Diagnoses are based on criteria established in the American Psychiatric Association’s most current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) along with a comprehensive examination.

After completing four years of graduate medical school, and at-least 4 years of post-graduate psychiatric residency training, most psychiatrists take a voluntary comprehensive examination by the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN) to become a “board certified” psychiatrist.  This certification must be maintained throughout practice when working for the University of California. Psychiatrists are licensed to practice medicine state-by-state.

Psychiatrists use a variety of treatments, like psychosocial interventions, medications, psychotherapies and other interventions, depending on the needs of each individual patient.

There are many forms of psychotherapy, or “talk therapies.” All psychiatrists at SHC practice supportive psychotherapy, described as a practical method of dealing with emotional issues or life problems. Most psychiatrists are also skilled in other specialized forms of psychotherapy. 

Medications are prescribed by psychiatrists the same way cardiologists prescribe medications for heart problems or how oncologists treat cancer. Psychiatric medications can help correct brain chemistry imbalances that are thought to be involved with mental health conditions. The majority of psychiatric medications need to be taken every day for a period of time recommended by the psychiatrist.

For practical purposes, a psychologist who provides psychotherapy will be qualified by a non-medical graduate doctoral degree (PhD, EdD or PsyD) that takes, on average, 5-7 years to earn. Most psychologists we work with through SHIP are Clinical Psychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists.

Many college psychologists are Counseling Psychologists, and therapy may also be provided by any California licensed psychologist described within the 54 divisions.

All licensed practitioners described have completed the necessary steps required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and have earned a master’s degree (2-5 years average completion) from an accredited graduate school. Some may have doctoral degrees but practice under a master’s-level license. Many go on to develop their own style and areas of specialty beyond initial training. Differences between these licensures and credentials:Each type of mental health professional has its unique perspective and approach, but all are trained to provide psychotherapy and support for mental health issues.

LCSWs

A Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who practices psychotherapy is a mental health professional whose theoretical training is grounded in knowledge of social resources, human capabilities, and unconscious motivations in determining behavior directed at helping people to achieve more adequate, satisfying and productive social adjustments.

In California, Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) must hold a Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited program and complete 3,000 hours of supervised post-master’s experience, including 2,000 hours in clinical psychosocial diagnosis, assessment, and treatment, with 750 hours of face-to-face psychotherapy. Supervision must be provided by a licensed professional with at least two years of licensure. LCSWs must pass the California Law and Ethics Exam and the ASWB Clinical Examination. They must also apply to the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and complete 36 hours of continuing education every two years, including coursework in law and ethics.

LMFTs

A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is a mental health professional whose theoretical training is grounded in examining interpersonal relationships to promote growth in individuals, families, and relationships which make up a healthy society. Unlike a common misconception, LMFTs provide individual care, not just marital and family therapy.

LPCCs

A Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) is a mental health professional whose training is focused in individual mental health growth, unless the provider has sought extra training to treat couples and families. LPCCs use counseling and psychotherapy techniques to empower individuals to deal adequately with life situations, reduce stress, experience growth, change behavior and make well-informed, rational decisions.

The Counseling Center provides treatment on a time-limited basis for registered and enrolled students. There is no separate fee for services provided by the Counseling Center as their services are covered by the general Student Services Fees.

Conversely, Student Health Center is, essentially, a regular doctor’s office in a medical facility on campus. Services provided by SHC are covered by and billed to the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and students are responsible for a co-payment. (Refer to the Health Insurance page for detailed information regarding your plan benefits, copays and coinsurance.) Treatment at SHC is indefinite, so students are sometimes referred to SHC by the Counseling Center if they need long-term follow-up, or after their treatment at the Counseling Center is complete. Most of our patients self- refer to our service.

As long as you are a registered student who can easily access the Student Health Center, there is no time limit to your treatment at SHC. If you have withdrawn from the quarter but have retained your SHIP coverage, you can be seen for up to 1 month for to transition your SHIP care to the community. Special circumstances may apply for  exceptions/extensions on a case-by-case basis as provider-determined.

All registered, eligible students with UC SHIP (undergraduates and graduates) can obtain a referral for an in-network mental health provider from SHC’s Insurance Department through the patient portal. Students do not need healthcare appointments for these referrals. If you are being followed at SHC for psychiatric medication care, we will work closely with your therapist in the community to coordinate treatment.

At SHC, our Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) and psychiatrists collaborate to improve patients symptoms and support mental health recovery. Our LCSWs provide recovery-oriented, discrete interventions for patients actively engaged in treatment with SHC psychiatrists. They assist SHC psychiatric patients who require or desire long-term therapy and who have access barriers. They offer psychosocial assessments, interventions, clinical case management, and linkage to long-term supports or higher levels of care as needed.

Students engaged with other campus social work staff (e.g. at the UCI Counseling Center, or Office of Campus Social Work) should typically receive support from only one social work service to avoid duplication of services.

SHC psychiatrists can prescribe medications. When medication is started, we will want to follow you closely until you are feeling better. Follow-up visits usually last 25 minutes, and are usually scheduled every 2-4 weeks at first, and every 3 months once you are feeling well. We will prescribe enough medication to last until the next visit.

