Emmons’ mental health services include short-term individual therapy, group therapy, drop-in chats, crisis support, links to off-campus providers, virtual psychiatry and dietitian services, access to a 24/7 confidential mental health helpline, education and outreach.
Please note, Emmons Counseling uses a brief therapy model, meaning that we provide short-term therapy focused on helping students to resolve or effectively manage a specific problem or challenge. We do not provide long term, ongoing therapy, but can help students get connected to longer term therapeutic support in the community when needed.
Call us at (323) 259-2657 or email us at emmons@oxy.edu
Monday 9:00-12:00 pm, 1:00-4:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00-12:00 pm, 1:00-4:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00-11:00 am, 1:00-4:00 pm
Thursday 9:00-12:00 pm, 1:00-4:00 pm
Friday 9:00-12:00 pm, 1:00-4:00 pm
Monday - Friday 1:00-3:00pm
We are closed for lunch everyday from 12:00-1:00 pm and closed every Wednesday for a staff meeting from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm. While Emmons is open until 5:00 pm, the last appointments and walk-ins we can accept are at 4:00 pm.
Emmons’ counseling staff is committed to supporting the mental health needs of Oxy students. All of Emmons’ therapists have training in trauma informed care and bring a variety of professional expertise. All of our services are free of charge, regardless of insurance provider (except for psychiatry, as listed below). Our services are provided both in-person and virtual, based on student preference and provider availability.
To get connected to any of the confidential services at Emmons, you can call (323) 259-2657 or email us at emmons@oxy.edu.
Our psychiatric nurse practitioner Heidi Aguilar provides virtual services to students, and is supervised by psychiatrist Dr. Paul Kurkjian. Students with the student health insurance plan have no additional costs; the fee for all other students is $75 for the initial appointment and $35 for follow ups. Established patients may schedule directly with the psychiatric nurse practitioner; all other students must first meet with an Emmons medical provider or counselor.
Melissa Ireland, RD is available for virtual appointment on Wednesdays from 9am - 12:30pm. If you have questions or concerns about any nutrition issue, please contact emmons@oxy.edu to set up an appointment. Topics may include balancing a vegetarian diet, disordered eating patterns, food intolerance or allergies, or health issues, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, or anemia.
The 24/7 confidential helpline provides robust support for students experiencing mental health crises, emotional distress, trauma, or substance use issues. This 24/7 line is staffed by mental health professionals, and is available to all Oxy students at (323) 341-4141.
Tuesdays / Beginning Sept 26th / 2-3:30pm / Located at the ICC
Drop-in, informal counseling with a licensed therapist, centering the experiences of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and first gen students, though all students are welcome to participate.
Contact Claudia Ortega at cortega3@oxy.edu
Wednesdays / Beginning Sept 27th / 3:15 - 5:00pm / Located at the ICC
Take a break at the ICC to chat about any and everything with Emmons staff therapist Larissa Lucas. No appointment needed - just walk in! Black Voices centers the experiences of Oxy's Black students, though all students are welcome to participate.
Contact Larissa Lucas at llucas@oxy.edu
Thursdays / Beginning Sept 28th / 1:30-3:00pm / Located in the Dance Studio
Free and confidential one-on-one drop-in sessions for Oxy varsity student-athletes. Whatever you are experiencing on or off the field, drop in sessions are a safe space to take a time out and meet with a counselor.
Contact Alejandro Aguirre at aguirrea@oxy.edu
Thursday / Beginning Sept 28th / 12:30 - 2:00pm / Located at Obama Lounge
Missing home? Having trouble meeting new people? Stressed out by classes? Acclimating to college can feel overwhelming, but you are not alone! First-Time Tigers is a free and confidential drop-in space with a licensed therapist, and is open to all first-year and transfer students.
Contact Tyler Carter at tcarter2@oxy.edu
Mondays / Beginning Sept 25th / 12-1pm / Located at Emmons
Seeking Safety is a group to help you get a hold of your substance use with the support of a licensed therapist and peers experiencing similar struggles. This is a non-judgmental space that supports, but doesn't require, abstinence from substances.
Contact Tyler Carter at tcarter2@oxy.edu
Tuesdays / Beginning Sept 26th / 12-1pm / Located at the ICC
This is a 6-week book club, beginning September 26th. This is a closed, confidential counseling group centered around BIPOC women identified students. Group members will read Sonya Renee Taylor's, "The Body is not an Apology".
Sonya discusses how systems of oppression thrive on our discontent with our bodies and others' bodies/identities. She explains how cultivating radical self-love to make peace with our own bodies and identities is vital in steps towards spreading acceptance and radical love to others.
To join, contact Claudia Ortega at cortega3@oxy.edu by September 25th.
Thursdays / Beginning Sept 28th / 12-1pm / Located at Emmons
Survivors Circle is a safe, confidential environment that can provide support and understanding for any Oxy student who has experienced sexual violence (either while at Oxy or previously).
Contact Lizzy Denny at ldenny@oxy.edu
Do you want longer-term therapy, weekly sessions, and/or sessions over school breaks? Do you want to see a therapist with a certain specialty or identity? There are many reasons to connect to off-campus therapy. Visit our Connecting to Off-Campus Therapy page to start.
Appointments: (323) 259-2657
Oxy 24/7 Confidential Hotline: (323) 341-4141