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

Frances Diaz, Psy.D.

WELCOME BACK UCI STUDENTS! 

Welcome back to campus Anteaters! The Counseling Center staff is excited for the 2018-2019 academic year! I hope that each of you had a fun-filled summer full of relaxation, new experiences, family and friends.

While the Counseling Center was able to enjoy a little slower pace over the summer quarter, our team was still busy engaging in planning and in the coordinating of programs, events, and services for the upcoming academic year. The Counseling Center is excited to announce the start of a new online program, changes made in the Counseling Center, new staff hires, and a new system for helping students choose which services best meet their needs.

In early September the Counsleing Center launched a new online self-help program TAO (Therapy Assisted Online). This program offers FREE online mental health/psychoeducational services for UCI students, staff, and faculty. The TAO program offers mental health and psychoeducational services from the comforts of your own desktop, laptop, tablet, or phone! All you need is a UCI email address and to go to the following web address: thepath.TAOconnect.org. We encourage any student, staff, and faculty and staff to check out what this program has to offer. 

In an attempt to make our services easier to navigate and more accessible, the center has implemented a new system to help students decide which of the Counseling Center services is right for them. Check out our new table of services to help assist you in determining which service best meets your needs! If you aren't sure do not hesitate to call our front office to ask questions, 949-824-6457. 

We are also happy to announce that those of you returning to the Counsleing Center will notice a few changes, as well as new faces. The Counseling Center was able to get a new fresh look with some paint and re-decorating of our waiting room. Our hope is to provide an environment that is both welcoming and relaxing! The center also hired several new staff members over the summer months and are happy to have them join the UCI Counseling Center family and provide services to our student population.

We hope you like the changes we have made in the center, and that our new programs and system changes help meet your needs! We hope that each of you have a great Fall quarter, and remember we are here to support you! 

Best-

Dr. Diaz 

Mind Your ZOT!

Start the Quarter Off Right!

Good Study Habits

  • Decide what to study (reasonable task) and how long or how many (chapters, pages, problems, etc.). Set and stick to deadlines.
  • Do difficult tasks first. For procrastination, start off with an easy, interesting aspect of the project.
  • Have special places to study. Take into consideration lighting, temperature, and availability of materials.
  • Study 50 minutes, and then take a 10 minute break. Stretch, relax, have an energy snack.
  • Allow longer, "massed" time periods for organizing relationships and concepts, outlining, and writing papers. Use shorter, "spaced" time intervals for rote memorization, review, and self-testing. Use odd moments for recall/review.
  • If you get tired or bored, switch task/activity, subject, or environment. Stop studying when you are no longer being productive.
  • Do rote memory tasks and review, especially details, just before you fall asleep.
  • Study with a friend. Quiz each other, compare notes and predicted test questions.