Southern Nevada has its share of well-publicized health-care woes: The rising cost of liability insurance, a high number of uninsured patients, and a sole Level 1 trauma center to serve a city of 1.6 million. But the crisis that has Colleen Peterson's attention entails a stealthier problem. As director of UNLV's Center for Individual, Couple and Family Therapy, Peterson is charged with providing mental-health care in a region that has recently lost such services at numerous local hospitals, even as its population has grown.

The community's burgeoning need for the center's services is evident. Peterson says the clinic has taken on 50 new referrals this year alone, growing the client base at its offices in the Paul McDermott Physical Education Building from around 120 to more than 170. "We're filling a gap," she says. "We're getting more and more referrals from local agencies because a lot of these places can provide some evaluation and medication, but they can't provide therapy."

That's where the center plays a significant role. Each semester, 20 to 40 students from the departments of psychology and marriage, family and community counseling lend their ears to Las Vegans facing a host of issues ranging from depression and anxiety to relationship difficulties. Patients don't need physician referrals, nor do they need insurance; Peterson says she won't deny counseling to those who can't pay. Though the standard fee is $25 per session, sliding fees allow patients to pay only what they can afford.

The center's therapy services are comparable to those of any private clinic or mental-health agency with one key distinction. Because the facility is part training ground, sessions are videotaped and reviewed by faculty to ensure students are providing effective counseling. "Someone might say, 'You're just getting a student-therapist,' but you're also getting a highly trained and educated supervisor who's guiding the student," Peterson says. "You're getting two counselors for the price of one."

Still, Peterson believes the center could do more. This year, she plans to add psychological testing and evaluation to the roster of services. In addition, the marriage, family and community counseling department just added a specialty in addictions, so the center will offer students a practicum in counseling substance abusers.

Serving the community ultimately means extending hours at the center, which is now open Monday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. Peterson is working to raise the clinic's profile so people in need of the services realize there is a resource for them. She's also visiting with hospital executives, directors of health agencies, and other community- service groups who can refer potential clients to the center.

And though the center exists as an educational tool, its benefit to the community is just as critical. "The two functions go hand in hand," Peterson says. "You really can't separate the two. It's essential for our students to take what they've learned in the classroom and apply it in a clinical setting, and at the same time provide a service that is an asset to the community. It's a really nice mix between the two needs: being able to receive services at a reduced fee and giving students the opportunity to gain experience."