University Counseling Services
YOU@CSUN
Welcome
Welcome Matadors! University Counseling Services (UCS) is a mental health center for students enrolled at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). We provide a range of high-quality mental health services including initial evaluations, short-term counseling and psychotherapy, Wellness Workshops, group treatment, psychiatric services, crisis/urgent care services, and case management. We are here to support your mental health, well-being, and academic success!
UCS is open during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm). We are committed to supporting student mental health while also prioritizing health and safety for students and employees during this ongoing pandemic. As such, UCS is currently offering both (virtual) telemental health and in-person services for individual services.
If you would like to schedule a new or returning appointment, please contact us at (818) 677-2366, option 1, to schedule an appointment. UCS services are free, confidential, and accessible, including a psychologist who is able to provide mental health services in American Sign Language (ASL). We have a remarkable and diverse team of mental health professionals, peer education staff, and administrative support staff who are all committed to serving students. We are committed to providing a welcoming and safe environment that is affirming of individual and cultural diversity, and promotes inclusion.
If you are in crisis and need to speak to a counselor immediately, 24/7 crisis/urgent care services are always available by phone: Monday through Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, please call (818) 677-2366, option 1, or walk-in to our office (Bayramian Hall, 5th floor, room 520). *All other days/times, please call (818) 677-2366, option 3*. For additional resources, click on the GET HELP button on this page.
Please visit our About Us page for more information about our center, personnel, and resources available. Our website also has some helpful resources in our Videos and Blogs section that includes a variety of videos (including several in Spanish) and 7 different Mindfulness Exercises. We also have a Resources section that has a variety of Wellness Resources, Mental Health & Wellness Apps, and Hotlines and Community Resources.
If you are a student who is looking to get more involved on campus and raise awareness on current issues that affect our society? UCS has three dedicated student peer education programs (The BLUES Project, JADE, and Project D.A.T.E.) that aim to increase awareness and knowledge about significant mental health and wellness issues that impact students (e.g., depression, suicide, sexual violence prevention, disordered eating, eating disorders and body image), and promote help-seeking behavior, as well as bystander intervention, through the provision of extensive psychoeducation and annual campus wellness events. Joining one of our peer education programs can be a wonderful experience that will allow you to connect with fellow students and the CSUN community.
We Stand in Support with the LGBTQIA+ Communities
"No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us." ~Marsha P. Johnson
We, at University Counseling Services (UCS), proudly support our LGBTQIA+ students. We will not sit back in silence, as we witness the development of a dangerous trend that singles out LGBTQIA+ communities as targets for further marginalization. There has been anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation passed in many states throughout our country including banning access to LGBTQIA+ affirmative books for youth, prohibiting education about sexual orientation and gender identity, and banning teachers from using gender-affirming names...instead forcing them (against student wishes) to use “deadnames” and incorrect pronouns. Other legislation has been introduced or passed that places restrictions on fundamental needs like gender-affirming healthcare, bathroom and locker room use, including laws preventing Trans individuals from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity, and Trans athletes being restricted from participating in sports.
As mental health professionals, we see first-hand the damaging impact of these trends on our Queer and Trans students. With so many systemic and political forces working to undermine the dignity, worth, and health of LGBTQIA+ students, we believe it is important to publicly condemn such discriminatory and destructive actions. University Counseling Services (UCS) stands with and for our CSUN students of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. We work diligently to provide mental health care that uplifts our LGBTQIA+ students by providing affirmative care including offering services specific to their mental health concerns, and connecting them with resources both on and off campus.
Support for Iranian Students
Socio-political world events can be difficult to cope with for everyone. UCS is aware of the situation in Iran as citizens fight for democracy and continue to risk their lives for a more equitable and just future. It is natural to have a myriad of emotions in response to situations like these, including a sense of helpless, confusion, anger, sadness and even hope. For those with previous trauma histories related to political unrest, war, and violence, the news can be triggering and cause psychological and physiological dysregulation. We encourage you to be gentle with yourself and process your emotions in a way that feels right for you. Below are just a handful of ways to support your nervous system and develop healthy ways to cope with socio-political unrest:
- Mindful consumption of social media: We’ve all been there- you decide to open your phone and check social media for a few minutes between tasks, and just like that, a lot more time than you intended has gone by. It can be easy to be consumed by our phones, especially when we are tracking things that are important to us. Given this movement in Iran, social media may feel like the only way to stay involved. However, consistent exposure to violent and upsetting content can make it difficult to focus on other tasks and manage your mental health. We suggest setting aside time each day to catch up on media that is important to you and creating boundaries when that time needs to end. Consider setting yourself an alarm for when it is time to move on to the next part of your day.
- Taking care of your body: Our mental health is intimately tied to our physical health. Exercise increases endorphins to help increase good mood and manage stress, and nutrition supports our immune system, putting us in the best position to handle whatever comes our way.
- Intentional activism & connecting with the community: When dealing with international events as individuals outside of that country, it is possible to feel isolated in your emotions or grief about the issue. Take steps to connect with your community, engage in discussions about your experiences, and take steps to support those around you.
- Spending time in nature: While it may feel challenging to carve out time to go outside, spending time in nature is instrumental in supporting our mental health and reconnecting to things that ground us. Being in the sun also exposes us to Vitamin D, a necessary vitamin for overall health, and a key player in mental health, motivation, and mood.
