WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:05.440 Cal Poly is in session. Students swarm through campus and 2 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:07.400 file in and out of classes. You're thinking about the 3 00:00:07.480 --> 00:00:10.160 chapter reading they have tonight, their next class, their new dorm, 4 00:00:10.199 --> 00:00:12.199 their senior project, how to get to the gym, what's 5 00:00:12.199 --> 00:00:15.080 for dinner tonight? Where's in yours bathroom? Kate and I 6 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:17.359 know things can get a bit chaotic as a student 7 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.600 navigating the ins and outs of college life. 8 00:00:19.920 --> 00:00:22.359 At cal Poly, we focus on learning by doing, but 9 00:00:22.519 --> 00:00:25.359 sometimes you don't know what to do well. Emma and 10 00:00:25.359 --> 00:00:28.640 I are here to answer your who, what, when, where, why, 11 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:31.920 and how's here? On CP one oh one Learned by Listening, 12 00:00:31.960 --> 00:00:34.240 presented by KCPR ninety one point three. 13 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.759 Hi Mustang, I'm Emma Hughes, a third year English student, and. 14 00:00:37.719 --> 00:00:40.320 I'm Kate Lopenski, a third year journalism student here at 15 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:42.679 cal Poly, and we're here to share our tell all 16 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.679 guide on how to survive and thrive at cal Poly 17 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:46.640 San Luis Obispo. 18 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:48.920 So grab a notebook. You may want to write this down. 19 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:00.520 In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we wanted to 20 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:02.880 provide you with all the resources you'll need to navigate 21 00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:04.359 this essential topic at cal Poly. 22 00:01:04.840 --> 00:01:07.239 We'll share a bit about our own mental health experiences 23 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:10.840 and discuss some resources available on campus. We also interviewed 24 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:13.159 the director of counseling services to provide you with the 25 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:17.879 best information. So before we get into the actual interview 26 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:21.640 with an expert, Kate, I was curious about how your 27 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:24.079 mental health journey has been since starting college. 28 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:26.640 I mean, it definitely took a lot of twists and 29 00:01:26.680 --> 00:01:29.200 turns because as we all know, this is a really 30 00:01:29.319 --> 00:01:31.200 challenging time in our lives. 31 00:01:31.599 --> 00:01:34.920 Yeah, college is all about change, as we know, and 32 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:40.200 that creates a lot of uneasiness, especially for mental health. 33 00:01:40.719 --> 00:01:42.959 I mean share college is fun and all, but you're 34 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:45.879 learning how to be your own independent self and a 35 00:01:45.879 --> 00:01:50.920 full on adult, which is crazy. So I went through 36 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:53.400 my whole life, as it turns out, with generalized anxiety 37 00:01:53.400 --> 00:01:56.239 disorder and had no idea how life and she just 38 00:01:56.319 --> 00:02:01.239 really hit her peek during college. Yes, and so it 39 00:02:01.280 --> 00:02:03.879 came to a point where I was like, how do 40 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:05.959 I get to the point where I don't feel like 41 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:08.960 I have a Doc Martin stomping on my chest every 42 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:10.240 time I wake up in the morning. 43 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.000 And have we reached that point? Yes? 44 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:16.319 We have because I actually used Calpol mental health resources. 45 00:02:16.680 --> 00:02:18.680 Oh yeah, amazing. 46 00:02:18.520 --> 00:02:21.919 I did one on one counseling, which is so helpful 47 00:02:21.960 --> 00:02:24.360 in my opinion, And we're gonna learn a bit more 48 00:02:24.439 --> 00:02:28.360 about that from Andrea later on. So, Emma, I know 49 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:30.360 that you're more of a DIY girl when it comes 50 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:32.680 to mental health, So tell me a bit about what 51 00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:36.759 you've been doing to keep yourself healthy and happy right now. 52 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:41.360 Yeah, So I have definitely considered campus resources, but never 53 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:45.639 actually took the next step and getting involved with that. 54 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:51.680 But I actually do a lot of journaling, so I 55 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:55.680 just really vent. It's like it's basically a diary, let's 56 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:59.159 be real, But I just vent through writing and of 57 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:02.639 course me being my little English made yourself just read 58 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:05.199 a good book for escapism and then write in my 59 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:08.719 journal about anything and everything. That's kind of been what 60 00:03:09.639 --> 