If we prescribe medications, patients need to agree to get mental health medications only from your SHC psychiatrist during active treatment. Certain medications, called “controlled substances,” have special and tighter monitoring rules.

If you are a minor (i.e. under the age of 18 years old), unless you have been legally emancipated, your parent or legal guardian is required to also consent to your taking psychiatric medication(s). Please be prepared that your provider will need to speak with your parent or legal guardian and may also need to send your parent or legal guardian some additional documentation. If you have a legal guardian, or if you have been legally emancipated, you will need to provide a copy of your legal papers.

If you have received any type of mental health treatment previously (e.g. by a psychiatrist (M.D./D.O.), a psychologist (Ph.D./Psy.D.) a therapist (MSW/LCSW/MFT/ LPCC), a psychiatric nurse practitioner (A.P.R.N.)), or have had psychiatric medications prescribed by your regular doctor, please have your records sent to us as soon as possible.

Ideally, we’d like a chance to review your records before your first appointment. It can take up to 15 days for any facility to process records, so the sooner the better! To have your records sent to us, download and complete an Authorization for Release of Health Information form in its entirety, and bring it to the Student Health Center during our regular hours of operation. Or, you can stop by the Student Health Center during our regular hours of operation, obtain the form at the Reception counter and complete and submit the form at that time.

If you are under 18 years old, you may begin your own treatment, and you can participate in talk-only therapy. Unless you have been legally emancipated, your parent or legal guardian is required to also consent to your taking psychiatric medication(s). Please be prepared that your provider will need to speak with your parent or legal guardian if you need medication(s) and may also need to send your parent or legal guardian some additional documentation. If you have a legal guardian, or if you have been legally emancipated, you will need to provide a copy of your legal papers. If you require psychiatric hospitalization, intensive outpatient, or partial hospitalization treatment, your parent or legal guardian must also consent to your participation

The Student Health Center does not provide services exclusively for new ADHD evaluation or testing. If you have never been diagnosed or treated for ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) and firmly believe this is the only condition you have, or have been diagnosed but have no medical records available, please contact our Insurance Services department at (949)824-2388 to be referred to a provider in the community.

If you have been diagnosed and/or treated previously for ADHD, Student Health Center requires complete documentation of the diagnostic evaluation and treatment provided by your previous treating physician or other licensed professional. You will need to contact your previous provider to send your records to SHC. If this is your situation, please refer to SHC’s ADHD policy.

While we believe that pets (just like making friends, having healthy relationships, adequate nutrition, exercise, and sleep) can be an important part of your life, the difference between emotional support animals, comfort animals, and pets are not well defined (see question below: What is an emotional support animal?).

ESAs are not current evidence-based psychiatric best-practice interventions in the treatment of psychiatric conditions. Until ESA’s become Level 1 clinical evidence recommendations for indicated psychiatric conditions, SHC Psychiatry & MH providers will generally NOT write ESA support letters nor complete ESA forms.

Note: This is different from ADA-qualified service dogs or miniature horses.

What is an Emotional Support Animal?
Emotional support animals (ESAs) are any domesticated animal intended to provide comfort and companionship through the human animal bond.¹ ESAs are not granted rights of public access. No temperament testing or training to perform specific tasks is currently required of ESAs; yet, it is reasonable to expect appropriate temperament, disposition, and possible training for ESAs (e.g. Canine Good Citizen Test). Assessing an animal’s suitability as an ESA is often outside the scope of psychiatrists and other mental health providers.

There are specific housing federal laws that prohibit discrimination related to certain animals. In these definitions, “assistance animals are not pets. These are animals that do work, perform tasks, assist, and/or provide therapeutic emotional support for individuals with disabilities.” Further, “disability does not mean the individual has an attachment to the ESA, feels happier in proximity to the ESA, or just wants to accompany the animal, which is usually their pet.  It means that the person requires the presence of the animal to function or remain psychologically stable.”²

ESA’s may or may not be the “therapy dogs” you see on campus that other campus units invite onsite during exam time to remind you to take healthy breaks and temporarily de-stress.

^{1 Higher Education Mental Health Alliance (HEMHA). (2023, January 1). Animals on campus: Current issues and trends.  Higher Education Mental Health Alliance.} 

^{2  American Psychiatric Association Resource Document on Emotional Support Animals, Joint Reference Committee approved June 2022}

What resources are available to get a letter supporting my request for an ESA?
You may be able to find a mental health professional in the community who is willing to assist you in the ESA process.  According to California’s AB-468 Emotional Support Animals bill (effective January 1, 2022), this professional is expected by best practice to meet certain conditions, or the professional can be at risk for fraudulent practice in the state of California. Additionally, if you have more than one of the same type of provider, this can be considered unethical.

What if I have UC SHIP and I am seeking ESA-supporting documentation by a healthcare provider, (since those can’t be obtained at UCI SHC)?
You should coordinate any ESA efforts with UCI’s Disability Services Center, and if you have UC SHIP, with SHC’s Insurance Department.

What if I DO NOT have UC SHIP and I am seeking ESA-supporting documentation by a healthcare provider?
You would need to contact a provider who accepts your current health insurance.  Please refer to your current health insurance “wallet card” or brochure for additional resources.