Services Offered

CONFIDENTIALITY

You can be assured that everything you tell your therapist will be completely private and confidential, and will not be revealed or released to anyone outside of the counseling office (on-or-off-campus) without your written consent, unless it is necessary to prevent injury to yourself or others, or as otherwise required by law. We encourage you to discuss any concerns you have about confidentiality or privacy in your first visit with your therapist. All psychological counselors at CSUDH take their ethical and legal obligation to maintain confidentiality very seriously.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU VISIT US

Learn about our services
Schedule an assessment appointment
Determine what service will best meet your needs

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT US TO DO

Respect your privacy
Respect your unique identities and experiences.
Invite you to co-create your treatment plan
Ask your feedback on your experience with your provider

Individual Counseling

Short-term individual counseling consists of meeting one-on-one with a counselor. Each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. During the counseling process, you and your therapist will work together to establish and work towards counseling goals.

While there are no specific criteria for what or how to talk about your issues in session, most therapists would probably agree that the more you participate, the more you can expect to gain from the experience. All of the psychological staff at CSUDH believe that it is important for you to feel comfortable and safe in counseling, and want you to be the judge of how much you will share, about what, when, and with whom.

If you are interested in counseling services, please call Student Psychological Services for more information, or visit our Scheduling An Appointment page. You will be directed to fill out the forms for Individual Therapy on our forms page here

Support Groups

Group counseling is a highly effective form of psychotherapy that involves meeting with a group of individuals facing similar concerns. These sessions provide a supportive environment where participants can share their experiences and listen to others.

Some groups require a weekly commitment, while others are open for students to join as needed. Certain groups may also have pre-screenings to ensure a good fit for both you and the group.

If you’re interested in participating, please call our office for more information on how to sign up. Consent forms must be acknowledged in the Toro Health Patient Portal to join the services. Since groups are limited in size, we encourage you to reach out as soon as possible. Please note that group offerings may vary from semester to semester based on student needs.

Below is the schedule for Support Groups:

Interpersonal Process Group

Serving to bring new insights and experiences to participants as they continue their journey to self-exploration and growth. Join us weekly as we identify patterns in relationships, connect emotions to experiences, and process relationships.

Facilitated by Dr. Theo Moore, the group meets in person weekly on Thursdays from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM starting February 20, 2025

Serenity Space

This group is designed to practice mindfulness skills. Mindfulness helps reduce stress and anxiety and is a perfect tool for all students to master. Join us as we practice creating serenity together.

Facilitated by Dr. Norma Quintero, the group meets in person weekly on Tuesdays from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM starting February 11, 2025

Home

The group is designed to support students affected by immigration laws, processes, political climate, and/or status. The impact may directly affect you, your family members, and/or your friends. This will be a confidential and safe space to discuss your concerns, learn self-care methods, and access resources to foster an empowered community of support.

Facilitated by Dr. Norma Quintero, the group meets both in-person (LSU Room 111) and via Zoom from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, on the following dates: February 4, February 25, March 18, April 15, May 6

Creating Calm in Chaos

Creating Calm in Chaos is a Dialectical Behavioral therapy processing group that is aimed at providing students with an opportunity to explore and process their emotions, behaviors, and interpersonal relationships in a supportive environment. Group will focus on helping individuals develop skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.

Facilitated by Khiana Thomas, LPCC, the group meets in person weekly on Fridays from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM April 11, 2025 through May 2, 2025.

inQUEERies

Join us for a weekly dialogue focused on LGBTQ+ student and community issues. This space encourages open conversation, allowing participants to explore a wide range of topics, including identity, activism, mental health, relationships, and the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.

Each session aims to foster understanding, support, and connection among participants, providing an opportunity to share experiences, ask questions, and discuss current events impacting the
LGBTQ+ community. Whether you’re a student looking for a supportive environment or an ally seeking to learn more, everyone is welcome to contribute to these important conversations.
Come share your voice, gain insights, and help build a more inclusive community.
Facilitated by Dr. Sergio Mancilla, the group meets in person (QCRC) weekly on Tuesdays from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM starting March 4, 2025

Therapeutic Workshops

We offer two different therapeutic workshops: Journey to Self-Awareness and the ADHD Workshop. Each workshop is a 3-week psychoeducational series designed to help you learn useful tools for addressing common concerns. It is important that the workshops are attended in order.
All workshop series come with a student workbook that will allow you to engage in the materials in the sessions and practice your new skills between sessions.
If you are interested in participating in a workshop, please call Student Psychological Services at 310.243.3818 to get information about how to sign-up. You will be directed to fill out the Group Therapy Forms on our torohealth.csudh.edu. Workshops are limited in size, so reach out as soon as possible.
Below is the Therapeutic Workshops Schedule:
Journey to Self-Awareness
Structured as a three-part series with specific goals for personal growth and coping strategies. Aimed at improving emotional well-being, developing awareness of your thoughts and emotions, and cultivating openness to change.
Facilitated by Jackie Olazaba, LMFT, the group meets in person weekly the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursday of the month from 1:30-2:30pm.
NOTE: To participate in Journey to Self-Awareness, you must be referred by a Student Psychological Services counselor.

ADHD Workshop
Increase your understanding and knowledge about Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and learn ways to improve executive skills such as: organization, sustained attention, task initiation, time management, emotional control and working memory.
Facilitated by Dr. Katie Johnson, the group meets in-person from 11:00AM to 12:00PM on the following dates: April 16, 23, and 30, 2025.
NOTE: To participate in the ADHD Workshop, you must be diagnosed with ADHD and be referred by a Student Psychological Services counselor.

Psychiatric Services

Psychiatric services are available to eligible CSUDH students. Referrals to the staff psychiatrist are made by a Student Psychological Services counselor. For information about how to schedule a psychiatric appointment, please contact 310.243.3818.

Faculty & Staff Consultations

Faculty and staff are encouraged to contact us for individual mental health consultations. Some reasons for consultations with SPS might include:
Discussing a student in distress
Discussing disruptive behavior in the classroom
Seeking support around improving mental health in the work environment
Obtaining general mental health information or supportive resources
For more information, please contact:
Denna Sanchez, Ph.D.
Director, Student Psychological Services
dsanchez@csudh.edu
310.243.3818

Telehealth Services

Telehealth is the practice of using technology (telephone and/or video conferencing) to virtually deliver psychological counseling. At Student Psychological Services, we utilize a HIPAA-compliant Zoom which provides the highest level of security available to protect your confidential information.
How to make the most of your Zoom sessions:
Make sure the lighting in your environment is adequate for your therapist to see you
Be mindful of audio quality and possible noises in your environment that may impact your therapist’s ability to hear you
Make sure you are in a comfortable, safe, and private space
If the connection is poor, your therapist may have to call you instead

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