Welcome to UC Davis

1
Welcome to UC Davis
2
How Can I Miss You If You Wont Go Away

• Naomi Sakai, LCSW
• Sandra Zeh, MFT
• Kristee Haggins, Ph.D.
• Emil Rodolfa, Ph.D., Director
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
• errodolfa_at_ucdavis.edu

3
What are we going to discuss?

• CAPS and other resources
• College Student Mental Health
• Transitions
• Time for questions and comments

4
College student mental health is more than a
professional issue
5
Who Is Here?

• Northern, Central, Southern California
• Out of State
• Out of the Country
• First Child Off to College (2nd, 3rd, 4th)
• Last Child Off to College
• Sad to see your child go
• Excited to see your child go

6
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

• Location
• Staffing
• Eligibility for Service
• Counseling Services
• Confidentiality
• Consultation
• The House
• Contacting CAPS
• www.caps.ucdavis.edu
• 530-752-0871 then 0

7
A Caring Environment for Students
8
A Team Approach To Respond to Student Mental
Health Needs
9
This Transition

• How are you feeling?
• How is your child feeling?

10
A Contributor to our Feelings We Were Young Once
11
(No Transcript)
12
College Student Challenges

• Three Basic Questions
• Who am I?
• Who will I be with?
• What am I going to do?

13
(No Transcript)
14
College Student Challenges

• Three Basic Activities
• Study
• Sleep
• Socialize

15
A Model of Student Distress

• Personal Factors
• School Factors
• Stress
• Attempt to Cope (unsuccessful)
• Distress
• Intervention

16
Graduate School Challenges
17
College Student Mental HealthACHA 2004 Data
Top 10 Health Impediment to Academic Performance
32.4 Stress 25.6 Cold/flu 24.6 Sleep 18.1
Concern for troubled friend 15.9
Relationship 15.3 Depression/Anxiety 13.4 Inter
net use/Computer games 8.6 Death of
family/friend 8.5 Sinus/Ear Infection 7.6 Alcoh
ol use
18
Cognitive Triad Negative/Distorted Feelings
about self about environment about the future
SELF
ENVIRONMENT FUTURE
19
Family Relationships
Influence student feelings and behavior
20

Expectations

21
Saying Goodbye
22
Individuation/Separation
23
Motivation
24
Transitioning to UC Davis The Beginning

• Issues
• Navigate a new environment
• Develop a new social group
• Separate from friends
• Cope with feelings of anonymity
• Adapt to different academic expectations and
  standards

• Suggestions
• Have contact
• Be a good listener-what do they want from you
• Provide reassurance
• Note common experiences
• Encourage to use resources
• Keep fit, sleep, eat, use the ARC

25
Transitioning to UC Davis Settle In

• Issues
• Homesickness may intensify disconnect from UC
  Davis
• Disenchantment with UC Davis
• Small fish in a big pond
• Worry about family problems
• Academic reality sets in
• Conflicts
• Choosing a major

• Suggestions
• Pay a visit, bring a treat, take them out to eat
• Reassure them that their feelings are normal
• Balance responsibilities and life
• Use student services/CAPS
• Help them manage time
• Be supportive-dont try to fix it
• Convey confidence in their ability

26
Transitioning To UC DavisEnding the Quarter

• Issues
• Coping with academic and other stress
• Manage feelings about the holidays
• Study for finals complete term papers
• Separation from new friends

• Suggestions
• Encourage them to discuss experiences
• Encourage self-care
• Discuss holiday plans
• Familiarity with home

27
Joies Tips As Your Kids Leave For School

• 1.Three types of parents 1) parents who obsess
  and try to help too much 2) parents who cant
  wait to see their kids go 3) and ones in the
  middle-helpful but giving them independence.that
  is what your kid wants
• 2.Dont pat your kids on the head as you leave
• 3.Just because they are adults, dont cut them
  off financially-realize the world will kick them
  in the butt with competing demands
• 4.Dont fight your kids battles-let them deal
  with their problems rather than fighting their
  battles for them
• 5.Just be accepting of your kids.support them
  be flexible
• 6.Your kid will be busy with all the demands they
  will experience If you dont hear from them for
  a period of time, things are probably ok and they
  are just busy. (Maybe a brief call would help)
• 7.Even though your kid doesnt live at home dont
  open their mail without permission

28
Joies TipsAs They Return From School

• 1.Dont boss your kids around when they come home
  because the more you boss them around when they
  are home the less they will want to come home.
• 2.Your kids are going to see themselves
  differently so you are going to need to see them
  differently too.
• 3.Dont get your feelings hurt when they come
  home and spend time with their friends rather
  than with you
• 4.They are living in a new world and may see
  their new world as home rather than their
  childhood home
• 5.Dont change their room or use it for storage
  when they are home.

29
Transitions are Important
30
In Summary A Couple of Tips

• a. Encourage them to take responsibility
• b. Assess when to get involved to handle any
  problems
• c. Keep in touchnot too muchnot too little
• d. Remember they are going through the same and
  different things you are going through
• e. Be careful about drastic changes
• f. Understand reality theirs and yours
• g. If they are talking about problems understand
  what they are asking for (if anything).
• h. What do you want them to know you love them,
  you will be there for them, you will give them
  room to grow
• i. Give them roots and give them wings.now is a
  time for both!

31
Your Dream and Our Goal

• CAPS is here to help your children have a
  terrific experience at UC Davis while gaining
  knowledge about themselves, their relationships
  and their future goals

32
Thanks for Listening

• Questions
• Comments
• Issues
• Concerns