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UCSB MHP
  • Home
  • MHP Services
  • Navigating Teletherapy
  • Coping Tools: Stress reduction, sleep, relaxation and more!
    • Relaxation and Mindfulness updated
    • Reducing Stress >
      • Where is my stress coming from?
      • How do you know when you are stressed?
      • Coping with stress when it has already arrived
      • Reducing less healthy coping strategies
    • Sleep Hygiene
    • Getting Involved
    • Building Academic & Personal Resilience
    • Tackling financial challenges
    • Breakup Bootcamp
    • breakup bootcamp worksheet
    • Imposter Syndrome
    • Social Media and Mental Health
  • Building & Maintaining Close Relationships
    • Basic Psychological Needs in Relationships
    • Romantic Relationships
  • Mental Health Concerns
  • Suicidal Thoughts & Behaviors
  • Unique Challenges for Specific Student Groups
    • Freshman Transition
    • 1st Generation College Students
    • Transfer Students
    • Dream scholars, undocumented students & their families
    • LGBTQPIA+ Students
    • International Students
    • STEM Students >
      • Women in STEM
    • Greek Life
    • Athletes
  • Making Changes & Navigating Transitions
  • MHP events & CAPS wellness programs
  • Our team 2022-2023
  • Application to be a MHP
  • Counseling & Psychological Services
  • Contact
  • Wellness Apps & Books
UCSB MHP

LGBTQPIA+ Students

The LGBTQ community reflects a vast and varied group of students here at UCSB. Some students come to college having explored their gender and sexual identity and have established how they want to express these features of their identity. However, some students are just beginning to learn more about themselves and how they identify. No matter where your starting point when you arrive here, the journey is ongoing, as identity can grow and change with new knowledge and new experiences throughout life.  

Beyond understanding their own identity, LGBTQ students face some unique experiences that can impact their well-being. Coming out--to whom, when, and where. Navigating the norms of the LGBTQ community and finding your place where you feel most connected. Advocating for sensitive and informed health care. Protecting yourself from threats to safety or feeling dehumanized by others. Finding your voice and energy for activism.    


Check out the articles below to read about these issues and learn how LGBTQ students can capitalize on their personal strengths and the support of their communities to live their lives authentically and to their fullest.

Understanding Gender & Sexual Identity


Biological sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation---they aren't interchangeable, but sometimes people treat them as such. 

Learn about how each of these terms speaks to a unique part of a person's identity and explore how you might consider yourself along these different dimensions. Bottom line...gender and sexual identity is complexly cool. 
Learn more about the many facets of Gender & sexual identity
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@UCSBMentalHealthPeers Wow! Identity is complexly cool. #LGBTQExperience  #UCSB
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@UCSBMentalHealthPeers #I'mComingOut #LGBTQExperience  #UCSB

Coming Out


Oftentimes people think that coming out is a one time event. However, coming out is an ongoing process and it can be different for every person depending on their environment and personal goals. In fact, coming out may not have the same importance to every queer person.

Coming out to others can offer significant benefits---you can feel more authentically you and you can gather a community of support that can help you thrive and grow. Students often grapple with how to integrate being out in some contexts (e.g., friends, school) but perhaps not out in others (e.g., workplace. home). Issues of safety and responsiveness of others become critical to making decisions about who and when to come out to throughout life.

Read this section to learn more about the many facets of coming out and how to empower yourself to be choiceful about this process.

Click here to learn more about things to consider about COming OUT

​Who gets to know me?


It can be confusing and sometimes distressing to bump up against questions about your identity. How do you determine if someone will be open to knowing more about your identity? There's no easy answer to this question, but there are clues that can help. How someone responds to you and others in a variety of situations can help you to determine whether that person will be open and accepting.

Check out this article to learn more about how to determine who might be a good person to bet on being accepting and responsive and learn some strategies about how you might approach a conversation to disclose important parts of your identity.

Click here to read about
how to SPot the qualities of a supportive Friend
Coming Out to Parents
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You have the option to "choose your family", that is, to find the people in your life who can give you the support and love that you need as a person in the LGBTQPIA+ community. These people can be your second family, your LGBTQPIA+ family. Click the article below to read more about this!
found families
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UCSB LGBTQ+ and Gender Inclusive Housing


What does this mean?
●LGBTQ+ housing
○ UCSB offers LGBTQ+ housing options that are designed specifically for LGBTQ+ students and allies. Examples of this include the Rainbow House at Manzanita Village and Lavender Living at Santa Ynez.
○ Staff for these housing options work closely with the Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity to create educational and social content that creates a welcoming and supportive environment.
● Gender Inclusive Housing
○ Trans and non-binary students have the option to work one on one with a staff member to find a housing arrangement that is comfortable and works best for them.
○ Gender Inclusive housing is an option for many on campus residence halls, such as Manzanita Village, San Rafael, Santa Catalina, or any UCSB apartment.
● Co-ed housing
○ This allows for mixed gender roommate groups to share the same unit or room by request.
○
There are also low rent off campus housing options in six different complexes. 
Want to learn more? Click here!
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@UCSBMentalHealthPeers I wanna dance with somebody. #LookingforLove  #HookupAnyone?  #WhereDoIFindMyPerson #There'sAnAppforThat

Dating & Relationships


Dating can be an exciting adventure, but for many it can also be pretty anxiety-provoking. Will I find someone that I am attracted to? Someone that I like? Will others find me attractive and like me?

