Mental Health Services
The college years are an exciting time for personal growth, but they can also bring academic, social, and financial pressures, which can create mood swings or affect students' mental health. The Student Health Center currently offers mental health therapy services, referrals to local organizations, brief screenings online, wellness workshops, and a variety of digital tools that students can explore on our website at any time.
Our personal therapy services support students in their academic success and personal development. Our services are personalized, confidential and do not transfer with academic records. We have a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) that can provide up to six free therapy sessions per student each semester. Therapists also provide referrals for any mental health treatments that require long term or specialized care, such as: medication evaluation, drug and alcohol treatment, diagnostic testing, and treatment of serious mental health disorders or hospitalization.
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Couples therapy
- Referrals for long-term care
- Referrals for drug and alcohol services
- Education and outreach
- Crisis prevention and intervention
- LGBTQIA+
- Self esteem, Violence, Roommate concerns, Anger management, Boundary and limit setting
skills,
Self-harm and/or suicidal ideation, Sexual harassment/sexual assault, Depression, Relationships
Disordered eating and more.
To determine if you or someone you care about should connect with a behavioral health professional, we encourage students taking a brief screening online: By taking a brief MindWise Screening, students can learn if they have a behavioral health issue and learn signs and symptoms. Immediately following the brief questionnaire, you will see your results, recommendations, and key resources. Click here to take a screening TODAY!
Therapy is a great help, however it is not the only option. Here are some strategies and aids that you can use to improve your mental health:
- Mindfulness and meditation are powerful and well-researched tools for reducing stress hormones and boosting emotional resilience in demanding situations. Learning to stay present can help you relieve physical tension and calm anxious thoughts you may be having. Click here to visit our relaxing room.
- Physical activity channels cortisol productively. Rather than using that excess adrenaline to fight off (or run away from) a predator, you can punch it out in a cardio kickboxing routine or go for a run around the block. Choose whatever activity you love. It doesn’t have to be training for a triathlon or an hours-long workout. It can be going for a walk, [dancing], or shooting hoops. Click here for some exercise and workouts ideas.>
- Build a healthier relationship with food. Here’s how to make your eating habits more mindful.
- Improve your gut health. Research shows that our gut (aka digestive system) plays an essential role in all aspects of health—including brain health and mental health. This is because it digests and absorbs nutrients from our food and gets rid of waste. When our gut does its job absorbing what we need—and keeping out what we don’t—it helps nourish every single cell in our bodies. How food affects your mood?
- Social support is key to mental well-being and connected to longevity. How can you get more social support—especially in light of physical distancing?
- Sleep better. Finally, taking an hour before bed to wind down (ideally screen-free) lets your brain and body relax, aiding the transition from alertness to sleep. If you get antsy, try reading something light or listening to binaural beats.
Our therapists and nurses have received training in assisting the LGBTQIA+ populations. We are actively involved in continue training to make sure the services we provide are LGBTQIA + affirming. A large portion of the clients we see are exploring the coming out process or needed a safe place to talk about their gender and/or sexual identity. We welcome these populations and have improved our intake forms to include preferred pronouns, gender and sexual identity.
We have a new health portal available to all of our Cuesta students. You may now schedule
your health appointments ONLINE. Click here to learn how.
For same-day appointments, crisis intervention, or in-person health services please
contact us: studenthealthcenter@cuesta.edu, (805) 546-3171.
If you require special accommodation, translator or interpreter please email us before
scheduling your appointment: studenthealthcenter@cuesta.edu.
Consultations are conducted by telephone and Zoom at this time following COVID-19
precautions.>
If you have an emergency, please dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. For mental health crisis, you may contact us at (805) 546-3171 during office hours or contact the SLO Hotline for 24-hour suicide and crisis support by calling (805) 783-0607, Suicide Prevention LIFELINE: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text "courage" to 741741.
- News & Events for upcoming health and wellness activities
- Wellness Central on Canvas
- Cuesta Campus Well
- Relaxing room
- Wellness Central: Depression
- Wellness Central: Anxiety
- >Health Resources
- Educational Repository
- Student in crisis Quick Guide: Know the signs, assess for suicide, respond and give resources.
- Health Services also offers access to Guided Imagery. Guided imagery is the easiest, most user-friendly form of meditation you can find. It’s simply listening to words and music that guide you on a positive journey, where you imagine yourself relaxing and doing well, with all your senses. To try out guided imagery you have these 2 options: