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].
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.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Join us in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week at MACU, Nov. 10-14! Together, we can spread kindness, awareness, and encouragement across campus.
Show You Matter
Grab your You Matter T-shirt for just $5 and wear it proudly on Thursday, Nov. 14. Meet us at noon in front of the big M for a group photo to show your support for mental health awareness!
Button Up for Wellness
Get your You Matter @ MACU Button for only $1 and wear it all week long to show your alliance with mental health wellness and your commitment to spreading positivity.
Be Part of the Kindness Project
For just $5, send a Kindness Kit — complete with a soda, a candy bar, and a thoughtful message — to any student, faculty, or staff member at MACU. Deliveries will be made by Active Minds on Thursday, Nov. 13.
Let’s make Mental Health Awareness Week a reminder that You Matter — today and every day.
Better Brain Book Club
Join the Better Brain Book Club for Faculty and Staff. We will study books that help us focus on having healthier brains and stronger mental health.
Our first book study will start Thursday, Nov. 13. We will read “Boundaries” by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. The club will meet at Noon Thursdays in the Clements Dining Room. Bring your lunch and join us!
The first 10 people to register will get the “Boundaries” Book for free.
Meet Our Therapists
Heather Murphy, LPC-S
Hobbies: 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.
Sara Alanis-Cepeda, Intern
Hobbies: Reading thriller and mystery novels, hanging out with friends, and going to the movies
Fun Fact: I love Snoopy and my favorite singer is from Argentina: Tini Stoessel. I have been a fan of hers since I was 9 years old.
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I truly believe that when you help one person grow you’re not just changing their life, you’re also shaping the lives of everyone around them, including their family and future generations. I want to be someone that makes a difference in someone’s life.
Kelly Butner, Intern
Hobbies: Spending time with my family, going to concerts, traveling, hiking, and spending time at the lake or snorkeling at the beach when possible
Fun Fact: Before starting school full-time, I served as a part-time international missionary where I served in the mission field in 10 countries across three different continents. During my travels, I fell in love with the people of Eastern Europe and the Roma communities that we served there. I hope to go back in the future and continue missions work as a licensed counselor.
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I want to be a therapist because I have received so much help and support from my own journey through counseling, and I want to give back and be a safe and warm place for those who want support as they work through difficult and challenging experiences.
Brajhelle Covington, Intern
Hobbies: You can usually find me traveling somewhere new, thrifting for hidden gems, attending a random concert, or binge watching one of my favorite comfort shows again!
Fun Fact: I’m unapologetically a devoted fan of the Fast & Furious franchise, a proud dog mom to the sweetest goldendoodle named Memphis, and a culinary school graduate with a pastry arts background — though the funny part is, I don’t actually care for sweets.
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I wanted to become a counselor because I know how much it means to have someone who really listens — especially when everything feels new and uncertain. That’s why I became a counselor: to offer the kind of safe, supportive space I needed myself when I was starting college and trying to make sense of all the changes that come with transitions of life.
Lacey Crouch, Intern
Hobbies: Snowboarding, kayaking, diving, surfing, 4×4 off trail, camping, mountain biking, metal detecting
Fun Fact: I didn’t learn to snowboard and surf until I was over 40!
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I desire to help others through understanding of human behavior and the complexities of the mind. I strive to help those who want to grow and be better for themselves and everyone around them while enriching their experiences in life.
Laynie Hankins, Intern
Hobbies: Photography (especially animals at the zoo), fashion, makeup, old movies
Fun Fact: I am “allergic” to seafood and shellfish, really I just dislike seafood!
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I want to inspire others to enhance their own quality of life.
Blythe Mendenhall, Intern
Hobbies: Spending time with my family, watching tv series together, walking our doggy, and reading.
Fun Fact: My dog likes to say “Cheese!” for pictures. Others may say he’s growling, but I’m pretty sure he’s just showing off his pearly whites for the camera!
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I know how hard life can be and what a difference it makes to have someone there to walk alongside you. I want to help others the way so many people have helped me.
Whitney Outon, Intern
Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, and watching sports
Fun Fact: I played on the women’s basketball team here at MACU.
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I want to walk alongside others through life’s challenges and create a space for them to feel heard, valued, and understood.
Brandi Shearer, Intern
Hobbies: Horseback riding, playing piano, reading, making up songs about literally everything
Fun Fact: I am a country girl that loves my animals! I have two horses, three dogs, two cats, and two axolotls. I love being outside!
Why I Want to Be a Counselor: I want to become an LMFT to walk alongside people through their darkest moments and help them rediscover light. I know what it’s like to feel lost in the shadows, and I also know the power of someone gently pointing you back to hope. In my own hardest seasons, it was the compassion and presence of others that reminded me I wasn’t alone and that healing was possible. Those experiences shaped me deeply. Now, it’s an honor to offer the same presence to others. I believe in the strength of connection, in the quiet courage it takes to reach out, and in the beauty of helping someone find their way back to themselves.
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!
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.”
