Your mental health during young adulthood is a tough thing to prioritize, and acknowledging that can be even tougher. 

When I was younger, my mental health rose and dipped in ways I assumed were normal for a middle school girl. But turning 18 began a new period of thoughts and feelings I didn’t know how to process. 

As I realized how deeply my mental health affected every aspect of my life, I began researching for a therapist. Coming from a small town, my options were limited, and the cost of sessions felt impossible. 

I wanted someone I could trust with the most personal parts of myself, and I was not finding it. Most available therapists were heavily faith-based, and I knew that dynamic would not work for me. After months of searching, I gave up for about three years.

Starting at Southeastern in 2023 finally gave me a sense of belonging after years of isolation in my early adulthood. Getting involved in classes and organizations kept my mind focused on school rather than stress. But by Summer 2025, my mental health was slipping again, and I decided to schedule an appointment with the University Counseling Center (UCC). 

I had heard about the UCC before, especially the fact that it’s included in tuition, but something always held me back from actually going.

From the moment I first walked into the UCC, the low lighting, soft white noise and inviting staff created a calm I hadn’t felt in so long. The space felt like a reset button for my nervous system. 

The UCC has been serving students and staff for around four decades, consistently evolving to meet the needs of its clients as regulations on mental health care progress. 

Talking with someone trustworthy, neutral and comfortable finally gave me the support I had been searching for. More than that, it felt powerful to make time for something so personal and overdue.

Marcela Spicuzza, a full-time counselor and the coordinator of outreach at the UCC, said, “The most rewarding thing is working with clients and helping them facilitate change in their lives. Helping them create something different, that maybe their life has been going one way and they want it to look a little different, and supporting them through that.”

Therapy as a whole is becoming a less taboo topic, as mental health treatment for adults ages 18 to 44 increased from 18.5% to 23.2% between 2019 and 2021. On campuses as inviting as SLU’s, that shift is visible in the growing number of students feeling safe enough to take that first step toward seeking help. 

Between July 1, 2025 and Nov. 10, 2025 there have been 1,261 checked-in appointments to the UCC, from 472 clients. Of the 487 intake forms submitted, 28% came from freshmen, highlighting the UCC’s role in supporting students during transitional stages of college life. Over half reported using at least one substance, reflecting the variety of experiences students and others bring to campus. 

Resources and programs such as Lion Up Recovery, meditation rooms, the 24-hour UCC Crisis Line and hands-on arts and crafts events held by various organizations on campus help create an environment where students feel connected, heard and valued. 

I have attended on campus events in which there are no pressures or expectations except to connect with others and have a good time, which takes some weight off other stressful aspects in my life.

“Sleep, eating and exercise are of the utmost importance. Oftentimes, those are the first things to go with college students, understandably. When I hear people say, ‘I haven’t slept in two days,’ that’s dangerous. Taking care of those basic needs, if you feel like you’re struggling, is paramount,” Spicuzza said.

Each time I leave a session with my counselor at the UCC, I am able to reflect back on it for the remainder of my day. I have always left with fresh perspectives and tasks to benefit from; even minor changes have had major outcomes. 

“It’s important to remind ourselves that we’re more than just our mental health. While mental health is such a big part of it, we are more than that,” Spicuzza said.

As I get closer to graduating, I have been reflecting on what aspects of SLU have been most impactful to me, and the UCC is high on that list. Though mental health work is never finished, I feel I have been able to flourish and reach a place of better mental satisfaction.