Community Forums are supportive, community-based spaces designed with a specific student population in mind. Community Forums have the intention of building community and a sense of belonging with student mental health and wellness as the foundation for personal and academic success. Facilitated/co-facilitated by a licensed therapist or BHCS intern/trainee.

• BHCS Support Hour for Student Impacted by Immigration Policies - held in MD-155C on the following Mondays 2:00pm to 3:00pm: Feb. 9, March 16 and April 13. Facilitated by BHCS Counselor, Mariana Guzman, LMFT, LAADC and BHCS Interns Odalys Gonzalez De Jesus & Melissa Elias.
• SanaMente con Carino - held in SU1-D on the 2nd Tuesday of the month 12:30pm to 1:30pm: Feb. 10, March 10 and April 14. Facilitated by BHCS Counselor, Mariana Guzman, LMFT, LAADC.
• Umoja Mental Health Hour - held in the Umoja Village (SU-30) on the following Wednesdays 2:00pm to 3:00pm: Feb. 4 & 18, March 18, April 15 & 29 and May 13. Facilitated by BHCS Counselor, Mercedes Tiggs, LCSW.
• Rising Scholars Weekly Check-In - held in the Rising Scholars Center (Clubhouse) on Fridays 10:00am to 12:00pm.
• Pride Center Community Check-in & Mental Health Hour: Wednesdays 2pm-3pm at the Pride Center. Meeting locations for February 25th - April 1st will be held in ST-72 and April 8th - May 6th will be held in SU-17.
• Gender Exploration & Transitioning Group: Thursdays starting March 12^th (with breaks for Spring Break and Pride Center opening on April 2nd). Pride Center locations for March 12-19 will be held in ST-72 and then moved to SU-17 for April 9-23.

Psychoeducational Workshops are stand-alone workshops or workshop series that are psychoeducational in nature with an element of care and support. These workshops have an emphasis on learning and practicing new coping skills. These can be facilitated by licensed therapists and/or BHCS interns/trainees, and any currently registered student can attend.

• Healthy Relationships Group - weekly group focusing on healthy relationship dynamics starting Monday, February 23rd at 11:00am at the San Marcos campus, Room NB-1 (Health Promotion). This confidential, in-person group will be held for 7 weeks and will focus on additional topics including: Attachment Styles, Relationship Green Flags, Equality & Community Resources. This group is facilitated by BHCS interns Odalys and Melissa.
• Comets For Recovery is a Topical/Discussion & Support Group that meets weekly starting Tuesday, March 31st from 11:30-12:30 in NB-1. It's intended for students in recovery, thinking about recovery or looking to know more about addiction & recovery. Facilitated by BHCS therapist Jim Coil, Ed.D, LMFT.
• Roots & Radiance: An AANHPI Wellness & Joy Series: held on the following Thursdays in NB-1 (Health Promotion) and on Zoom. Honoring Our Story. Bridging Our Worlds. Embracing Our Joy. Facilitated by BHCS intern Alison Ratermann, ASW and presented by AANHPI Initiatives. No registration required - just show up and join the fun!
  • April 2nd • 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Building Belonging: Understanding the AANHPI Student Experience: This interactive workshop introduces participants to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community by examining cultural identity, campus demographics, and shared experiences. Participants will explore common challenges such as navigating family expectations, cultural pressures, and mental health stigma while also learning about resources and spaces that support AANHPI student success.
  • April 23 • 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    A Seat at the Table: Bridging Our Worlds - In honor of AANHPI Month, we’re heading to the heart of our homes. Let’s talk about navigating family dynamics and cultural expectations while building a bridge between our heritage and our campus lives.
  • May 7 • 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Cultivating Gratitude and Self-Compassion- As the semester winds down, we will explore how gratitude is expressed within AANHPI cultures while focusing on the most resilient thing we can do: being kind to ourselves. Practice tools for gratitude and self-compassion that allow your inner radiance to thrive through finals and beyond.

Skillshops are typically stand-alone workshops offered by the Student Wellness Advocacy Group, Active Minds, or a BHCS therapist/intern in collaboration with the Palomar Promise program. They are frequently more of an overview of a topic (e.g. Stress Management) as opposed to a deep dive into clinical material. Coping skills can be introduced to students related to the Skillshop topic.

Skillshops are offered in person at the Welcome Center (WC-112) at the San Marcos campus and via Zoom unless indicated.

• Health & Wellness Skillshops - offered on the following topics:
  • Mindfulness, Meditation & Relaxation: March 2nd 12-1pm
  • Healthy Sleep: March 9th 1-2pm
  • Stress Management: March 16th 3-4pm
  • Wisdom, Community & Conchas: Affirmations for Students: March 17th 1-2pm
  • Managing Your Mood - Coping through Anxiety: April 7th 3-4pm
  • Understanding Depression & Suicide: April 8th 1-2pm
  • Healthy Relationships: April 27th 3-4pm
  • Managing Your Mood - Self-Care and Burnout: April 30th 10-11am
  • Mindfulness Through Vision Boards: May 4th 1-2pm (In Person ONLY)
  • Managing Your Mood - De-Stress Strategies: May 7th 10-11am

Skillshops are FREE for students and require registration. Visit our Health Promotion website for session registration and location information.