Speaker
Nasitta Keita
Counseling Psychology Doctoral Student, Community Support Specialist, UW–Madison
Nasitta Keita, MA, is a 3rd-year doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at UW–Madison. She is currently serving as the DDEEA community support specialist at the Counseling Psychology Training Clinic (2024-2025). Ms. Keita also is the co-creator of the Creando Communidad program that works with undergraduate students who are passionate about supporting BIPOC communities, and works as a research assistant with the Center for Research on Workforce Transitions. Her research interests explore mechanisms of healing amongst Black people experiencing anti-Black racism. Clinically, she utilizes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Radical Healing in her practice as a therapist. She is passionate about promoting social justice through her research, clinical work, and community engagement. She has earned several awards including the Education Graduation Research Scholars Fellow, Dr. Prentice Gautt Award in Counseling Psychology, the Newman Civic Fellows, and the Women of Influence Award. Ms. Keita enjoys playing basketball, traveling, and spending time with loved ones.
Speaking in
Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Underrepresented Collegiate Students Through the Community Support Specialist Role at UW–Madison
On college campuses, BIPOC, first-generation and low-income students are disproportionately underrepresented in seeking mental health services, highlighting systemic disparities in access to support. In this session, the panelists plan to discuss the role of the Community Support Specialists (CSS), who work exclusively with DDEEA students. This position was created by the Counseling Psychology Training Clinic (CPTC) in partnership with UW-Madison’s Mental Health Services (MHS) to increase counseling access among underrepresented students at UW-Madison using a social justice framework. The speakers will present an overview of the program’s history, including data and testimonials from past DDEEA students. During the session, panelists will share their experiences in the CSS roles, including their positionalities as BIPOC graduate students responsible for supporting the mental health needs of other underrepresented students. They will address questions about various interventions for supporting students, such as individual therapy, the role of outreach, and creative methods for disseminating interventions.
Session Objectives
- An increased understanding of the rewards and obstacles faced by BIPOC mental health professionals while providing services to underrepresented students at a predominantly white college campus
- An awareness of the mental health resources on campus and the role of the Community Support Specialist
- Insight into the collaborations between CPTC and MHS in addressing systemic disparities faced by underrepresented students seeking mental health services
- Awareness of resources for supporting BIPOC students’ mental health needs