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Mental Health Services

How Can We Help?

FOR IMMEDIATE SUPPORT CALL:

  • 911
  • 988 National Mental Health Crisis line
  • Alameda County Crisis Support Hotline: 1-800-309-2131
  • or go to the nearest emergency room.
  • Mental Health and 911

INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND MENTAL HEALTH CONSULTATION

WE ARE AT CAPACITY AT THIS TIME AND PLACING STUDENTS ON OUR WAITLIST.  IF YOU WOULD LIKE, YOU CAN SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES VIRTUAL OR IN PERSON AT MERRITT COLLEGE WELLNESS CENTER. 

Request an appointment HERE!

50 minute therapy sessions – Short-term individual therapy is available for Laney students through the Laney Mental Health team – SFSU and CSUEB Trainees and the Mental Health Specialist.  Laney students can use up to 8 sessions of individual therapy based on availability; sessions take place Tuesdays through Fridays, 9-5pm.

20 minute consultations – If you’re not sure if you need or want therapy, we invite you to try a shorter 20 minute mental health consultation.

MENTAL HEALTH GROUPS and CLUBS  – get support from our mental health team and each other!  These groups are free, confidential, and open to all Peralta students.

LGBTQIA Therapy Group  – 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 12pm – 1pm, ONLINE, starting February 14.  Please fill out this request form to receive the video meeting link.  In the first session, we will be discussing the 5 different love languages and other topics include: coming out, platonic and romantic relationships, self-care, body image, boundaries w/ family members, etc. This therapy group is led by Erica Gibbons, a Queer-identified Associate Marriage Family Therapist of color at College of Alameda.   Contact Erica Gibbons at egibbons@peralta.edu for more info. 

Asian Pacific Islander Community Support Group – 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, from 12-1pm – starting Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, Laney Room A120.  Come join us to learn about the mental health challenges and joys as Asian Pacific Islanders in America, led by Sam Ho, MFT Trainee, Susan Yee, LCSW and Sharon Quach, Counselor.   Email Sam Ho at sam.ho@peralta.edu for more information.

Chronic Pain and Illness Support Group – Thursdays from 12-1pm ONLINE, Feb. 16 – Mar. 23. Learn and share your experiences living with chronic pain and illness, and support each other through community and learning. Sign up HERE to receive the video link for the group.  Contact Mental Health Trainee, Edgar Valladares, edgar.valladares@peralta.edu for more info. 

Mental Game Group – Thursdays from 12-1pm, Laney Field House.  Join this group focused on learning the mental aspects of performance on the field, in the pool and in school and life!   at the Field House Conference Room.  Contact Mental Health Trainee Lauren Nieraeth, lauren.nieraeth@peralta.edu for more info.

Evolved Minds Student Wellness Club – Meetings are Wednesdays at 2pm, Laney Room A120. Join other Laney students in bringing improving mental health through fun wellness activities and campaigns to raise awareness about our mental health.  Contact Club President Ayla Madrid at 11017340@cc.peralta.edu or complete this link Evolved Minds Sign Up to sign up.

Gender Sexuality Alliance Student Club – Every other Tuesday, 11:30 Student Center 4th Floor, starting Jan. 31.  Come meet other students and learn how you can participate in our Spring event series including: film discussion, book club, queer brunches, prom and more!  Email Club President Cyrus at laneygsa@proton.me for more info.

Success, Inc Peer to Peer Support Club – Wednesdays, from 5:30-6:30pm ONLINE.  Student designed and led peer support group for all Peralta students to share your feelings and experiences, and valuable skills for coping with stress and developing healthy habits.  Topics include : self-care, dealing with procrastination, how to get help, developing healthy relationships, and stress-management.  We strive to create a space of dignity and belonging. Bring your dinner and your stories, come on by and listen/share/relax.  For more info check out Berkeley City College’s Wellness Center Site.

MEET THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM

Susan Yee, LCSW, Laney Mental Health Specialist (she/her)

This semester, I am offering students EMDR therapy, a mind/body technique for addressing trauma and other mental health concerns.  I’m a second generation Oakland native/OUSD grad, Chinese American daughter, wife, mom and friend.  I am passionate about the integration of our physical and mental health, and believe in the power of our communities to help us heal.  I’ve been a teacher, manager and social worker/therapist here for almost 30 years and am grateful for my community.  I coordinate the Laney mental health program, provide consultations, therapy, groups and workshops, and facilitate our student Wellness Ambassador Team.  In my free time I have fun with my family which includes a partner, 2 kids, 5 chickens and a dog.  You can listen to me talk with Laney President Besikoff about mental health on the President’s Podcast!

Danielle Burroughs, Student Support Specialist (she/her)

“Let your light be your shield.” I truly believe we are all special with much to offer, no matter our circumstances. With this belief, I extended my knowledge on how to help people navigate through the challenges of life and became a certified NLP Success/Life Coach in 2018. My journey with helping people find their light began in 2010, where I specialized in helping young students and peers through mentorship and tutoring. I moved on to become a hair stylist and quickly found my passion through mentor-coaching new hair artists and students, instilling the belief that skillset must meet mindset for success. That is true for everyone, no matter what unique skills you possess. I grew up in the heart of New York City and have been submerged with so many people of different backgrounds, challenges, and successes. Go Yankees! I moved to the Bay Area in early 2022 and am in love! I am here to support you the best way I can. You got this!

Edgar Valladares (he, him)

Three words to describe myself are respectful, compassionate, and dependable. I am in my second year in the Masters in Social Work program at Cal State East Bay, Hayward. I am from Oakland, CA, and plan to work in the mental health field and give support to different populations such as college students, war veterans, chronic pain patients, adults with intellectual disabilities, and many more. I want to work with clients to learn new coping strategies for life stressors and mental health issues.  I hope to specialize in different topics such as trauma, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and substance use. Lastly, I speak fluent Spanish. I look forward to working with the students at Laney College.

Lauren Nieraeth (she/her)

I am a multiracial daughter, sister, cousin, and friend that identifies as Mexican, Native American, Dutch- Indonesian, German, and Portuguese; born and raised in the Long Beach area. A few words that best describe me, are: Empathetic, Athletic, and Preparer. I have had the privilege of working with student athletes and marginalized young folks. I am passionate about cultivating genuine, trusting relationships that will allow space of encouragement for folks to dream outside of the lines set by their current situation and reach for way more than the limiting expectations of their reality. I am currently at San Francisco State University as a College and Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Training.  I am eager to gain the knowledge through my experiences on the intersectionality of physical performance and mental performance.  Let’s go Eagles!

Sam Ho (they, 他, él)

I’m a therapist in training currently attending the counseling program at SFSU, entering this field at the intersection of mental health advocacy and healing justice for marginalized folks. I believe that individual wellness is tied to the healing of our communities, and vice versa. I am passionate about uncovering the innate and wise connection between our minds and our bodies.  I identify as Taiwanese American from Peru and speak Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Some values I bring to the therapy room include warmth, humor, curiosity, and meeting each person right where they are. I love curating playlists and memes and cooking for my friends and family. I’m excited to get to know the amazing community of students at Laney!

 

STUDENT WELLNESS AMBASSADORS / MENTAL HEALTH NAVIGATORS

Eliseo Lopez – (he/him)

I am a second year student in the Peralta system studying to have a career in mental health, born and raised in Berkeley. A few words to describe myself is patient, understanding and passionate. I identify as Chicano, and a second generation bay area native.  As a Mental Health Navigator and Wellness Ambassador, I want to help the people that come to me get the resources that they need for their specific situation. One of my biggest beliefs in this field is that your mental health is affected by everything, including your lifestyle. So, I’m here to make sure that you have the resources outside of school to help that go as smoothly as possible. I speak conversational Spanish and am looking forward to working with the Laney community.

Christy Sangpolsit – (she/they)

I’m a Mental Health Navigator, Wellness Ambassador, and student at Laney College. I am currently majoring in Theatre, Psychology, Sociology, and Humanities. Other degrees I hope to complete include Asian American Studies, Mathematics, Art, Music, and Ethics.  I am ambitious and driven to learn about a variety of subjects in order to gain more knowledge and perspective, in order to know, understand and better myself and being able to help others in the way they need, and being a part of necessary change needed in our communities. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when I was 10 and it has been a journey with a lot of coping and struggle as well as exploring and acceptance. During my time in college, I found that success and happiness, in any form, is dependent on mental health and it doesn’t have to be as exaggerated, outlandish, or painstaking as the media, or even people around you, makes it seem. As someone who has navigated and still is navigating through the system, I will help support you and help you get the resources you need, to the best of my ability.

GRADUATE TRAINEES interested in a field placement at Laney can learn more and find out more about our amazing Peralta Mental Health Training Institute HERE.

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FANTASTIC COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Download Resource sheet (PDF): Mental Health Resources

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DIY Mental Health Resources: