Wellness Wave Wisdom

  By Rachel Yi Ling Benson Rachel is a registered associate marriage and family therapist (AMFT), who has partnered with students to provide support around depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, social anxiety, stress, grief, and academic and employment challenges. She is originally from Hong Kong, and she speaks several languages, including Cantonese and Mandarin. Thinking about quitting or cutting back on alcohol? Notice alcohol is affecting your daily life, but not able to find the motivation to quit or cut back? When you have been drinking alcohol for a long time, changing your regular habit can be hard. Finding the motivation to change can be even harder. However, thinking about quitting or cutting back is the first step of the change! What is Your Motivation? Think about the motivation behind your action and your goal! When you know drinking alcohol is affecting your daily life, write down why you want to change. Think about all the implications of your decision, and explore the

  by Nidya Ramirez Ibarra, LMFT Nidya Ramirez Ibarra is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who grew up in Escondido, CA. An immigrant and past community organizer, Nidya utilizes her knowledge and years of experience as a therapist to co-create a space to initiate change, gain insight, build skills, and establish support. Prior to joining the mental health team at MiraCosta College, among Nidya’s experiences was working for 8 years at a local non-profit with families, individuals, and children struggling with trauma due to intimate partner violence and sexual abuse. In addition to working with student in individual, relationship, and family counseling sessions, Nidya also facilitates MiraCosta’s UPRISE support group for undocumented/ mixed status students and their loved ones. It can be difficult to find out that someone you care about is suffering from intimate partner violence and abuse. The dominant narrative in society says that to be helpful you m