There are many problems someone may encounter while being a full-time or part-time student. Little problems may quickly become big issues, which in turn may affect one’s health. The health education department of De Anza knows this, which is why there are therapists available to students.

We are young and are stressed way too often due to classes, tests, papers, instructors or personal relationships. Sometimes all we need is someone to listen. Dr. Siew Kuek and Dr. Phil Boissiere are  therapists in the counseling center upstairs in the Student and Community Services Building. available to De Anza students five days a week. The area serves as a haven for students battling depression and anxiety; we are lucky to have this service available.  

The term “anxiety” is defined as something that not only consists of physical effects, but of emotional ones as well. Effects include “feelings of apprehension or dread, trouble concentrating, feeling tense or jumpy.” These problems are merely the foundation of suicidal thoughts.

Kuek said that she is “interested in understanding and trying to help students with their problems, regardless of whether they are tiny or immense.”

Kuek and Boissiere are available for any De Anza student during the week. More students should take advantage of this opportunity; not every school cares enough to have therapists who can listen to students’ problems.

So, De Anza students, you have a choice. You can just pretend everything is OK and lie to yourself, or you can take advantage of this amazing service provided to you by De Anza College and prevent further problems in your life by talking about them. Bottled up emotions are not only unhealthy to one’s lifestyle, but may also lead to a possible breakdown.

I want to encourage students who feel shy, ashamed, maybe even busy or too proud to go see a therapist, to talk to one. Your problems do not have to be major to qualify to speak speak to one of the doctors. In fact, you don’t necessarily have to have a problem to go see the therapists.

We are human beings; it is natural for us to want to communicate. Students should not be shy or embarrassed to express their desires to want to speak to somebody and share their feelings. Expressing feelings is a good way to cope with stress; let out some steam after that stressful math test.

A part of your college fees pays for this service, so why not take advantage of it?  Even if it’s something little, Kuek says that “two heads are better than one.” Maybe there is a solution for your problem. that you may find in a session. Therapists outside of our college cost a lot, so think twice if you really want to ignore this service.

You can make an appointment in the Health Center, located downstairs from the cafeteria next to the police station, or directly upstairs by the Counseling center.

Campus health educators Lisa Sanford and Mary-Jo Lomax from the Health Center encourage students to participate in a therapy session. Talking to therapists may prevent future suicide attempts.

As a strong believer of this program, I understand students stress themselves out which decays their mental health and physique; having accessible therapists on campus is a privilege more students need to take advantage of.

Don’t wait for your problems to build up. Pay them a visit; it’s in your best interest.