Wellness Wave Wisdom

By Dorian Owens Dorian Owens is a graduate student at San Diego State University, pursuing a Master’s in Counseling through the Community-Based Block (CBB) Program, focusing on multicultural counseling and social justice. Dorian's approach to mental health care is rooted in humanistic, trauma-informed, and client-centered practices, emphasizing support for marginalized communities, particularly BIPOC populations. College is a time of change, growth, and pressure. For many students, especially those from historically marginalized communities, it can also be overwhelming. The expectations to perform, to fit in, and to navigate unfamiliar systems often weigh heavily. For Black and Latinx students, this stress can be compounded by additional layers of social pressure, identity-related fatigue, and feeling unseen in academic environments. Substance use doesn’t always start with addiction; it often begins as a coping strategy. For some students, using alcohol, weed, or other substances i...

  By Melissa Collins-Porter Melissa is a Marriage and Family Therapy Trainee who is currently enrolled in Point Loma Nazarene University’s Masters in Applied Clinical Counseling program. Melissa received a B.A. in Communication from UC San Diego and an M.A. in Film from SDSU. Melissa taught as an adjunct at MiraCosta for 20 years in the Department of Theatre and Film. After the COVID lockdown, she noticed that many of her students were struggling with mental health and was called to make a career change. Her approach to client care is informed by psychodynamic theory, social justice, neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ affirmation. Internal Family Systems (IFS) is a type of psychotherapy developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. Dr. Schwartz created a model of the human mind as composed of “parts”. These parts may have their own objectives and emotions. They may conflict with each other and with our true Selves, creating anxiety, inner conflict, and confusion; resulting in unhealthy behaviors...