00:03:13.240 keeps me going because I just I get to see either, oh, 61 00:03:13.360 --> 00:03:17.719 like I'm being a little over dramatic about this experience, 62 00:03:17.800 --> 00:03:19.560 like it's not that deep. It gives me time to 63 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:22.919 really reflect on my own experiences, but also gives me 64 00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:26.080 clarity about no, like I am definitely feeling these things 65 00:03:26.120 --> 00:03:28.800 and I'm allowed to feel these things. And yeah, so 66 00:03:28.960 --> 00:03:33.199 that's kind of been my experience. Just I definitely take 67 00:03:33.280 --> 00:03:37.960 time for myself to work on things and reflect for sure, And. 68 00:03:37.879 --> 00:03:41.039 That just shows how unique your mental health approach can be, 69 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:44.439 because I really like talking it out with someone who 70 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:47.599 does not have any stake in my life whatsoever. Right, 71 00:03:47.719 --> 00:03:50.599 that is extremely helpful to me. I've tried journaling before 72 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:52.639 and it just doesn't do anything for me. 73 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:56.039 Yeahere is opposite for you, I mean, and again, like 74 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:59.280 Kate was saying, it's it's whatever works for you. And 75 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:01.719 so a lot of what we'll talk about today is 76 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.919 the campus resources that are available to you, but just 77 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:07.400 know that those are not the only options, and we 78 00:04:07.439 --> 00:04:10.560 also have some around just the slow community as well 79 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.000 as different ways that you can work individually. 80 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:16.399 Now that we've shared about ourselves, let's hear from Andrea Lawson, 81 00:04:16.439 --> 00:04:19.000 the director of cal Poly Counseling Services, on how to 82 00:04:19.079 --> 00:04:22.079 navigate the counseling center and all of the different resources 83 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:22.639 that they offer. 84 00:04:25.160 --> 00:04:31.360 My name is Andrew Lawson, I usually her pronouns, and 85 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:34.360 I am the director of Counseling Services here. I'm a 86 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:37.399 licensed clinical social worker, and I've been in college mental 87 00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:40.360 health since two thousand and six, and so it's been 88 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:43.680 a minute. So I've been at several college counseling centers 89 00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:46.199 at the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin, and 90 00:04:46.279 --> 00:04:48.560 out here at cal Poly. I've been here for almost 91 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:50.360 four years, so it's been great to be a part 92 00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:52.959 of this campus community and to be able to provide 93 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:57.120 high quality, responsive mental health treatment and support for students 94 00:04:57.199 --> 00:04:59.240 ongoing as well as when they're in crisis. 95 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:03.600 I wanted to start our conversation with Andrea have a 96 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:08.519 little conversation about stigma, because, especially on a college campus 97 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:11.959 with a bunch of young adults, mental health is this 98 00:05:12.040 --> 00:05:14.879 kind of hush hush taboo topic, or at least it 99 00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:18.839 has been for a while, and just kind of what 100 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:21.800 that means for a student going in and trying to 101 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:22.399 seek help. 102 00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:26.639 Yeah, totally. So we've definitely come a long way. But 103 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:29.800 at the same time, I feel like when someone says, oh, 104 00:05:29.839 --> 00:05:34.600 I'm in therapy, there's immediate, like, I don't know, flashing 105 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:36.720 lights in your head, like, oh, why is that person 106 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:37.680 choosing to do that? 107 00:05:38.040 --> 00:05:38.279 Right? 108 00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:42.439 And you have to kind of explain yourself. So, yeah, 109 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:45.279 there is definitely a stigma there, and so it was 110 00:05:45.319 --> 00:05:48.720 really interesting to hear from Andrea what the trends were. 111 00:05:48.959 --> 00:05:52.040 Yeah, stigma is a really important topic to address when 112 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:56.079 we're talking about mental health, and basically, stigma is people 113 00:05:56.519 --> 00:05:59.600 really feeling maybe badly about mental health or worried that 114 00:05:59.639 --> 00:06:02.240 people we'll think differently about them if they talk about 115 00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:05.279 depression or anxiety or the other symptoms that they're experiencing. 