Are you experiencing difficulties dealing with:
- Academic pressure
- Isolation and loneliness
- Sexuality
- Conflict or separation with family
- Friendship and love
- Stress and/or anxiety
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- Substance use and abuse
- Depression and despair
- Death or loss
- Roommate disputes
- Relationship violence
- Cultural adjustment
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We have experience working with students of all ages who have these problems. It helps to get support when things seem overwhelming. As a student of Foothill College, free and confidential personal counseling services are available.
Download a pdf brochure about us.
Hours: Monday – Friday by appointment*
(during school sessions only)
New Campus Center, Room 2120
*For a confidential appointment, call (650) 949-7910, or go to the Office of Psychological Services & Personal Counseling, Room 2120 located on the Lower Level in the New Campus Center and speak with our receptionist to schedule an appointment.
You will be asked to complete some basic paperwork (See Initial Appointment Forms) before your scheduled appointments. If your problem is urgent, please advise us and a same-day appointment may be made available.
Our Web address is: http://www.foothill.edu/vcc/psych.php
All services are free to current Foothill students!
faqs
What Does Psychological Services & Personal Counseling Provide?
- Brief individual and couples counseling.
- Crisis intervention services.
- Mediation for student/student or student/faculty conflicts
- Outreach and Prevention Services.
- Assessment, Information and Referral Services to campus and community resources.
Do I have to have a serious psychological problem to come to Psychological Services?
No. Students come to our office to discuss a wide range of problems. Students are encouraged to come in to discuss any type of concern, big or small.
Who are the staff?
Licensed mental health professionals and graduate school/post-graduate school interns working towards their license. They have many years of counseling experience in mental health organizations and community service settings.
What type of counseling do you provide?
We provide brief therapy. This means that we focus on solutions and achievable goals within a limited time (6-8 sessions). Although the length of time in counseling is limited, most students report feeling better after 1-2 sessions. The type of therapy that we use most of the time is called Cognitive-Behavioral. Basically this means that we focus on how students are thinking, behaving, and feeling in the here and now, rather than looking back at early childhood experiences. This type of therapy tends to be very effective in a short amount of time, which works well for our college setting. We teach self-help skills and assign homework or activities to do between visits to make our work together more productive. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is action-oriented, practical, rational, and helps the student gain independence and effectiveness in dealing with real-life issues.
What about privacy? Are the services confidential?
Yes, Psychological Services maintains a strict policy of confidentiality. No information is released without the student's written consent except where disclosure is required or allowed by law.
How do I get an appointment?
Simply call (650) 949-7910, or go to the Office of Psychological Services & Personal Counseling, Room 2120, located on the Lower Level in the New Campus Center, and speak with our receptionist to schedule your first appointment. You will be asked to fill out some basic paperwork (See initial Appointment Form) before your scheduled appointment. If your appointment is urgent, please let us and a same-day appointment may be made available.
We take the time to listen, make an appointment today
Foothill's Office of Psychological Services is not a 24-hour program, for after hours help please call:
24 Hour Suicide and Crisis Service
County of Santa Clara
(650) 494-8420 (408) 279-3312
psychological services staff
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Melanie Hale
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Melanie is a licensed clinical social worker and full-time counselor for the Office of Psychological Services. She has over thirty years of clinical experience working with adult populations, youth and families. She earned her master's degree from Columbia University School of Social Work and a bachelor's degree in sociology from City College of New York. Melanie has worked in a variety of clinical settings prior to her beginnings at Foothill College in 1990. She has also served as part-time instructor and faculty field liaison for the graduate program at San Jose State University College of Social Work. |
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Ernest Schmidt, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Since 1996, Ernie has dedicated his professional life to helping people work past problems for happier, more fulfilled lives. He holds a bachelors degree from the University of the Pacific, a masters degree from UC Berkeley, and is a certified cognitive therapist through the Academy of Cognitive Therapy. In addition to practicing at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, where he provides personal counseling and teaches on the topics of self-help strategies, stress management, and emotional wellness, he also has private practice. Before this, he was employed with Santa Clara County Mental Health where he provided therapy to families and young adults who were having difficulty adjusting to adulthood. He is known for his direct and effective approach and the ability to help his clients achieve their goals without long-term counseling. |
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Jacqui Lewis
Marriage and Family Therapy Intern/Art Therapist
Jacqui is a registered marriage and family therapy intern. She earned her bachelors degree at UC Santa Barbara in both sociology and art studio before obtaining her masters degree in marriage and family therapy through the art therapy department at Notre Dame de Namur University. She previously worked at Woodside High School conducting art therapy with students referred for individual and group therapy. Jacqui also earned an award for outstanding research in the field of art therapy psychology for her thesis research on how art therapy can be used to reduce stress in U.S. Military Veterans. |
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Rachel Aumann, ACSW
Marriage and Family Therapy Intern/Art Therapist
Rachel graduated from UC Berkeley in Spring 2009 with a master's in social welfare (MSW) and a concentration in health and mental health. Rachel is currently working towards licensure and hopes to pursue a mental health career on a college campus. She has worked in both in-patient and outpatient mental health settings providing individual and group therapy. She has also worked in hospital settings as a medical social worker. Her areas of interest are: stress management, life transitions, assertiveness, eating disorder, and how chronic illness affects educational goals and outcomes. In her free time she enjoys taking exercise classes, socializing with friends and family and finding new frozen yogurt establishments. |
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Danielle Lau
Marriage and Family Therapy Intern
Danielle is a registered marriage and family therapy intern. She holds a bachelor's degree from UC Santa Barbara and a master's degree from Santa Barbara Graduate Institute. Danielle has experience providing individual and group counseling to college students and children with special needs. Danielle enjoys working with the college population and helping students achieve happier and healthier lives. |
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initial appointment forms
Please complete these forms and bring them to your first appointment. If you have any questions or concerns about this information feel free to talk directly with your counselor. (These are pdf documents that can be downloaded, viewed and printed with Adobe Acrobat Reader.)
HIPPAA Form
Informed Consent
Student Information Form
classes offered
(Meets a Foothill GE Requirement!)
Stress, Wellness, and Coping
This class, taught by Ernest Schmidt, LCSW, is for anyone who wants to learn more about stress, depression and anxiety; specific and effective coping skills; and strategies and tools to help improve mental health and wellness. The class is also for those who are interested in the field of psychology and wish to learn what therapists do to help their clients in a variety of areas. For more information on this class, contact Ernest Schmidt at (650) 949-7020 or schmidternest@fhda.edu.
student comments
"I am extremely glad that Foothill College has the counseling services you provide. I don’t know what would have happened to me without your help. I might have dropped out of college without you to talk to. I don’t feel like I am powerless anymore."
"I found it helpful when you gave me exercises on assertiveness training. "
"You were very comfortable to talk to, very open, and helpful. Willing to help more than just one session."
"I felt very comfortable talking openly with the counselor. He made me feel/know he was concerned about me progressing with my problems. "
"You were patient with me whenever I started to cry- you didn’t push me to put on a false smile or false happiness, you let me recover. "
"The counselor seemed very sincere, kind, and genuine. It was a great experience, very helpful. "
"The counselor is bright, sensitive, and insightful. She tried in a limited number of sessions to lift my spirits and to see the issues behind a course decision clearly. "
"Writing about my problems on paper helped me with my self-evaluations in my life. "
"I liked that these services are available on campus. I liked that I was encouraged to talk about all aspects of my problems-family, personal, etc."
"The counseling was extremely helpful. I always felt that I had been listened to. I was able to realize the things driving me to make decisions, and ways to cope."