Dating can be particularly challenging when you first come out as LGBTQ or if you are uncertain about aspects of your gender or sexual identity and are not sure how to talk about that part of yourself.  Dating also requires you to think about your own safety, both within relationships and in the world generally.

Whether you are simply looking to hook up or are in the search for a partner, navigating the dating world can be tricky. You aren't alone in your experience!
Check out these articles to learn how to navigate the world of dating.
Click here to learn more about navigating dating & relationships

Norms & Biases within the Community


Within the LGBTQ community it can also also be difficult to feel comfortable or accepted, as there are social norms and biases that can impact your desire to identify as LGBTQ and/or join groups in the LGBTQ community.

Not queer enough. Too butch. Too femme. Bi isn't really a thing...you're just confused. PRIDE, inclusion and equality for all, but not really if you're trans. Flat out racism or fetishizing persons of color. These are just some of the many ways the LGBTQ community perpetuates judgments and discriminates against one another.

Read more about community norms and biases, as well as ways to begin to shape a more inclusive, caring culture within the LGBTQ community

Click here to read more about ways to create
a healthier community from within
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@UCSBMentalHealthPeers #NotJustOneWay  #LGBTQExperience  #UCSB
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Check out the links below to look at some local services provided by Pacific Pride and LGBTQPIA+ healthcare scholarships/grants.
pacific pride
funds/grants

LGBTQ-Informed Healthcare


UCSB health services, including Student Health and CAPS, is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students. We recognize that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students have many of the same health concerns as other students, but there may also be some needs that may be different and require specific care.

Check out the link below to learn more about how to advocate for yourself to find the services and providers you need, such as HRT and STI/HIV testing.
Check out OUR APPROACH to HEALTH SERVICES &
get connected to specific providers
Learn how Planned Parenthood Central Coast is providing gender affirming care

Finding Safety Despite Uncertainty & Hostility


Threats to emotional and physical safety are real and present dangers for those in the LGBTQ community.  Enduring taunts, slurs, cruel jokes, or being called by another name than your own is  tiring, terrifying, dehumanizing. The current political climate and legislation to undermine the rights of those in the LGBTQ community have further served to amplify these feelings.  Living under this constant threat can lead to hypervigilance about safety, feeling on edge, and other more serious mental and physical health symptoms.

Check out the link below to learn how to take care of yourself amidst these threats and garner support from others to reduce the impact on your health.

Learn about the ways to manage hostility & threats to safety
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@UCSBMentalHealthPeers #LoveisLoveisLove #LGBTQrightsarehumanrights #LGBTQExperience  #UCSB
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@UCSBMentalHealthPeers #AisforActivist #LGBTQExperience  #UCSB

Social Activism


For some students, getting involved in social justice organizations and other advocacy efforts on behalf of the LGBTQ community helps them to feel a greater sense of control and efficacy. At the same time, it can feel overwhelming and exhausting.

However, not all students choose to engage in activism. Sometimes there is pressure within the LGBTQ community to show your support in a particular way or be punished for not being active enough. And this too can be alienating.

Check out this article to learn more about potential ways to turn your energy into activism and find a balance that is right for you. Also learn when to step away and take a break when activism feels overwhelming or unsafe.
Click here to learn more about many forms of activism
& taking care of yourself

Assembling Your Support Team


Want to find social groups within the LGBTQ community? Or need some assistance navigating challenges you are facing? Check out the Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity (RCSGD) here at UCSB, the Pacific Pride Foundation that serves the Central Coast, and Santa Barbara Transgender Advocacy Network (sbtan). Perhaps also consider joining our group for LGBTQ students at CAPS called True Selves. ​
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RCSGD@UCSB (805) 893-5847
click here to Learn more about these supports
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info@sbtan.org
click here to Learn more about these supports
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608 Anacapa Street, Suite A, Santa Barbara 93101
(805) 963-3636
click here to Learn more about these supports
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(805) 893-4411
​Clinician on call available 24/7

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) stands against racism and violence that aims to harm and divide people because of our differences. We would like to express our care and compassion for those who have been directly or vicariously impacted by discrimination, harassment, or other trauma due to legislative policies and social injustice.

All registered UCSB students are eligible for services at CAPS. We provide individual therapy and groups serving undocumented students. All therapists are trained to provide support to undocumented students, but you may request to work with a therapist who focuses on providing support to undocumented student. Give us a call to learn more about we offer.
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Click here to get more info
about JOINING THIS GROUP

Thinking about suicide? You deserve immediate help.

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Click herE to reach the
The Trevor Project website
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Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a theoretical framework for understanding how aspects of a person's social and political identities (e.g., gender, Caste, sex, race, class, sexuality, religion, disability, physical appearance, height, etc.) combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege. Intersectionality identifies advantages and disadvantages that are felt by people due to a combination of factors. These overlapping social identities may be both empowering and oppressing
UCSB Intersectionality Information
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