New Semester, New Support

Bauer College is committed to helping students succeed, and now through having an embedded mental health counselor at the college, it’s easier than ever for students to find support. 

UH Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) has integrated embedded counselors across the colleges on campus to make mental health resources more accessible for students who need them.  

This fall, Bauer welcomes embedded CAPS counselor Kia Batiste.  

Batiste is passionate about learning the needs of Bauer students and making sure they get the help they need. Through her role as embedded CAPS Counselor, she hopes to build a strong foundation with the students and empower them to handle their mental health.  

She shared with us helpful advice on ways students can beat burnout, some of her favorite mindfulness techniques and positive things to remember to give yourself more grace as you go into the new semester. 

How do you see this generation of college students struggling with mental health, and how do you plan to help? 

What I love and appreciate is that there is a greater awareness of mental health among college students today. It is a wonderful and necessary shift. Students are really recognizing the importance of their emotional and mental well-being. 

One of the hurdles that still presents itself is the stigma that surrounds asking for help with your mental health. Even though there's this increased awareness, many students still are internalizing the idea that struggling or seeking support is a sign of weakness. But that honestly couldn't be further from the truth. 

If you're in physical pain or if you're sick, you seek medical attention so that you can heal. Mental health is really no different. I believe that a part of my work in this new role will be associating asking for help as a sign of strength. This includes contributing to a culture within Bauer where students feel safe to share, ask questions and reach out without that fear of judgment. 

What are some ways to prevent burnout?

Burnout is one of those things that easily sets in and it's very difficult to climb out of. Because of this reason, I recommend really focusing on being proactive, specifically through intentionality and boundaries.  

With intentionality, that can look like brushing up on your time management. Go into the semester having a study schedule, make sure that your organization is up to par and make sure that you're prepared for upcoming classes or tasks.  

You should also make sure that you're taking care of basic needs such as eating a balanced diet, getting enough sleep and also staying hydrated. Something that helps me a lot is to be intentional about working things in your schedule that you can look forward to. 

This can be something like a mid-week lunch with your friends to recharge. It can be your favorite coffee or tea beverage before you dive into your day. Even planning a weekend getaway or something during the break with your friends and your family.  These are the things that you put in place that you can look forward to, so there's a light at the end of the tunnel.  

Then last but not least, set your boundaries and stick to them. This can look like creating like a cutoff time for answering emails or saying no during those high stress times, like finals and midterms, that you know you don't have the capacity for. 

It’s also incredibly important to listen to your body. Recognize your warning signs and give yourself a break when you need it. 

What are some mindfulness techniques that you recommend to help someone with depression or anxiety?

There's a few, so I would say I'm going to start off with my favorite. It is just reciting a simple yet unique mantra for whatever specific challenge you're going through. For example, one of my favorites to use is “be where your feet are." Something as simple as this can really help ground you in the here and now.  

 Another favorite of mine is grounding yourself in the present by utilizing your five senses. Identify five things you can see, four things that you can feel, three things that you can hear, two things you can smell and then one thing that you can taste. 

 The last thing that I would recommend is simple but also underrated. Moving your body and getting out in the sunlight really does wonders for the brain chemistry.  

These are like a few suggestions, but I do want to stay that everyone's unique. What works for one person may not work for another person. So, I do want to encourage students that they can always come to an access visit to see me and figure out what works best for you. 

What is some advice you would give to students who are experiencing high stress during this transitionary period in their lives? 

I think the keyword would be grace. Give yourself grace and recognize that transitionary periods are really tough. College students are in the middle of a really big transitionary period on top of all the other things they're juggling, like family, kids, jobs, internships and other personal things that they're experiencing.  

There's going to be learning curves, there's going to be uncertainty, there's going to be stress. The idea is to really give yourself grace and also permission to make mistakes but also learn from those mistakes. Keep in mind that this is a period of growth, not perfection. 

I want to remind students that they don't have to do this alone. This is a really good time to really strengthen your circle of support and lean on your friends, your family, your advisors, your professors and your embedded counselor. 

Reach out for help when you need it and remember it's a sign of strength, not weakness. The more that you're willing to talk about what's happening and the challenges that you're experiencing, the more opportunity for you to learn from them. 

What do you hope to accomplish while at Bauer? 

I would say in my first year here, I'm really wanting to build a strong rapport with our students. More importantly, I really want to hear them. What I mean by that is, hear what their unique challenges and needs are so I can support them within my role.  

I'm really wanting to build a strong foundation here, and I feel like connecting with the students who are truly the heart of the college is the best way to do that. 

Where can students find you and how can they reach out to you? 

You can find me in Room 305 in Melcher Hall, and I’ll be there in my office Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. My drop-in hours for an Access Visit or a consultation are Mondays from 2 to 5 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

My office is on the third floor, and it’s literally at the opposite end of the hallways from the Dean’s Office. Students can find me and connect with me there. I’m excited to meet you all.