Mental Health Support The Undocumented Student Program is committed to students’ physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness. We believe that the barriers undocumented, first generation, and/or low-income students face helps weave the fabric of their resilience and courage. We also recognize that at times, these experiences and obligations place additional strain that may impact mood, motivation, self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being. In addition, stress related to xenophobia/racism, deportation fears, finances/ employment, and identity concerns can make it hard to find balance. Our mental health support program provides a confidential space for undocumented students to be seen by a licensed therapist who will collaborate with them on an individual wellness plan. Support varies by each student’s need including: one-time drop-in consultation, crisis management, on-going sessions, and connection to other campus resources. Quick Links Mental Health Refund Application Meet the USP Psychologist Services Provided Drop-in (Tuesdays from 1-3pm) Scheduled Appointments Crisis and Urgent Support FAQs Meet the USP Psychologists Diana Peña (she/they), PhD, is a queer Latinx mental health provider and licensed psychologist who began her academic journey in her hometown of Los Angeles, CA as a first-gen college student. Diana coordinates the mental health program for undocumented students at UC Berkeley, providing counseling support to students and consultation to the campus at large. Her areas of focus include undocumented student mental health, resilience among queer and trans people of color, spirituality, and somatic/body-centered healing practices. Diana stands on the shoulders of her Mexican immigrant parents and is committed to decolonizing mental health practices in the service of undocumented, Indigenous, Black, and POC communities. She invites you to join her on this journey. Bianca Barrios earned her PhD as a first-generation college student form Washington State University’s Counseling Psychology program. Bianca grew up in Los Angeles County with a mixed status extended family. As a licensed psychologist, her areas of focus include students of color and undocumented/immigrant student college adjustment and persistence, Latinx mental health, LGBTQ affirmative therapy, and women’s concerns. She possesses an unwavering commitment to social justice and advocacy. When working with students she aims to co-create a space built on trust and compassion where students can feel comfortable bringing in all parts of themselves to begin the process of exploration, learning, and healing. Back to Quick Links Services Provided Wellness Groups: Join other undocumented students to learn emotional management skills and find support in community. Go to wejoinin.com/USPmentalhealth to sign up and read below for more info on both groups: UndocuWellness in Action: An 8 week psycho-educational, skill-building group for undocu-students experiencing mild to moderate anxiety, depression, or stress. Learn strategies for emotional awareness, develop coping tools for status-related issues, and incorporate wellness techniques to shift from surviving to thriving. Heartspeak: A weekly support space for undocumented students that centers social connection as a foundation for wellness, racial trauma-healing, and resilience. Each virtual session will offer a conversational space, coping strategies shared through collective wisdom, and beginner-level mindfulness meditation practice. Drop-in (aka Let’s Talk) is an informal brief consultation with one of our licensed mental health providers. Attending drop-in does not mean you have agreed to enter formal counseling or psychotherapy. The consult could be problem solving, questions about counseling, and/or setting up a future appointment, among other things. To sign up for a Virtual Let’s Talk appointment with Bianca or Diana, go to wejoinin.com/USPmentalhealth and click on the “USP Mental Health Drop-In” sheet. Scheduled Appointments: To schedule a counseling appointment outside of drop-in hours, call one of our confidential phone numbers and leave a voicemail with your name and SID: Bianca Barrios, PhD – (510) 664-5342 Diana Peña, PhD – (510) 664-7483 Crisis and Urgent Support: If you’re in crisis or your have urgent needs, help is available at the Tang Center on a drop-in basis : Monday – Friday, 10am-5pm. For urgent mental Health concerns when CAPS is closed: Call the Student After Hours Counseling Line at 855-817-5667 Find a local emergency room. The closest to campus is Alta Bates Hospital, 2450 Ashby Ave., just east of Telegraph Ave. Non-University affiliated crisis/suicide prevention hotlines: Crisis Support Services of Alameda County (800) 309-2131 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK (8255) Or see more resources on our emergency community page Information on suicide prevention Back to Quick Links FAQs Does it cost anything? Thanks to a generous grant by the HAAS foundation, all mental health services are FREE for undocumented students. This includes: Counseling visits beyond the 5 free Psychiatry evaluations, appointments, and labs Social Services visits beyond 5 free Social Services groups/workshops that incur fees ADHD Screenings [Note: If you already have an established working relationship with a counselor at Counseling & Psychological Services (CPS), feel free to ask that counselor, or the USP wellness coordinator/Psychologist (Diana Peña), about getting your fees waived.] What can I talk about in counseling? People often wonder if their concerns are “big enough” to warrant counseling. The truth is, people talk about many different types of things. See below for some common ones, and if you’re still not sure, come ask! career concerns depression anxiety (worrying, panic attacks, social, phobias, test anxiety) academic stress stress associated with deportation/family legal status coming out as “undocumented” or “AB-540” migration trauma procrastination/decreased motivation questioning or exploring sexual orientation or gender procrastination/decreased motivation questioning or exploring sexual orientation or gender adjusting to college/homesickness concerns about family or community burnout from political/social action relationship conflicts food or body image concerns discrimination anger management coping with physical illness or being differently abled and many others Is counseling confidential? All sessions are confidential and your legal status will never be included in your records. University staff, faculty, law enforcement officials, parents, potential employers, and others have no access to any of your records without your written permission. Please note, your counselor is a mandatory reporter and may have an ethical and legal obligation to break confidentiality if you are a threat to harm yourself or others, or if current abuse of a child or elder is suspected. Feel free to ask if you have questions or concerns about confidentiality. Back to Quick Links Useful Links Queer Undocumented Immigrant Project (QUIP) Wellness apps and podcasts “Just in Case” a UC phone app that connects you to emergency resources and helps you decide when to reach out for help Free Guided Meditations: Brief audio files from UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center that you can download. Includes instructional meditation and a meditation for sleep Tactical Breather: a free app that many find helpful for panic attacks itunes Link Breathe 2 Relax: a free app that provides stress management through breathing itunes Link Google Play Link Articles and handouts Coping with racist and Xenophobic incidents (I’m currently compiling this, stay tuned!) Spiritual Wellness Social Support Self-Compassion Self-compassion.org (information, research and exercises by Kristen Neff, Cal alum) Sleep Tips Time Management Concentrating while studying Student Learning Center (SLC) Study and Success Strategies UC Berkeley: What to expect from counseling: a brief video on common worries about the counseling process Back to Quick Links