University counseling centers have been in a constant state of transition since their inception. Many variables, including economics, the social and political climate on and off campus, staff interests, and changing consumer needs have driven the direction of the modern counseling center. Throughout the more than 70 years that university counseling centers have served student populations, researchers have spent a great deal of effort in characterizing every aspect of the counseling center client. The purpose of this study was to examine how counseling center clients differ from community mental health center clients. The hypothesis that the psychological symptoms of clients at a university counseling center would be less severe than those of clients of a community mental health center was supported. The study found a high incidence of psychiatric disturbance in both a community mental health center, where it was expected, and a university counseling center, where it was not necessarily expected. The findings offer no direct comment on previous research that suggests the level of psychiatric disturbance is increasing on college campuses. These data only give a picture of the current level of psychiatric disturbance. (Contains 1 table.)