116 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:08.199 And stigma can get in the way of people accessing 117 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:11.000 mental health care as well. And so one of the 118 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:13.000 things that we actually know from our data is that 119 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:16.759 stigma is reducing, So overall, stigma is less and less 120 00:06:16.759 --> 00:06:20.279 over time. That means that there's more and more acceptance 121 00:06:20.399 --> 00:06:23.399 of talking about mental health or other concerns like that 122 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:26.519 in our campus culture in particular, and this is true 123 00:06:26.519 --> 00:06:29.240 across all the campuses that I've been a part of, 124 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:31.959 and really I think in society in general right now, 125 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:36.279 there's much more acceptance of and discussion of anxiety or 126 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:39.360 depression or other mental health concerns, and so it's been 127 00:06:39.399 --> 00:06:42.439 a really nice trajectory to see. At the same time, 128 00:06:42.519 --> 00:06:45.439 there are some families or communities or individuals where that 129 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:48.040 stigma is still really high, where maybe your parents don't 130 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:51.079 believe in mental health, or maybe it's not really accepted 131 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:53.759 to go to therapy in your communities and So one 132 00:06:53.800 --> 00:06:57.639 of the things that we're doing is providing different types 133 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:00.480 of access to support here. So we do mental health 134 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:03.560 check ins at the Black Academic Excellent Center and at 135 00:07:03.560 --> 00:07:07.000 the Multicultural Centers and some of the other cultural centers 136 00:07:07.000 --> 00:07:09.439 on campus, so that students don't have to come to 137 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:12.879 therapy and have an actual clinical visit with us to 138 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:15.160 be able to get support and help. And then we're 139 00:07:15.199 --> 00:07:17.600 also really trying to contextualize what we're doing in a 140 00:07:17.600 --> 00:07:20.959 culturally responsive way for students across all identities, to say, 141 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:23.519 what's the way that you need support and how can 142 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:25.839 we be there for you in that way? And for 143 00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:28.199 some folks it is coming in for therapy, and for 144 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:31.079 others it might be engaging with our app that's called 145 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:34.319 well Track Boost where they can do cognitive behavioral sort 146 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:37.639 of interventions on their own, or do a meditation through 147 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:40.120 that app, or maybe it's dropping into let's Talk, which 148 00:07:40.199 --> 00:07:43.000 is a more informal conversation with a counselor that we 149 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:46.399 do virtually on Wednesdays and Thursdays. So we're really trying 150 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:50.920 to say, like, yes, stigma is reducing and there's more 151 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:54.079 opportunity to connect clinically with somebody, but there's also a 152 00:07:54.160 --> 00:07:56.399 lot of ways to get support and help and be 153 00:07:56.480 --> 00:07:59.199 able to talk more about mental health with your peers, 154 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:01.560 with your family, or with a therapist. 155 00:08:02.040 --> 00:08:05.360 So, after we learned about the trends with mental health stigma, 156 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:09.079 we talked to Andrea about where to start if you 157 00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:13.480 want to either seek on campus or off campus resources. 158 00:08:13.720 --> 00:08:17.560 She just shared so much about what's offered in the 159 00:08:17.720 --> 00:08:18.399 slow area. 160 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:22.519 Yeah, and we were also just especially curious about how 161 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:25.800 to start and what that looks like and where students 162 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:29.160 should go, and she kind of helped us navigate that. 163 00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:32.440 Yeah, there are so many different components if you're seeking 164 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:36.799 help outside of counseling services at like on campus, such 165 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:39.639 as like copays and insurance and all of that. So 166 00:08:39.679 --> 00:08:40.720 she really broke that down. 167 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:43.919 So on our website, we have a page that's dedicated 168 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:47.679 to referral information, So it talks about what to think 169 00:08:47.720 --> 00:08:49.919 about when you're looking for a therapist, if you have 170 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:53.000 certain types of insurance, how to navigate those questions to 171 00:08:53.039 --> 00:08:56.440 ask about coverage and copays and deductibles and all of that, 172 00:08:56.480 --> 00:08:59.120 who's in network versus out of network, and so it 173 00:08:59.320 --> 00:09:02.159 kind of gives you some guidelines or a blueprint for 174 00:09:02.440 --> 00:09:04.320 thinking about some of those things and asking some of 175 