Available Services

Students work with a specific therapist to identify and address concerns that may interfere with their academic functioning and/or personal lives and work towards resolving such concerns.

Some of the concerns include:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Depression
• Mood instability
• Academic performance (e.g., procrastination, test-making anxiety, attention, writer’s block, etc)
• Identity (e.g., cultural, LBGTQIA+, religious, etc.)
• Family concerns
• Financial stress 
• Relationship problems  
• Self-esteem/confidence
• Loneliness
• Trauma
• Suicidal thoughts
• Grief/loss
• Body image and/or disordered eating
• Alcohol and/or other drug use
• Self-injury

Couples therapy is available only if both partners are currently enrolled CSUN students and both members of the couple can collaboratively work toward mutually agreed upon goals. These goals could include improving self-awareness, communication, problem-solving skills, and/or modifying dysfunctional behavior (e.g., non-blaming). Students who do not meet the criteria for couples therapy will be provided with referrals to off-campus providers.

In some cases, it may help if one or more individuals of a couple engage in individual therapy to address their unresolved issues before participating in couples therapy with their partner.

UCS offers a variety of psycho-educational workshops, therapy groups, and support groups each semester that provide a safe space to address common issues that affect university students. Some of the benefits of group treatment include:

• Connecting with other students with shared experiences
• Increased sense of belonging
• Decreased sense of isolation
• Engaging in mutual support and encouragement
• Increased self-awareness
• Learning new skills (e.g., coping, problem-solving)
• Improved social and communication skills
• Increased comfort expressing emotions
• Building confidence

A brief screening appointment with the group leader(s) may be required before joining our therapy or support groups.

Refer to the GROUPS AND WORKSHOPS page for a complete listing of current groups offered or call and speak to our Groups Coordinator, Amy Rosenblatt, to learn more about our groups and workshops.

After meeting with a therapist for an Initial Evaluation, a student may be referred to attend one of our series of three workshops:

• Anxiety Toolbox
• RIO (Recognition, Insight, and Openness)
• Getting Unstuck

Our WELLNESS WORKSHOPS are designed to provide quick and useful tools to help our students with common concerns such as anxiety, stress, and depression. Upon completing one of the Wellness Workshops, the student may meet with their Initial Evaluation therapist to review their experience in the workshop and discuss further goals and resources.

Urgent care/crisis counselors are available 24/7 to assist students with urgent situations, emergencies, or serious crises related to psychological concerns.

• Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm:
  • Call (818)677-2366, option 1
  • Come to UCS in Bayramian Hall, 5th floor, Room 520
• Outside of regular business hours:
  • Call (818)677-2366, option 3

In the event of an extreme mental health emergency or life-threatening situation, please call 9-1-1, campus police, or go to the closest emergency room for assistance. Please see our URGENT CARE page for more information.

You must complete an Initial Evaluation appointment with a UCS therapist to discuss your concerns and needs before you can be referred for an assessment and consultation with our psychiatry staff. Following this assessment, our psychiatrist will help you understand their recommendations and treatment options.

Dr. Steve Silver, UCS' Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, is available for currently enrolled CSUN students who wish to discuss their concerns about their substance use. An initial evaluation appointment will be set up with Dr. Silver, who will conduct a general clinical assessment with a focus on substance use. He will then discuss recommendations with you based on the level of use and impairment. Sometimes this includes meeting with Dr. Silver for a number of sessions to address concerns, other times it includes recommendations for other levels/types of support, including professional treatment (residential/inpatient, outpatient programs, individual therapy in the community, etc.), peer support (12-step support groups), and other supportive services (sober livings, etc.).

While Dr. Silver specializes in this area, all other UCS therapists can assess substance use and any other concerns to provide a treatment plan. Visit APPOINTMENTS for information on how to set up an appointment.

Please keep in mind that, although these services and UCS urgent care are available, if you are experiencing a medical emergency related to substance use and any other circumstances, dial 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room rather than contact UCS.

