Meet LATTC’s Personal Support and Assistance Providers!

LATTC’s current PSAPs, Denisse Rodriguez, Reza Foroughi, Jake Sadiq, and Maggie Solorzano


World Mental Health Day is October 10 and raises awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizes efforts to support mental health. Trade-Tech seeks to prioritize mental health support for the campus community to foster a healthier, more supportive environment that promotes student success both academically and personally.

There are a number of mental health resources available to Trade-Tech students. Today, we shine a light on the college’s Personal Support and Assistance Providers (PSAPs). PSAPs are graduate interns who are available to students, providing free, individual short-term personal support. We’re introducing LATTC’s PSAPs for students to learn more about them and their area of expertise and how they might assist you.
 

Tell us a bit about your respective areas of study and where you’re currently going to school.

Reza: I’m Reza and I’m currently enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC)’s Master of Social Work (MSW) program. My current focus is on adult mental health.

Jake: I’m Jake and I’m also attending USC’s School of Social Work, and my focus is children, youth, and families.

Maggie: I’m Maggie, I’m also a student at USC and my focus is on child welfare.

Denisse: I’m Denisse and I’m currently enrolled at Cal State LA’s Master’s program for rehabilitation counseling. I’m also getting a higher education certificate since my ultimate goal is to become a college counselor.
 

This week, we celebrate World Mental Health Day. Why is it important to spread awareness of mental health issues?

Reza: Mental health is an important issue to address, and I don’t always feel we have proper resources or enough facilities for long-term care. It’s important to do clinical one-on-one with students who struggle with mental health. The more we can focus on mental health and the idea that people are being heard is key since those who struggle the most often feel invisible, isolated, and alone.

Jake: Times are hard right now and everyone deserves a space where they can feel safe and to decompress and share. It’s important for people to do something on a regular basis that allows them to both process and be mindful. For some, it may be participating in their community; but some aren’t always connected in that way, so therapy serves an important role in allowing people to debrief with someone they can trust. I hope that’s what I can be.

Maggie: Spreading awareness about mental health is incredibly important, especially in the Latino community, because of the stigma. Everyone should have an opportunity to talk to someone.

Denisse: The society we live in today is so demanding and we need to make time for ourselves. We can only give so much of ourselves, and it’s important that we remember to refill our own cups. Even doing one thing a day, whether that’s waking up in the morning without any music on, or just being mindful and in the moment can help.
 

What are some of the benefits you’ve seen firsthand of someone who has sought out mental health support?

Reza: I got to know a friend through a treatment center that I was associated with. At the time, he was in a state where he hadn’t left his home for five years. He was feeling a lot of fear and societal pressure and was experiencing intrusive and ruminating thoughts, which led him to not wanting to leave his home. At first, I wasn’t sure if the treatment center could help, but the sense of community and feeling connected really helped him. He’s now working a job, has a good friend group, is dating, and has come so far. He still struggles at times, but his progress is nothing short of a miracle.

Jake: One of my professors who inspired me to enter USC’s MSW program taught a class on gangs, methods to help intercept youth from ending up in gangs, and the historical context for why they exist. He came from a marginalized background and his parents weren’t very involved in his childhood, and he unfortunately ended up in a gang. He shared how someone stepped into his life and cared for his mental health, and, as a result, he was able to turn his life around. He was one of the first people from his neighborhood to go to college and eventually went on to receive his MSW. He went on to have a huge impact on the community and his work continues with the students he now teaches. That difference he’s made in the community is, in part, because of the investment someone made in his life and his work to improve his own mental health. It’s inspiring.

Maggie: I previously worked with students in the CalWORKs program, and saw myself in a lot of my students. I would share my story with them and a few would come back and say that I had a big impact on their lives. I went through a lot growing up, living through gangs, drugs, and alcohol; it often feels like a miracle that I’m here. I decided that I was going to dedicate my life to impacting lives and inspiring students.

Denisse: I work with students, and I’ve seen firsthand how building a professional relationship and rapport opens the door to allow them to be able to get the words out there and simply feel heard. I’ve had students tell me they can’t always talk to their parents or their friends about certain topics or issues. Just having someone to talk to is crucial in students’ lives.
 

Talk about the PSAP services available for students here at LATTC and what a student might experience by setting up an appointment.

Denisse: When a student initially makes an appointment, we try and make them feel comfortable and acknowledge that they may be a bit anxious if it’s their first time talking with someone. I don’t want it to feel clinical, but I want them to have a sense of what to expect. I practice a solution-focused framework, so as a provider, I want to spend time understanding why the student is coming to understand their goal so we can work toward that together.

Reza: As personal support and assistance providers, we provide unlimited therapy sessions and offer a number of other support resources. We’re like counselors, but with case management experience. We offer diverse and free resources.

Jake: We are also able to serve our undocumented students. We’re here to be supportive and to help students and have conversations about the issues they’re experiencing. We also love to bring the community together. We have a Campus Wellness Day coming up on October 30 with yoga, healthy snacks, aroma therapy, wellness shots. Come on out!

In terms of the experience, students come in and we’ll get to know you, and you’ll share what you need support with. It’s a confidential conversation and we can provide support or structure to navigate complex situations. Sometimes that can be something like, I’m having an argument with my girlfriend, and sometimes it can be something like I’m having trouble dealing with my sister's passing. We work with people who experience a range of challenges, but we have the tools to help you process those experiences, adapt, and recover.  

Maggie: We’re really just here for you, the students. It’s your time when you’re here.


PSAPs are here for LATTC students to provide free individual short-term personal support. Walk-ins are welcome (visit E5-519) or request a session in advance.