The Scraper counseling center
The Scraper Counseling Center
The Scraper Counseling Center serves dual purposes as a training site for future counseling professionals and to support the MACU community in a compassionate, supportive, and confidential Christian environment. Upholding all state and federal regulations, the Center acts as a safe haven for health, wellness, and rehabilitation to restore clients’ mental well-being. The interns and staff act as guides to move clients toward healing and making healthy decisions. Our staff highlights the client’s God-given strengths through trained guidance and finds creative ways to utilize these gifts to help the client to empower the client to work toward restoration and healing.
If you are in crisis or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, such as uncontrollable feelings or thoughts about hurting yourself or others, call 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room.
Need help in a crisis? Call 988 or visit the website linked here.
Are you Feeling?
- Depressed
- Anxious
- Stressed Out
- Homesick
- Lonely
- Overwhelmed
- Defeated
- Conflicted with a Peer
- Lack of Motivation
- Weepy
- Sad
- Unable to Concentrate
About Scraper Counseling Center
- Only Oklahoma students can be accepted at this time
- On-campus and virtual appointments available
- FREE
- Individual counseling services
- Confidentiality guaranteed
- Group therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Therapy dog services
Hours of Operation
Mondays – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesdays – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesdays – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursdays – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fridays – 9 a.m. to Noon
Phone: 405-692-3151
Email: [email protected]
Do you have a Compliment, Comment, or Complaint? Please fill out this form and email it to us at [email protected].
Meet Our Therapy Dogs
Sally
Hobby: Looking as cute as possible, giving kisses, walking as fast as I can to keep up with Charlie, and being held on my back
Fun Fact: I may be tiny, but I carry some diva attitude wherever I go.
Why I am a Therapy Dog: I love to make people smile and feel better. I also love to let them hold me on my back, pet my belly, and tell me I’m pretty. It works out for all of us.
Charlie
Hobby: Waving, shaking, high fiving, bowing, fist bumping, laying upside down with my feet in the air, following my mom everywhere she goes
Fun Fact: I did my time in prison at an obedience training program. Yes, it was really a prison, but I had a good time.
Why I am a Therapy Dog: I love to make people feel better by loving on them and letting them pet me. I really like for them to scratch my ears, then we are both happy!
Archie
Hobby: Pestering my older doggy brother, getting out ALL my toys at once, playing keep away with toys, sharing snacks with my humans, and taking good, long naps
Fun Fact: I can be very vocal and “talk” to my humans, especially when I need or want something that they are not giving me! Listen up people!
Why I am a Therapy Dog: Seeing people smile brings me joy! I love being a therapy dog because I can go places that other dogs don’t get to go and meet lots of new people! Plus, I get lots of ear rubs, pets, and scratches! I’m one lucky dog!
Small Group Therapy
The Scraper Counseling Center is hosting various small groups throughout the school year. Sign up by clicking this link to join a small group. All small groups are completely free and confidential. Check the link to see days and times of the small groups.
Meet Our Therapists
Heather Murphy, LPC-S
Hobby: Baking/cooking, crafting, swimming, and spending time with my family and pups
Fun Fact: I love dogs. I have a chocolate brown goldendoodle who is a Therapy Dog. His name is Archie and he gets to come to MACU with me several days a week.
Why Counseling: Helping others has always brought my heart great joy! Being a counselor allows me to provide a safe space where I strive to help people feel seen, heard, loved, and accepted. I hope to encourage and support those with whom I work as they navigate challenges, nurturing healthy solutions and fostering peace and strength along their journey.
Christy Barlow, LPC Candidate
Hobbies: Being anywhere and doing anything with my family, watching the new Matlock with my husband and youngest son, reading, and listening to ministry podcasts.
Fun Fact: I am the oldest of 9 siblings and although we don’t get to see each other very often, it’s a happy reunion whenever we do!
Why Counseling: I believe that God prepared me to be a counselor from my beginning and every experience that I have had along the way has equipped me to love, care for, and help those who need it. God doesn’t force our steps, but He really does order them when we learn to trust that He sees and knows what we cannot. It is a joy, honor, and a privilege to be a counselor here at the Scraper Center.
Michael Arias, Intern
Hobby: I love studying the Bible, camping under the stars, and casting a line in the water.
Fun Fact: I once lived in Costa Rica, where I learned to embrace other cultures, new perspectives, and a good cup of coffee.
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: Life can be hard, and I know the power of having someone walk beside you. I love people, believe in hope, and, like Will Rogers, I never met a man I didn’t like.
Meredith Elliott, Intern
Hobby: Working out, reading, playing video games, knitting, true crime shows
Fun Fact: I’ve been in the top 1% of listeners of my favorite band, The Band CAMINO, for 3 years in a row!
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I want to help others find healing and meaning in their life, and to help my clients feel truly heard and understood.
Joni Graham, Intern
Hobby: Reading, writing, hiking, crocheting
Fun Fact: My favorite scents are puppy breath, Fall days, and a Barnes and Noble bookstore
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: After seeing a few talented therapists, I feel called to help others in the same way.
Kelli Holman, Intern
Hobby: Spending time with my son, reading books
Fun Fact: I have so many books, my house qualifies as a small library
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I want to help others feel safe and confident in expressing themselves with no fear of judgment.
Marcy McCurdy, Intern
Hobby: Reading, painting, watching movies and documentaries
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I want to be a therapist so that I can give back what has been given to me.
David Sidebottom, Intern
Hobby: Hockey games with my grandson
Fun Fact: I tried to inner tube down a glacier. Not a great idea!
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I love people and want to help and support those with mental health needs.
About Michelle Strain
Michelle Strain, Director of Counseling Services at the Scraper Counseling Center, is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master’s Degree in Human Relations. Her Bachelor’s Degree is in Journalism.
Michelle started her counseling career as a school counselor before moving into school counselor and counselor leadership at the district and state level. She has been in private practice since 2020.
Michelle’s partners in her work are Sally, an 8lb poodle-chihuahua mix, and Charlie, a 45lb Goldendoodle, who serve as a therapy dogs at the Scraper Center.
Michelle’s hobbies are spending time with her husband, 4 adult sons, her daughter in law, and her two granddaughters. She also is a big sports fan and has spent lots of time at the soccer fields, football fields, baseball fields, and basketball courts when her children were growing up.
A fun fact about Michelle is she is a state expert in school crisis response, preparation and prevention.
“The reason I love counseling is because I get to watch people come to us in low times and then I get to watch their healing process. I love how God uses counselors to make a difference in the lives of our clients.”