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:07.960 those questions, and then we have it linked to Psychology Today, 176 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:10.080 which has a therapist finder in it, and so you 177 00:09:10.120 --> 00:09:12.840 can search within that for either the topic of what 178 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:16.240 you're concerned about, or the type of insurance that they take, 179 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:21.600 or identity factors of that provider, or lots of other aspects, 180 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:24.639 and so then it'll pull up for you providers that 181 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:26.840 fit your parameters, and then you can reach out to 182 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:29.639 those people to talk about what an intake looks like 183 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:32.320 or how to get connected with them. A lot of 184 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:35.159 therapists in town will do a free consultation with you 185 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:37.080 for fifteen minutes to just get to know you a 186 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:38.840 little bit and see if it's a good fit or not. 187 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:41.879 But some of them will kind of assign you directly 188 00:09:41.919 --> 00:09:44.559 to an intake and then they'll either charge your insurance 189 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:46.360 for it, or you can pay out of pocket for 190 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:48.799 it and then be reimbursed if you have insurance at 191 00:09:48.919 --> 00:09:51.360 least in part, or you can pay out of pocket 192 00:09:51.679 --> 00:09:55.840 for those counseling sessions. There's a lot of option in 193 00:09:55.879 --> 00:09:58.399 the community, so there's a lot of different types of people, 194 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:01.320 a lot of different contexts, and there's also some low 195 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.840 cost options as well, So if paying for therapy at 196 00:10:03.840 --> 00:10:06.639 all is outside of what you're able to do, there 197 00:10:06.799 --> 00:10:09.799 is on campus there's another clinic that's run out of 198 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:12.840 the master's program and so they have therapists and training 199 00:10:12.840 --> 00:10:16.759 who are supervised by licensed providers who are providing services, 200 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:18.879 and they have a sliding scale fee that goes, I 201 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.240 believe down to zero, so it can be very affordable 202 00:10:21.399 --> 00:10:23.440 to go there, and they do that based on your 203 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:26.320 family income or what resources you have available to you, 204 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:31.559 and so they provide ongoing treatment there for a range 205 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:34.360 of concerns. And then there's also as a part of 206 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:37.360 Transitions Mental Health Association in town, they have a brief 207 00:10:37.399 --> 00:10:39.960 therapy clinic that's available at no charge as well, so 208 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.879 they typically will see people for ten to twelve sessions, 209 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:48.440 and they have a really cool array of student providers 210 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.919 as well as therapists that are licensed that are overseeing 211 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:54.200 their work. So there's a lot of option at a 212 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:59.279 range of cost points. The main difference between community providers 213 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:01.559 and US is that you have already paid your student 214 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:03.840 health fee and so there's no additional cost to come 215 00:11:04.200 --> 00:11:06.639 to see a therapist here at Counseling Services. 216 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:09.960 If you are choosing to start your mental health experience 217 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.600 here on campus, then you're in luck because there is 218 00:11:13.639 --> 00:11:18.480 an abundance of different therapy modalities available for you, and 219 00:11:18.480 --> 00:11:20.120 Andrew really breaks that down here. 220 00:11:20.279 --> 00:11:24.440 So we provide brief individual therapy as well as couple 221 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:28.200 in partner therapy and group therapy through our clinical services. 222 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:30.919 So the way that students connect with that is by 223 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:34.519 calling us to schedule a brief screening appointment. So this 224 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:37.200 is just a fifteen minute phone conversation with one of 225 00:11:37.240 --> 00:11:40.600 our counseling providers to talk about what's going on, how 226 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:43.399 it's impacting you, and then what services can best support you. 227 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:46.639 And then that counselor will refer the student to individual 228 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:48.879 therapy or to a group, or to a workshop or 229 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:51.720 other services like that. So all of these appointments are 230 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:55.879 