

Harriett Copher Haynes Diversity Leadership Mentoring Program Award, Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD) (professional)

2015

Education (3)

The University of North Texas: Ph.D., Counseling Psychology 2007

The University of North Texas: M.S., Counseling Psychology 2002

The University of Texas at Dallas: B.A., Psychology 1999

Affiliations (3)

The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors : Executive Board
Texas Statewide Suicide Prevention Council : Member
Texas University and College Counseling Directors Association: Past President

Links (1)

Forbes Author Page

Media Appearances (6)

Election anxiety got you down? Here are psychology-backed tips on how to manage

MSN online

2024-11-13

Eric Wood, director of Texas Christian University’s Counseling and Mental Health Center, said avoiding the news isn’t the answer, noting that could discourage political participation. Wood added that you don’t have to wait for your anxiety to reach a fever pitch before seeking help. “I think there’s never a bad time to think about talking to a counselor. Anxiety is part of the human experience,” he said. “What we always say is, ‘Do you notice a change in yourself?’ Because anything that’s off should be something to get looked at to see what’s going on. If it lasts too long and you feel you need help resetting, a counselor or therapist would be a good resource.”

A Post-Election Analysis On The Value Of College Mental Health | Opinion

Forbes online

2024-11-09

There are many reports regarding how colleges and universities are responding to the results of this week’s U.S. presidential election. For example, The Daily Princetonian reported that several campus groups provided wellbeing-related resources across campus. In addition, the University of Texas at San Antonio announced that all classes were cancelled on Nov. 8, 2024 for a Day of Reflection. Though many institutions mentioned campus counseling centers while messaging about the election, and many students who were anxious/distressed found support from counseling centers, most campus counseling centers sought separation from the politics of the election due to serving a student body with various and different perspectives. Indeed, as outlined this week in a piece on Forbes.com, the Republican party gained support among young voters who typically lean toward the Democratic party.

New Models In College Mental Health | Opinion

Forbes online

2024-09-20

Forbes Health complied statistics showing the prevalence of mental health concerns in America, and these concerns are experienced all over the world. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) provided recommendations to transform mental health care, including reshaping school environments. Higher education is being revamped by collaborative models in college mental health, such as the one I shaped for Texas Christian University, which was featured in a sponsored Chronicle of Higher Education post. These models meet the recommendations of the WHO by utilizing the infrastructure of higher education and establishing formal partnerships with community providers.

Lead On, TCU Counseling & Mental Health Center

TCU Innovates Podcast online

2024-08-22

Eric Wood, Ph.D., TCU's Director of Counseling and Mental Health, visits with Chancellor Boschini to discuss how Texas Christian University is leading the way for colleges nationwide in providing counseling and mental health services to students. Through the Comprehensive Care Model, the TCU Counseling and Mental Health Center’s average waitlist is now the shortest in the country, helping students, building community and improving the mental health crisis one student at a time.

TCU counseling center is getting an expansion to better serve students

Fort Worth Report online

2023-07-24

“There’s so much change going on in the student’s lives,” Wood said. “You’re navigating a whole new social world. So, the fact that someone comes to counseling doesn’t mean you have a diagnosis, it just means a lot of stuff is going on and we’re one of the resources to help them.”

Counselors’ Concern | Opinion

LearningWell Magazine online

2023-11-02

As more states move to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming, there is one consideration that should be placed above political ideology: student mental health. No matter how sensitive or controversial an issue is, student counseling centers on college campuses see to students’ mental health needs without judgement, and this is true for any issue. Yet new laws recently passed by the 88th Texas Legislature reflect a very specific point of view which threatens to compromise what the data show are best practices in college mental health.

Event Appearances (5)

Supporting the well-being of marginalized students on campus

2024 Times Higher Education Student Success US Campus Live Series Event Knoxville, TN

The STATES of college mental health: Exploring the impact of anti-DEI laws in Texas and Florida and how directors can respond

75th Annual Conference for the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors Phoenix, AZ

Creature comforts: Practicing animal-assisted interventions