Mental Health Services

Kansas Team Health and the Mental Health Team are committed to enhancing the mental wellness of student-athletes on and off the field of play. The goal is to provide each student-athlete excellent care and a positive experience.

Services

  • Individual sessions are free and confidential and can be worked around a student-athlete’s busy schedule for their convenience.
  • Appointments are generally offered Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm. Hours are subject to change.
  • Services are by appointment only.
  • Drop-in appointments may be available but cannot be guaranteed.
  • Our offices are conveniently located in Wagnon Student Athlete Center.
  • We are pleased to offer both in-person and telehealth (video virtual) services.
  • Student-athletes may utilize Mental Health Services while they are an eligible student-athlete enrolled at The University of Kansas.
  • Student-athletes who terminate their sport career for any reason (e.g., graduate, quit, enter transfer portal) but remain at KU, may continue to receive services until the end of the current semester.
  • Services may be utilized anytime during the calendar year, both in and out of season, and regardless of academic eligibility.

Initial Appointment / Consultation

All student-athletes begin their work with Mental Health Services through an initial assessment. This brief (30-45 minute) consultation involves meeting with a MHT licensed psychologist or clinical social worker and will involve a comprehensive evaluation of your needs. You will be asked questions to understand the concerns that have brought you to seek counseling services. We will discuss goals and options to help you with your concerns.

  • Your therapist will work with you to determine which, if any, of our services are appropriate for you. If it is determined that your treatment needs require resources beyond what Kansas MHT can provide, we will assist you with a referral to appropriate services.

Individual Therapy

We offer individual counseling sessions to student-athletes to enhance their mental health and sport performance. Those challenges include but are not limited to difficulty managing anxiety, homesickness, depression/sadness, interpersonal relationships & dating, lack of motivation, performance slumps.

Team Consultation and Workshops

Mental Health Services offers support to coaches and staff members around strategies for optimizing athletic performance and how to support student-athlete’s mental health. Each member of the MHT works with specific sports teams to provide team talks, coach consultation, and team support around these topics.

Schedule an Appointment

You can schedule an appointment with our Mental Health Team in one of several ways:

  • Reach out directly to one of our mental health providers through email, phone call, text message, or Teamworks
  • Talk with your Athletic Trainer and/or Team Doctor, they can connect you to our Mental Health Team

Contact Us

Offices are located in Wagnon Student-Athlete Center, Monday-Friday by appointment

Emily Tyler, PsyD, LP, HSP  (she/her/dr)
Executive Director of Mental Health Services
Cell: 785-331-9638
Email: dr.emily@ku.edu

Kristie Baumchen, LSCSW, LCAC  (she/her)
Director of Mental Health Services
Cell: 785-393-5015
Email: kbaumchen@ku.edu

Jason Kraman, LSCSW  (he/him)
Student-Athlete Mental Health Clinician
Cell: 785-331-9236
Email: jmkraman@ku.edu

Online Resources

Campus Resources

Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis or has urgent needs, help is available 24/7.  You can call or text 988 or access any of the resources in the boxes below.

If you believe your life is in imminent danger and you cannot keep yourself safe, or you or someone else has decided to seriously harm or kill yourself/themselves or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room, Lawrence Memorial Hospital (325 Maine St., Lawrence, KS 66044) or the Douglas County Treatment & Recovery Center (1000 W 2nd St., Lawrence, KS 66044).

Crisis Resources and Services that provide 24/7 assistance:

https://help.ku.edu/mental-health-resources

My SSP @ KU 1-866-408-2828

KU Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), 785-864-2277

Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center (Douglas County), 785-843-9192

Kansas Crisis Hotline, 1-888-END-ABUSE (363-2287)

The Willow Domestic Violence Center, 785-843-3333

The Sexual Trauma & Abuse Care Center, 785-843-8985

Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center (Douglas County) , 785-843-9192

Crisis Support | Counseling and Psychological Services (ku.edu)