Empowerment in Partnership: University Counseling Center and McCluskey Center Collaborate for Transformative Violence Prevention and Mental Health Support
In an ongoing effort to support our students effectively, the University Counseling Center (UCC) has
partnered with the McCluskey Center for Violence Prevention (MCVP) to introduce a new
collaborative position. This joint role as the associate director of violence prevention
and
mental health counseling, filled by Jarad Ringer, LCSW, aims to create a safer and
more
inclusive campus environment by offering specialized counseling to students who have
caused
harm in dating and sexual relationships.
Jarad Ringer, holding a BA in political science from Rutgers University and an MS
in social work
from Columbia University, brings extensive experience in harm reduction, addiction,
and anti-
violence work, particularly within LGBTQ+ communities in both New York City and the
Salt Lake
Valley. Now part of the MCVP team, Ringer is dedicated to fostering healing, restoration,
and
justice to prevent future violence.
Ringer's dual role was established as a result of a collaborative efforts involving
various
committees and departments, including MCVP, the University Counseling Center, Public
Safety,
and the Office of the Dean of Students. As the associate director of violence prevention
and
mental health counseling at MCVP, Ringer works in partnership with the University
Counseling
Center to address students' mental health and psychosocial issues that may have contributed
to
engaging in harm, with the goal of interrupting and preventing harm in the future.
Working with people who cause harm is a survivor-focused approach which aims to support
those who have experienced harm in dating or sexual relationships.
"From our experience working with students, we know that survivors often seek not
only
support and justice, but also genuinely want the respondent to learn from their mistakes
so
that they don’t repeat harmful behavior and hurt others," says Ringer. "Educating
respondents
about the consequences of their actions is often a part of the survivor’s healing
process.”
Additional resources are readily available to support individuals who have experienced
harm in
dating or sexual relationships, including the Victim Survivor Advocate program through the
Center for Campus Wellness, Public Safety, and the Rape Recovery Center.