scheduled and they happen Monday through Friday, eight to five generally, 231 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.960 and we don't have session limits here, so it's not 232 00:11:59.000 --> 00:12:00.960 like you can only be seen for three sessions or 233 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:04.000 five sessions. But we try to respond to what the 234 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:06.759 student's needs are, what their clinical needs are, as well 235 00:12:06.759 --> 00:12:09.399 as what their resourcing is and if it's not feasible 236 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:11.279 for them to get ongoing care. Then what we want 237 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:13.120 to do is take a look at, Okay, how can 238 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:15.639 we keep them here and support them in their mental 239 00:12:15.720 --> 00:12:18.600 health needs within the scope of what we're providing. So, 240 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:20.919 just like on the health services side of campus health 241 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:22.399 and well Being, you're not going to go there for 242 00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:25.279 cancer treatments or for brain surgery, right, You're going to 243 00:12:25.320 --> 00:12:27.720 go there if you sprain your ankle, or if you 244 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:31.000 need a wound dressed or other things like that. And 245 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:32.919 so we do have a limited scope of what we're 246 00:12:32.919 --> 00:12:35.600 able to provide, but our hope is that every student 247 00:12:35.639 --> 00:12:37.759 can have at least one service from us, whether it's 248 00:12:37.799 --> 00:12:41.039 a consultation or an outreach presentation or drop into let's 249 00:12:41.080 --> 00:12:43.799 talk or ongoing individual therapy for as long as they 250 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:44.480 need it here. 251 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:48.360 So I've used these formal services that she talks about, 252 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:51.360 and I have really enjoyed my experience so far. That 253 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:55.440 is just what personally works for me. I knew that 254 00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:59.320 I didn't want anything pretty casual because I wanted a 255 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:02.080 solid foundation with my therapist and I wanted them to 256 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:04.840 get to know me as a person and not have 257 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:08.720 like just a drop in opportunity. But I mean, there 258 00:13:08.759 --> 00:13:12.960 are so many more casual ways to partake in counseling 259 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:14.159 services at cal Poly. 260 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:18.879 Yeah, I know. I was particularly curious about the option 261 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:24.399 of a drop in like therapy session called let's Talk, 262 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:27.440 and Andrea really breaks that down in a second here 263 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:29.919 for us, But that was just something that I didn't 264 00:13:29.960 --> 00:13:33.559 know students even had available to them to just hop 265 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:36.960 on a quick zoom meeting or stop by in person 266 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.679 and just sit down for a brief chat. 267 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:42.720 And those let's talk drop ins are actually one on one, 268 00:13:43.399 --> 00:13:45.759 so it is a private experience. They do have group 269 00:13:45.840 --> 00:13:48.799 services that are also offered, but if you do want 270 00:13:49.320 --> 00:13:52.080 a private talk, that is definitely an option for you. 271 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.519 We also have more informal services or what we call 272 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:57.480 drop in services, and that's things like let's talk that 273 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:01.639 happen virtually. We have medication for mental health on Thursday 274 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:04.840 afternoons on the front lawn. We have an ADHD support 275 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.720 group that's a drop in style. On Friday afternoons, we 276 00:14:07.799 --> 00:14:10.399 have Roots Group, which is for BIPOC students to connect 277 00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:12.720 with other BIPOX students. That's a drop in space that 278 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:15.519 sometimes is virtual and sometimes is in person depending on 279 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:18.600 the week. And then we have lots of other ways 280 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:21.519 that we're connecting with different departments on campus as well 281 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:25.759 to do presentations or to just have more informal conversations 282 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:28.000 with students. So it's not like you go to see 283 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.720 the scary therapist, but you're going to see Shauna, or 284 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:32.960 you're going to see Sheila, or you're going to see Conrad. 