HSU Clinics and Services
At Hardin-Simmons University, our clinics and community services in Abilene, Texas, extend the Cowboy Spirit beyond the classroom, offering transformative care, hands-on learning, and Christ-centered community service. From speech therapy to Parkinson’s exercise support to mental health services to equine-assisted experiences, HSU students and faculty are shaping lives across the Big Country.
These clinics operate at little or no cost to the community, making them accessible to all. Gifts and donations help us sustain and grow these vital services, amplifying HSU’s mission of faith, scholarship, and service.
Parkinson's Resource and Outreach Program for Exercise for Life – (PROPEL)
PROPEL is HSU’s exercise-based support program for individuals with Parkinson’s disease, designed to improve strength, balance, gait, motor function, and endurance through scientifically backed, personalized coaching. Sessions are conducted one-on-one by trained student volunteers and take place at HSU’s Fletcher Fitness Center.
Speech and Language Clinic
The HSU Speech and Language Clinic provides free evaluations and therapy for children and adults, led by graduate student clinicians under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologists. Services include treatment for speech, language, swallowing, and communication disorders.
Special programs include the weekly Aphasia Group, which helps individuals with aphasia build confidence, practice strategies, and connect with others, and the Aphasia Care Partner Support Group, offering encouragement and communication tools for loved ones. The clinic offers the SPEAK OUT!® Therapy Program, helping people with Parkinson’s and related disorders improve speech and swallowing through intentional, evidence-based practice.
Equine Assisted Services
HSU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program offers hippotherapy, integrating horse movement into physical and speech therapy to support clients with conditions like cerebral palsy, brain injury, Parkinson’s, and speech disorders. HSU students lead sessions under the supervision of licensed therapists, creating a hands-on learning environment rooted in service and excellence.
Psychology and Counseling Center (CMHC)
HSU’s Community Mental Health Clinic provides accessible counseling services led by graduate students in the clinical mental health counseling program under the supervision of licensed faculty. The clinic offers a full range of care, including individual, premarital, marital, family, child/adolescent, and career counseling. Sessions are available at a reduced fee of $20, with additional assessments and courses like Prepare & Enrich offered at affordable rates.
Canine Companions
HSU has partners with Canine Companions, training service dogs at no cost to recipients through a volunteer puppy-raising program. Students, Faculty, and Staff care for, socialize, and teach fundamental commands to puppies during their time on campus. After the campus phase, dogs proceed to advanced training and are eventually matched with individuals who require assistance.
College and Me (CaM)
The College and Me (CaM) program supports neurodivergent students by pairing them with graduate student clinicians in the speech-language pathology program for weekly sessions focused on social connection, self-advocacy, and life skills. Rooted in a partnership between the Office of Disability Services and the College of Health Professions, CaM combines structured clinic-based activities with real-world practice across campus. The program also offers special events, such as year-end celebrations, to help students build confidence and community. Recognized nationally at the AHEAD conference, CaM affirms every student as fearfully and wonderfully made.
Physical Therapy (PT) Clinic
HSU’s PT clinic provides pro-bono rehabilitative services for faculty, staff, students, and those unable to receive physical therapy services in the community. This service prepares graduate students for careers as physical therapists while supporting the needs of the community. Participants receive personalized treatment plans designed to restore strength, mobility, and quality of life. A financial gift of $20 is encouraged for visits and all proceeds go to the HSU physical therapy mission fund to help support local and international mission trips.