Students Returning from Treatment

UCS will support students returning to the CSUN campus who have completed a substance use disorder treatment program off-campus. Although many substance use disorder treatment programs provide aftercare referrals, any enrolled student seeking post-treatment support is welcome to schedule an initial evaluation appointment with Dr. Silver to discuss appropriate next steps in their recovery and well-being.

Our diverse team of mental health professionals at UCS is committed to ensuring that transgender and non-binary students at CSUN receive gender-affirming care and resources that support their mental health, well-being, and academic success.

Services Provided

Letter of Support

If you are seeking a gender-affirming medical procedure, such as surgery, and require a letter of support, our team is happy to help.

1. Call UCS at (818)677-2366, option 1 to schedule an initial evaluation.
2. When you schedule the appointment, please inform the person who answered the call that you are wanting to meet with a member of the Gender Affirming Care Team. You will not need to give details about the services you are seeking when calling to schedule the appointment.

Drop-in Support

If you are interested in an alternative to individual counseling, you may benefit from a brief, informal, yet confidential conversation with one of our counselors. With our outreach program ‘Let’s Talk’, you can meet with an LGBTQIA+ identified UCS counselor one-on-one at the Pride Center! No appointment is needed. The counselor can assist with initial problem-solving, mental health, and related resources, and provide support.

• Tuesdays 3-4 PM
• The Pride Center (2nd Floor of the Sol Center, University Student Union)

Crisis Support

It is not always possible to anticipate when you may need urgent mental health support due to a crisis or significant mental health concerns. 

UCS offers crisis/urgent care services Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm via phone or in person. These brief sessions do not require a pre-scheduled appointment.

Additionally, there are multiple crisis lines available 24/7 that specifically provide support to the Queer and Trans communities:

• University Counseling Services: (818)677-2366, option 3
• The Trevor Lifeline: (866)488-7386
• Trans Lifeline: (877)565-8860

Brief Therapy

The Gender Affirming Care Team counselors have experience supporting Trans, Gender Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive individuals. To schedule an appointment with one of our counselors, contact University Counseling Services (UCS) at (818)677-2366, option 1, and request an initial evaluation.

Group Therapy

UCS offers a variety of therapy groups, support groups, and coping skills workshops. All of our groups and workshops welcome Queer, Trans, and Gender Nonbinary students! Two of the groups we offer provide spaces specifically to support the mental health needs of the LGBTQIA+ communities.

• Our LGBTQIA+ Support Group is inclusive of any students who wish to provide and receive support as well as explore and discuss sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
• Our Transgender, Gender Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive Support Group is a safe and supportive space designed to connect and affirm students navigating gender identity.

Case Management

Sometimes students need to be connected with one or more services, including those off-campus. Whether this means assistance with navigating insurance or identifying and scheduling with mental health and/or medical providers, we can help! For support with case management, call (818)677-2366, option 1, and ask to schedule an appointment with a member of our Gender Affirming Care Team. Based on your needs, we will determine the best way to link you with the next steps, resources, and referrals.

Pat Alford-Keating (she/her/hers)

Greetings Everyone, I am Pat Alford-Keating, a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. I value our wonderful trans, non-binary, gender-expansive (TNBGE) students. I am privileged to facilitate UCS’s TNBGE Support Group, as well as Let’s Talk in the Pride Center. As an out, bi psychologist and ally to TNBGE communities, I have served the LGBTQIA+ communities in a variety of ways (letter-writer for trans-identified students, advisor to LGBT student groups, co-chair of vice president’s advisory group on LGBT, and creator of LGBT mentoring programs). When teaching graduate students, I routinely enlisted brave panels of non-binary presenters to help educate future mental health professionals. I abhor the targeted oppression of the TNBGE community. Though a different verse of the same song, I too know the pain of discrimination, hate, and rejection. Nonetheless, I have built a full, happy, productive life, and I believe you can too. If we meet in the future, I hope you will find me to be warm, understanding, and genuinely caring about you.