285 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:35.960 So all these people are a part of the milieu 286 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:39.000 of support for students. One of the cool things that 287 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.799 we've started in the last couple of years as a 288 00:14:40.840 --> 00:14:44.440 webinar series, So in November and in May we have 289 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:48.000 a Friday webinar every Friday that has a different topic. 290 00:14:48.159 --> 00:14:51.039 So this year it's mental health in You, so kind 291 00:14:51.039 --> 00:14:53.559 of basically understanding what does mental health mean for me 292 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:56.279 with the identities I hold in the context that I have, 293 00:14:56.360 --> 00:14:58.240 and what can I do to support myself on it. 294 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:00.639 We also have one about body image, and then we 295 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:04.200 have one in partnership with Safer to talk about sexual 296 00:15:04.279 --> 00:15:07.360 health and sexual assault and how we can have healthy, 297 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:10.759 safe sexual relationships with other people. And so we're really 298 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:15.000 excited about that collaboration in particular, but really trying to say, Okay, 299 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.200 not everybody's going to come here, how do we help 300 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:19.399 get our message out and have students feel. 301 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:23.399 Supported beyond scheduled appointments. They also have crisis in urgent 302 00:15:23.440 --> 00:15:26.320 support services, so if you are facing something right in 303 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:28.399 the moment, they are able to help you out. 304 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:30.639 And then the last way that we support students is 305 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:34.080 through our crisis and Urgent support services. So each day 306 00:15:34.200 --> 00:15:37.440 from eight to five, students can come to Counseling Services, 307 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:39.879 which is here in Building twenty seven at the Health Center, 308 00:15:40.360 --> 00:15:42.559 and they can say I'm in crisis, I need to 309 00:15:42.600 --> 00:15:44.559 talk to somebody, and we'll work them in to be 310 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:47.240 seen within an hour or two, depending on what our 311 00:15:47.240 --> 00:15:51.919 availability is. And then after hours, we have a crisis 312 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:53.720 line that's available twenty four to seven, so if it's 313 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:55.559 two in the morning and you're having a panic attack, 314 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:58.240 you can call and talk with a clinician about what's 315 00:15:58.279 --> 00:16:00.600 going on. They'll safety plan with you and they'll help 316 00:16:00.639 --> 00:16:02.639 you make a plan for those next steps after that. 317 00:16:02.840 --> 00:16:05.879 So that is available anytime that you need it, and 318 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:08.159 there's no limit on how much you could use that. 319 00:16:08.200 --> 00:16:11.240 We really want to be there to support students regardless 320 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.000 of what's going on. 321 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:16.039 If you are looking to schedule an appointment with Health 322 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:19.440 and Counseling Services, you are easily able to do so, 323 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:22.720 and ANGO will kind of explain that process for you 324 00:16:22.759 --> 00:16:25.120 in case you are a little nervous about how that. 325 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:28.159 Works in general, Like I was saying, that first step 326 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:31.320 is to call us to schedule a brief screening appointment, 327 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:34.000 and so we will your our front desk folks will 328 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.840 talk with you about your availability, and typically we're able 329 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.399 to schedule that same day or next day, depending on 330 00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:41.919 your schedule and when you have class and when you're 331 00:16:41.919 --> 00:16:45.799 available to meet with us. And so we'll schedule that 332 00:16:45.919 --> 00:16:48.600 fifteen minute phone call and then our clinician will call 333 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:50.159 you so you don't have to be here, you don't 334 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:52.279 have to show up in our space, and we really 335 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:54.960 want to understand your story, what your context is, so 336 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:58.440 that we can respond appropriately to that. Once you're referred 337 00:16:58.480 --> 00:17:01.279 for individual therapy here, then you'll get to choose whether 338 00:17:01.320 --> 00:17:04.519 it's in person or virtual. So right now we have 339 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:07.359 most of our therapists do hybrid schedules, partly because we 340 00:17:07.359 --> 00:17:09.319 don't have enough space for all of them to have 341 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:11.640 an office every day. Some days they're here on site 342 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:14.240 and some days they're virtual. And so as a student, 343 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:17.119 you'll be asked whether which you and you prefer whether 344 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:19.519 in person or virtual, but you may need to be 345 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:22.000 a little bit flexible on the modality. You know, in 346 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:24.359 case your provider calls in sick, they may be able 347 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:26.759 to do a virtual appointment rather than in person. Or 348 00:17:27.079 --> 00:17:29.400 the same flexibility is available for you too, So if 349 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:31.480 you have a cold but you still want to meet 350 00:17:31.480 --> 00:17:33.119 with your therapists, you can say, hey, can we meet 351 00:17:33.200 --> 00:17:36.160 via zoom or phone instead and we can make that adjustment. 