Wellness Wave Wisdom

  *Limit to one packet per student per visit/day. 

  *Limit to one pack per student per visit/day. 

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 Julie Choi Trepkau, AMFT 147728 (she) Julie is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) who holds a Master's in Counseling from National University, and is dedicated to supporting individuals from diverse populations as they navigate life’s challenges, including anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, and relationship concerns.  Julie’s background is in yoga and education, having taught yoga internationally for over two decades as well as elementary school in Encinitas.    Healing from violence and abuse is a deeply personal and ongoing process. There is no single person, report, or event that can bring closure.   Survivors may carry the effects of their experiences for a long time, and the healing process can be aided by a circle of support from those around them. Unfortunately, many survivors report experiencing additional harm when they disclose the situation or reach out for help. The process of reporting and seeking support can lead t...

  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...

by Lali Mendoza, mental health counseling intern  Lali Mendoza is a bilingual (Spanish/English) graduate student in SDSU's Community Based Block (CBB) Multicultural Community Counseling and Social Justice Education Program. They are 29 years old, queer, trans masculine, and a proud Mexican immigrant from Tijuana. He earned their BA from Harvard in Psychology with a minor in Latine Studies and has dedicated their career to supporting marginalized communities, especially trans and queer BIPOC individuals. Why I Turned to Weed in College I started smoking weed in college, right around the time I came out as queer and left home. It felt like survival—like the only thing that made the loneliness bearable. Academically, I was struggling, not because I wasn’t capable, but because I felt so unsupported. My school wasn’t built for someone like me, a first-gen, working-class, trans person of color navigating a system that wasn’t designed with my success in mind. Weed became my escape, ...

  By Denise Lopez Denise is a second-year graduate student at National University, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy and Clinical Counseling. Outside of counseling, she is also deeply passionate about coaching volleyball. Through her coaching experience, Denise developed a strong awareness of the mental health challenges faced by athletes. She is particularly interested in using mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches to address issues such as body dysmorphia, eating disorders, performance anxiety, and navigating difficult life transitions in athletes. As a former volleyball player, I can recall the challenges of balancing demanding athletic schedules, rigorous academic expectations, and the pressures of social life. College was an exciting time, but as a student-athlete, it could get very overwhelming. Balancing demanding athletic schedules, academics, social lives, and personal goals can feel ...