- Mindfulness exercises & deep breathing: Feeling overwhelmed can make it difficult to focus on those things that are directly in front of us. Practicing mindfulness is key in emotional regulation, focusing on the present moment, and regulating an overstimulating nervous system.
- Play and joyful experiences: At times, the weight of the world can make it difficult to experience joy and happiness in our own lives. We challenge you to find ways to incorporate small moments of joy and play in your day - dance & sing for those who cannot, drink your coffee slowly, be silly, and make the most of the in-between moments.
If you are feeling that you are struggling to cope and need some extra support, UCS is here to provide a safe space to process feelings and develop healthy coping skills. However you cope, we hope that you take the time to care for yourself during this difficult period. UCS is here to support our Iranian student population and all those affected.
Zan. Zendegi. Azadi.
Statement in Support of Students Following the Supreme Court Decision to Overturn Roe vs. Wade
University Counseling Services wants to express our support for our campus community after the recent Supreme Court decision overturning Roe V. Wade. We understand and acknowledge that not all thoughts are aligned over this decision, however, as mental health professionals we are acutely aware that for many this change has created an atmosphere of fear, sadness, anger, and worry about the stripping of rights in many parts of the country that had been afforded to women and people who can become pregnant for the past 50 years. Per Governor Newsom’s statement on June 27, 2022, California remains committed to protecting reproductive rights and no laws about reproductive services have changed in our state. We recognize that decisions involving health and families are deeply personal and made with thoughtful consideration. We affirm the right of all people to advocate for their healthcare needs and have access to the services they deem essential to their well-being. We also acknowledge, as a Majority Minority Institution, the most restrictive laws disproportionately impact our marginalized communities, including communities of color and the LGBTQIA+ community.
We want CSUN students impacted by this decision to know that UCS is here to support you through these tumultuous times. We are committed as a center to provide a supportive space for any student who may need or desire one, and will work to the best of our ability to help students navigate challenges in their personal lives, community, and in our country. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Scheduled appointments are available, and we offer 24/7 crisis/urgent care service: (818) 677-2366, Option 1 (during open office hours) and (818) 677-2366, Option 3 (evenings, weekends, and holidays).
Our Commitment to Anti-Racism
Members of the University Counseling Services (UCS) team stand in solidarity in upholding the dignity, respect, and equality of all members of our campus community and standing against racism, systemic oppression, injustice and hate.
UCS mental health professionals and staff are deeply saddened by continued acts of violence towards Black, Brown, and Queer individuals. We want to acknowledge the profound impact these collective traumas have on the psyche of our campus and the soul of our country. Today, we are particularly focused on the most recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and Rayshard Brooks. Though harmful for all, we recognize that racist oppression is particularly painful for members of the African-American and Black community. We deplore the pandemic of racism.
Acts of violence against specific communities leave scars. We know the psychological consequences of trauma such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, grief, and substance abuse, and want to remind students that we are here for you. We are committed to providing affirming, supporting, and safe healing spaces for you. You can speak to a counselor during business hours by calling (818) 677-2366, option 1 or speak to a crisis counselor. During business hours, contact a crisis by calling (818) 677-2366, option. Outside of business hours, speak to a crisis counselor by calling (818) 677-2366, option 3. Additional resources are available in our Self-Help Library under Racial Justice and Ally Resources.
As we move forward, let us remember that “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” – Ida B. Wells-Barnett
Please visit our Videos page to view the video recording of this Solidarity Statement made by our UCS team.
Support for our AAPI Community
Members of the University Counseling Services (UCS) team stand in firm solidarity with our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Though too often suffering in silence, AAPI individuals have been historically oppressed. Over this past year, there has been a steep escalation in hate-inspired rhetoric directed towards members of the AAPI communities. AAPI persons have been cruelly mocked and actually blamed for the world-wide pandemic. This shameful scapegoating has led to sharp increases in both verbal and physical attacks on members of the AAPI communities. The UCS team abhors the vile rhetoric and assaults. We recognize the intrinsic value of the AAPI communities at CSUN and throughout the United States.
Indeed, we honor the dignity and worth of all our beautifully, diverse communities. We fervently support equality, non-discrimination, accessibility, and inclusion. We stand against systemic oppression, injustice and hate directed towards communities based on their race/ethnicity, immigration status, sexual/affectional orientation, age, gender/gender identity, religion, abilities, or national origin.
Resources Specific to the AAPI Community
In addition to our regular services, we want to highlight additional mental health and wellness resources to support AAPI students:
Asian American Psychological Association
Asian Mental Health Collective
Asian Mental Health Collective APISAA Therapist Directory
Asians Do Therapy: Reducing Stigma and Increasing Accessibility
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center reported 3,795 cases of Anti-Asian incidents since the beginning of the pandemic.
Free Webinars
Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment on various dates and times – Zoom webinar presented by Hollaback! and Asian Americans Advancing Justice, AAJC
New Resource
The resource "Coping with Ongoing Traumatic Events" has been prepared to assist members of the campus community who are experiencing or supporting others who are experiencing reactions to traumatic events such as local mass shootings, violence and threats of violence on campus, hate speech/graffiti, wildfires and traumatic events across the nation. We hope you will find this resource helpful.
