Director's Corner: Frances Diaz, Psy.D.

Frances Diaz, Psy.D.

Dear UCI Students and Community,

The Counseling Center stands with and extends empathy to our students, staff, faculty, and entire UCI Community who are directly and indirectly impacted by the anti-black racism that continues to plague our country and the continued impact of COVID19 on our daily lives.  Our communities are hurting.  Know that we see you, we support you, and we are here for you. The profound psychological impact of these current events, on top of the many losses people are experiencing from COVID-19, are REAL and can weigh on us. 

The Counseling Center is guided by the values of Service, Community, Inclusion & Advocacy, and Integrity & Accountability. We, as a UCI community, must not become numb to the longstanding experiences of systemic oppressions that have come to a culmination in the current times. We must recognize the grief, pain, sadness, despair, anger, exhaustion, and full range of emotions that are being experienced before true healing can begin.   It is our hope that the UCI Anteater community can come together in support of those who are suffering. Please take care of yourselves and reach out to take care of one another, as the healing power within our community is great.  Please also know that the UCI Counseling Center is here to support you.

Sending Support!

UCI Counseling Center Staff 

 

During regular business hours (Monday through Friday 8am-5pm) in order to schedule routine appointments and for all other inquiries:

  • Please Call (949) 824-6457 to speak to a front office staff member about scheduling an appointment, to learn more about our current services, or if you trying to reach one of our mental health professionals.
    • Please note that if someone from our office has to return a phone call that it will come from a blocked number
    • In case we do not reach you, please ensure you have set up your voice mail and that you regularly check your messages

For Life Threatening Emergencies or for Urgent Care needs 24/7:

  • Call (949) 824-6457 and select Option # 2. You will be transferred to a crisis support line
  • Text “Home” to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line
  • Call National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255
  • Call UCI Campus Police at (949) 824-5223
  • Call 911
  • Go to your nearest Emergency Room

 

Frances Diaz- UCI Counseling Center Director 

Mind Your ZOT!

Practicing Gratitude

 “Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” - Melody Beattie

Have you paused today to take a few moments and reflect on what you’re grateful for?

You may want to keep a notebook, or start a list in Notes in your Phone, to record something every day that you are grateful for. It may seem trite, but doing so can greatly improve your mood.

The more you write down the things you are grateful for, or express them out loud to someone else, the more your focus will be drawn from negativity to thankfulness.

During this month, let’s all make a commitment to pausing for a few moments each day, whether in the morning, midday, or night, and reflect on what we’re grateful for.

Write it down. Speak it out. Think about people, places, things, memories, and more.

You’ll be glad you did!

 

For more informatoin on how to manage stress related to the COVID-19 outbreak, please click here. 

Additional Resources:

Notice of Nondiscrimination