352 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:39.799 So it's one of the benefits of the last four 353 00:17:39.880 --> 00:17:42.079 years through COVID and through all of that is that 354 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:45.480 we've really grown those muscles and being able to provide 355 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:49.200 virtual services and it's really been shown to be just 356 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:51.240 as effective as in person services. 357 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:54.599 How Polit, counseling services understands that it can be really 358 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:57.160 difficult to take that first step and make that initial 359 00:17:57.240 --> 00:18:00.720 call to schedule your first appointment. There are plenty of 360 00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:03.400 ways to get in touch with the office and there 361 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:06.440 are so many people there that genuinely want to help you. 362 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:10.799 As Andrea emphasized throughout the interview, that was really really 363 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:13.359 cool to see, Like she just kept on repeating how 364 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:16.880 much the staff cares for the students truly. 365 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:20.599 And she herself is very involved. She's actually the one 366 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:25.119 who reads the emails that are sent to health services, 367 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:27.680 so that you'll get to talk one on one with 368 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:29.160 Andrea potentially, and. 369 00:18:29.079 --> 00:18:31.920 She's the absolute sweetest. Yes, So it makes life all 370 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:32.640 the more easy. 371 00:18:32.680 --> 00:18:36.119 I think especially students now don't call anybody. Well you know, 372 00:18:36.160 --> 00:18:38.359 they don't call or talk to anybody on the phone, 373 00:18:38.359 --> 00:18:40.359 and so talking on the phone feels like maybe a 374 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:42.359 new thing or something that you don't do regularly, and 375 00:18:42.400 --> 00:18:46.160 so that can feel even more difficult to get over 376 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:48.720 that hump. But I would say, you know, we have 377 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:50.440 a team of people who are here and ready to 378 00:18:50.440 --> 00:18:53.799 help you, and so by calling, you are tapping into 379 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:57.440 those resources, and they're gonna be responsive to that. They'll say, hey, 380 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:59.799 I'm so glad you called. Here are the options. This 381 00:18:59.880 --> 00:19:02.279 is when you can get scheduled or sounds like you 382 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:04.200 need to talk to somebody today, come on in. We've 383 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:07.359 got something available right now. So we really are a 384 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:10.359 team that's invested in supporting students and helping to get 385 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:13.640 them where they need to be. If calling just feels 386 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:16.079 like way too far out of your comfort zone, you 387 00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:18.599 can also email us. So I'm the one who answers 388 00:19:18.640 --> 00:19:22.480 the counseling atcoupoly dot eu email address, But sometimes just 389 00:19:22.519 --> 00:19:25.759 having a little more information or making that initial contact 390 00:19:25.759 --> 00:19:27.920 can really be helpful. One thing I'll just add is 391 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:30.440 that we have twenty two therapists on staff right now, 392 00:19:30.519 --> 00:19:34.559 which is impressive. Yeah, thank you, And we've hired a 393 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:36.680 bunch in the last five years and so we've been 394 00:19:36.720 --> 00:19:40.960 able to really expand our available availability and services. So 395 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:42.640 right now, like I said, you can get in for 396 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:45.440 that screening typically same day or next day, and then 397 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:48.559 we have intakes available within the same week right now 398 00:19:48.599 --> 00:19:52.279 as well. So I think sometimes there is this sense 399 00:19:52.359 --> 00:19:54.200 or maybe a fear that you won't be able to 400 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:56.240 get in or that there's no space, and I just 401 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:58.359