Dan Alonzo (he/him/his)

Hello, CSUN! My name is Dan Alonzo, and I am a Licensed Psychologist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Certified Sex Therapist who has worked with the Queer and Trans Communities for more than 30 years. Having grown up in a traditional Mexican household in Texas, I experienced first-hand the stress of growing up different from others in my family, school, and neighborhood. I struggled throughout my youth to come to a place where I felt comfortable within my own skin as a cisgender gay man. Professionally, I have worked at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where I worked with Trans youth who were homeless or dealing with HIV. I have also worked with the Trans community as a clinician, supervisor, and trainer at various counseling centers, including a center run by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. Currently, in my private practice, I continue to work with Trans individuals and couples who are seeking a safe environment to explore their identities and relationships. I am proud to be a part of the Gender Affirming Care Team!

Amy Rosenblatt (she/her/hers)

Hi Matadors! My name is Amy, and I am a Licensed Psychologist and LGBTQIA+ Liaison within University Counseling Services (UCS) at CSUN. As an out gay, cisgender female, I am passionate about providing LGBTQIA+ support and advocacy, including centering inclusion and equity efforts for those with multiple intersecting identities. CSUN has become a sort of home for me where I have the privilege of being my authentic self while addressing the mental health of our students, and I care deeply about uplifting the needs of our Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive students so that they too can be their authentic selves. For the past 10 years, I have served on the LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee (that includes professionals from many different departments at CSUN), and more recently, I began serving on another committee dedicated to advancing Trans student support. In previous years, I co-facilitated ‘T-Time’, a discussion group for Transgender and Gender Diverse CSUN students. If you’re interested in gaining a sense of community and supporting/being supported by your LGBTQIA+ peers, you might consider joining the LGBTQIA+ Support Group that I offer at UCS. This group has always included and will always include Trans and Gender Diverse students. Whether at UCS or within the larger CSUN campus community, I hope to have an opportunity to connect with you!

Joshua Chow (he/him/his)

A warm hello to our CSUN Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive (TNBGE) students! My name is Josh. I am a queer, cis-, Chinese-Taiwanese Psychologist who has volunteered and done therapy with trans, nonbinary, and LGBTQIA+ communities. I have gone on my own personal gender journey and will always continue to engage in gender exploration. I am also a self-identified weeb 😊 Before becoming a therapist, one of my most cherished memories includes supporting trans folks with HIV in reaching their gender journey goals. This experience pushed me to further dedicate myself to use my privileges based on gender identity to give back to my trans ancestors that risked their lives for me to be treated like a human being. Professionally, I have provided group therapy to trans people and the broader LGBTQIA+ population, in addition to providing individual therapy services to trans students.  At CSUN, I currently co-facilitate a TNBGE Support Group and co-host a "Let's Talk" at the CSUN Pride Center. Growing up Queer and Asian in a world not built for my intersectional identities, it was being around loving and caring Queer people in which I found self-acceptance and self-compassion, so I hope I can do the same for you. 

Cherry Ordoñez (they/them)

Hello CSUN, I am a UCS counselor and cofounder of the Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Expansive support group at UCS.  It is my pleasure to work with, and advocate for, transgender,  nonbinary, and gender expansive communities.  I have professional experience providing gender affirming psychotherapy, assessments, and support letters for people throughout the gender constellation, and from adolescents to older adults.  I also have lived experience being nonbinary/genderqueer myself, while understanding that we have diverse experiences.  Lastly, I am a fan of integrating transgender and nonbinary+ topics into trainings, research, intersectionality discourse, and disability.  I hope you find me to be genuinely supportive of you being your authentic self should we have the chance to work together.

Case management services are designed to identify and meet student mental health needs that impact their daily functioning. The goal is to assist students in obtaining the appropriate services to enhance their academic and personal well-being.

Case management services may include:

• Navigating university and/or community resources
• Basic needs (e.g., food, housing, etc.)
• Disability resources
• Financial resources
• Health insurance
• Immigration resources
• Intimate partner violence resources
• Referrals to off-campus ongoing counseling/therapy or specialized mental health treatment (e.g., addiction treatment, eating disorder treatment, etc.)
• Coordinating and monitoring referrals with off-campus providers.