Mental Health and Counseling
To make an appointment -
(949) 824-1835
Welcome to the webpage of the Mental Health Clinic in the Student Health Center of the University of California, Irvine! Whether you are an incoming freshman, or a returning student, you may find some of the services that we offer helpful to you during your time at UCI. The university experience provides many opportunities for emotional growth. Not everyone makes it through the college experience without experiencing some bumps along the way. While each person is unique, sometimes thoughts, feelings, emotions, or behaviors come up that cause problems in his/her life, or in the lives of loved ones. Friends and family often worry when someone around them has difficulty coping with things, gets involved in drugs or alcohol, or can't get along with others.
In addition to gaining insight about your own life, an assessment with the Mental Health Service may be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of a mental or emotional illness, or learning disorder. Some disorders you may be familiar with include depression, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and personality disorders.
The Mental Health Clinic is compromised of psychiatrists, psychologists and masters-level therapists. Our therapists and psychologists have a wealth of experience and have particular interest in counseling the diverse undergraduate population. The psychiatrists are a team of physicians who also provide psychotherapy and medication evaluation. Whether you are treated by an individual therapist, or receive combined psychotherapy with medication management, you will have access to comprehensive, current medical care at the Student Health Center.
California state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accounting Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protect the confidentiality of communications between mental health professionals and their patients. At the Student Health Center, we will not discuss information about you with others without your consent except as required by law.
NEW LOCATION
The Mental Health Clinic of the Student Health Center has moved. We are now back at the Student Health Center which is on the corners of East Peltason and Pereira Drives.
HOW TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
To make an appointment to see a member of our staff, you may refer yourself by calling our Mental Health Coordinator at (949) 824-1835 or by coming to the Student Health Mental-Health clinic. We are open from 8am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, and are closed on weekends and University holidays.
PERSONNEL
Vivien Chan, M.D., Chief of Mental Health Service
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Dr. Chan is the lead physician in the psychiatry group and also collaborates with each and every member of the Mental Health Service. She is committed to providing access to the highest standard of mental health care at the Student Health Center with an individual approach at integrating a particular problem or symptom with its physical, genetic, developmental, emotional, educational, peer and social components. Her clinical interests include individual psychotherapy, mood disorders, anxiety disorders and thought disorders.
Yujuan Choy, M.D.
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Dr. Choy joined the Student Health Center in 2006. She works closely with the mental health team to provide comprehensive evaluation and management of a wide range of psychiatric illnesses. She also brings her expertise in the treatment of anxiety disorders, particularly in the integration of medication and cognitive behavioral therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Dr. Choy also has a special interest in health anxiety.
Senior Residents
Senior residents are licensed physicians in their last year of psychiatry specialty training. Our residents from UCI medical center rotate with us on a 12 month basis.
Karen Chiu, M.D.
Andrew Morrow, M.D.
Visant Sanathara, M.D.
Roula Taireh, M.D. UCLA-Harbor
Josette Hatter, M.A.
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Ms. Hatter has been with UCI since 1982. She offers individual counseling to students, sometimes as a complement to psychiatric care. Her focus is to assist students in the formulation of solutions to problems they face in their academic and personal lives. Students are encouraged to develop an understanding of their feelings and behaviors and to develop behavioral and cognitive strategies to help them resolve their problems
Thomas Angell, M.Ed.
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Mr. Angell helps students with issues associated with growing and maturing and the effects these changes have on relationships, such as family, friends - old or new - classmates, roommates or special relationships.
Kristen Kinsfogel, Ph.D.
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Dr. Kinsfogel's clinical interests include: depression, panic disorder, social anxiety, gender issues, eating disorders and body image, stress and stress-related illnesses, and strategies for developing healthy relationships.
Heather H. Nations, Psy.D.
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Dr. Nations' clinical interests include: eating disorders, body image disturbance, depression, anxiety and stress-related problems, as well as relationship issues and personal growth.
CAMPUS RESOURCES
Counseling and Health Services; Counseling Center; Career Center; Health Education; Dean of Students; Ombudsman; Campus Recreation; The Center for Women and Gender Education; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center; Campus Police
WEB LINKS
Do you want more information about mental illnesses and behavioral disorders? Go to www.nimh.nih.gov, the site for the National Institutes of Mental Health, and check out the “Health Information” section on the main page to start!
For information about common health problems, preventive health information and healthy lifestyle habits, WebMD at www.webmd.com.
www.ulifeline.org This is an online resource center for college student mental health and emotional well being. Check out “Get the Facts” and “Factsheets” about depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, anxiety disorders, stress, alcohol and drugs to start.
Help us save lives. www.save.org : Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. Prevent Suicide. Treat Depression. Also see, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, www.dbsalliance.org
Is there anxiety or stress in your life? www.adaa.org : The Anxiety Disorders Association of America has a special section on College Life. Click on the tab at the bottom of its home page to start.
Are thoughts of your body image and food running your life? See the National Eating Disorder Association’s parent and family network resource at www.edap.org to start.
Ever wonder about drugs and alcohol? The National Institute on Drug Abuse www.nida.nih.gov has more specific information on drugs of abuse.
www.healthyminds.org This website by the American Psychiatric Association has factsheets and a special section on College Mental Health.
Are you concerned about a developmental or childhood problem? “Facts for Families” are single page information sheets on a variety of topics. See this website by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to start: www.aacap.org.
www.nami.org: The National Alliance on Mental Illness is a national, state and local grassroots organization. Get involved!
