Statements of Support
The University of Louisville Counseling Center Counseling (ULCC) is conscious of the many conflicts, events, and other situations that occur across the globe and have a detrimental impact on our students, campus and beyond. Whether or not these events garner media attention, impact each of us directly, or are part of a greater human struggle, we are committed to helping each other navigate through difficult times and wish to extend our support to those in need.
We Are Here For You: Continuing to Support Trans Students
In light of recent incidents in Louisville, including the murder of Zachee Imanitwitaho, and the many anti-trans bills moving through the government in Kentucky and several other US states, the Counseling Center would like to remind students of our support of transgender students and of the entire LGBTQIA+ community on campus. Our staff remains welcoming and equipped to work with students on their unique journeys of identity development, honoring the self, healing wounds and building resilience. We affirm that every Cardinal deserves to feel safe on and off campus and will continue to support our trans students. Urgent consultations (UCs) are available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.. UCs can be provided in-person or via telehealth. No appointments are necessary for this service, but we will ask walk-ins to complete about 10 minutes of paperwork before speaking to a clinician. Students can call the Counseling Center at 852-6585 or walk in for more information or to request a consultation.
Statement on Roe v. Wade (from the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors [AUCCCD])
The Counseling Center joins AUCCCD in the following statement:
The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors is disheartened by the Supreme Court decision on June 24th, 2022, overturning Roe v Wade and the constitutional right to abortion. This will forever be remembered as a day that five individuals (four of which are men which is important to note) overturned women’s rights to make their own reproductive health decisions. We support the autonomy for people to make these decisions themselves, and if they so choose, in consultation with their provider and the people they see as important in their lives.
Politics and religion should not be part of this discussion, and certainly should never have been part of this decision. AUCCCD strongly opposes this decision and supports all of the individuals this will impact. We also recognize that certain populations will be more greatly impacted by this decision: members of BIPOC communities, those living in areas where access to medical care is already limited, younger individuals and students, immigrants, and those with financial hardships.
We stand with states who will continue to protect a woman’s right to choose, and offer our support to our peers and colleagues, as well as those impacted in the states where abortion access will soon be abolished. As a mental health organization, we recognize that access to reproductive rights is an equity issue, and that there are relationships between gender-based oppression and mental health (Hackett, et. al., 2019, Jackson, et. al., 2019). Additionally, this decision will significantly impact the college student population, impacting access, mental health, and for some, the ability to remain enrolled in higher education. We had hoped the progress made would not be reversed, and hope that the one giant step we have taken backwards today can be followed by giant leaps forward in the years to come.
Statement regarding Ukraine and Russia
We recognize that the current events in Ukraine may be emotionally distressing, and perhaps even traumatizing for our students. If you are feeling anxious, scared, angry, and/or overwhelmed, all of which would be understandable, please reach out for help and support. To speak with a clinician at the ULCC for an urgent consultation (in-person or virtually), please call 502-852-6585. To find out more about our services and resources, please visit our resources page.
Race-Based Trauma and Anti-Racism Resources: We Are Still Here For You!
Race-Based Trauma and Anti-Racism Resources: We Are Still Here For You!
Black Lives Matter. The Office of Diversity & Equity has complied a list of Anti-Racism resources for the campus community. This list will be updated on an ongoing basis.
The Counseling Center staff would like to offer our unconditional support to the members of our community who are suffering as a result of racial discrimination and social injustice. Recent acts that have targeted Black Americans have had a profound impact on our community. We know that experiencing race-based trauma is painful and can result in significant distress. Additionally, we recognize that witnessing or hearing about violence against those within a group with which we identify can also be traumatizing; this is called vicarious trauma.
Race based trauma, whether vicarious or directly experienced, can result in significant problems including: anxiety, depression, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), sudden shifts in behavior and relationships, persistent feelings of danger, avoidance, not feeling connected to your body or to others, physical exhaustion, feelings of anger or hopelessness, feeling that you are emotionally overreacting to situations, and difficulty with concentration and focus. All of these reactions are valid.
We want to encourage you to engage in regular self-care activities that address your mental and physical health, to connect with others for support, and to call the Counseling Center if you’d like talk to someone about your mental and emotional well-being, including the effects of race-based trauma. We continue to offer urgent consultations by phone or video call M-F 9am to 4pm.
Additional Resources:
Proactively Coping with Racism
Four Ways People of Color can Foster Mental Health Practice and Restorative Healing
Grief is a Direct Impact of Racism
Discrimination: What is it and How to Cope
Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
Text & Phone Supports
Crisis Text Line for Young POC
Text STEVE to 741741
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-273-8255
University Statement regarding DACA
The University of Louisville is deeply concerned about the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Absent Congressional action during the next six months, this decision could harm many members of our university community, their families and their loved ones.
We want you to know that we cherish every member of our campus community, and we will explore ways to ensure that a UofL education is accessible to all. As our diversity slogan clearly states, “You Belong.”
For students, faculty and staff who are anxious or concerned about how DACA will affect them, the university is offering resources to help you cope:
- The U of L Counseling Center will be accepting drop-in appointments Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can find more information at 502-852-6585.
- The Cultural Center and its Hispanic/Latino Initiatives office are available to offer student support and resources. Call 502- 852-6656 for more information.
- Our campus Undocumented Student Resource Council is a group of students, faculty, staff and friends who work on improving the experience of undocumented students. The next meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 19, at 2 p.m. in the Cultural Center. For more information or to get involved, send a note to brian.buford@louisville.edu.
Again, we want to stress that we value and will continue to support all members of our university family.
Sincerely,
Gregory Postel, M.D.
Interim President
Dale Billingsley, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Vice President and University Provost
Statement on Charlottesville, VA
The Counseling Center joins the rest of the University of Louisville and the Louisville community in expressing our care and compassion for those who were directly or indirectly impacted by the protests and violence that unfolded in Charlottesville, VA this weekend. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Heather Heyer, Lt. H. Jay Cullen, and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates, as well as those who were injured. Fascism, Nazi salutes and flags, white supremacy and hatred of Jewish people, racial minorities, LGBT people, and immigrants were blatant in these protests in the name of saving monuments, but in the service of hatred. The University of Louisville Counseling Center deplores and strongly opposes hatred, bigotry, racism, violence, and terrorism which are incompatible with the ideals and values of our mental health professions. We support inclusion, diversity, multi-culturalism, and social justice. We strive to provide a place where emotional and complex issues can be discussed in a non-judgmental empathic environment.
Statement on Racial Discrimination and Social Justice
We would like to offer our unconditional support to the members of our community who are suffering as a result of racial discrimination and social injustice. We know that experiencing race based trauma directly is painful and can result in significant distress. Additionally, we recognize that witnessing or hearing about violence against those within a group with which we identify can also be traumatizing; this is called vicarious trauma. Race based trauma, whether vicarious or directly experienced, can result in significant problems including: PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, depression, sudden shifts in behavior and relationships, persistent feelings of danger, avoidance, not feeling connected to your body or to others, physical exhaustion, feelings of anger or hopelessness, having what seems like big emotional reactions to situations, difficulty with concentration and focus.
We want to encourage you to engage in regular self-care activities that address your mental and physical health, to connect with others for support, and to come to the Counseling Center if you need to talk to someone about your mental and emotional well-being, including the effects of race-based trauma.
Statement of Support for Transgender Students
The Counseling Center would like to emphasize our support of transgender students and of the entire LGBTQ community on campus. Our therapists are welcoming and equipped to work with students on their unique journeys of identity development, honoring the self, healing wounds, and building resilience. We acknowledge that people identify across the gender spectrum and each individual deserves a space in public life, including but not limited to a safe place to use the bathroom. Because of this, we made sure to include a restroom in our lobby that welcomes all identities.
We encourage our students to engage in regular self-care activities. This may be things like listening to gender affirming music, hanging out with supportive or queer-identified people, contacting the LGBTQ Center on campus, taking a walk outside, eating well and getting good sleep, engaging in books and media that educate or support your identity, getting involved in local organizations, going to a mindfulness workshop, or even allowing for breaks from news and social media.