Medical, Counseling and Educational Services
for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Students
Also see: Services for Transgender Students
The staff at UHS recognizes that lesbian, gay and bisexual students have some health concerns that are the same as other students. However, other issues may be different and require a greater understanding or specific information or programs.
This section does not cover all services available to you as a Cal student. Please browse the website, starting with Student Services A-Z for a more complete picture. However, this section does address some areas that may be of specific interest or concern.
| Medical Care | We have a large outpatient medical facility where you can see a doctor or nurse practitioner about any health issue, from acne and headaches to sexually transmitted infections and HIV-related illnesses. Management of gynecological care is available for women of all sexual orientations. Health educators and nutritionists help students with stress-related health problems, nutrition concerns, and sexuality issues. Sexual Health Peer Educators are trained to discuss safer sex concerns. |
| Counseling | Our professional counseling staff is queer-friendly and available to discuss a full range of issues, including coming out issues; experiences of homophobia, academic and career concerns; relationship and couples counseling; grief, loss or abuse issues; stress management; and issues related to HIV/AIDS.
See Counseling Appointments. If you are in crisis or in need of urgent counseling, you can see a counselor on a walk-in basis. At your first visit to CPS, a counselor will help you assess what type of service would be best for you. Whether or not you want to identify yourself as lesbian, gay or bisexual is completely up to you. If you would like to work with an openly lesbian, gay or bisexual therapist, please let us know. |
| Self-Care Resource Center | Our health information library and resource center has books, computer programs, video tapes, audio tapes and articles. Bisexual, lesbian and gay-specific materials are in our collection. Some materials are available for checkout. |
| Student Health Insurance | Students are required to have major medical health insurance in order to be registered at Cal and automatically are enrolled in and billed for the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). .
UHS can help connect your domestic partner and/or children to health insurance plans. Check the web address above or call the Insurance Office at 642-5700 to start the process. A dental insurance plan may be purchased as well. |
| Leadership Opportunities | We encourage you to take a role in promoting the health of Cal students, or specifically of lesbian, gay or bisexual students. Opportunities include: Student Health Advisory Committee, Student Health Insurance Advisory Committee, Peer Education Programs, Internships, UHS Volunteer Program. See the Health Promotion web pages for more information. |
| Suggestions/ Complaints | We welcome your input on how we can improve our services related to lesbian, gay or bisexual students. See Contact Info for numbers and emails at UHS. Other numbers include: Student Advocate Office (642-6912) or the Student Ombudsperson (642-5754). |
| About the UHS Staff | Our providers have chosen to work at UHS because they want to work with students. In addition to their respective degrees, they have chosen to specialize in college health.
We believe that the best way to serve a diverse community is to have that diversity reflected in our staff. We have women and men from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds, with a wide variety of lifestyles. Included in this diversity are openly lesbian, gay or bisexual staff members. We encourage you to find service providers with whom you are comfortable and to develop positive working relationships with them. |
| About Confidentiality | Your appointments with clinicians, counselors, and other UHS staff are confidential. By law, your parents, friends, professors and other school officials do not have access to your UHS records.
Medical Records: The only way that someone may know about your appointment is if you tell her/him, you give us written permission to release information, or we are required by law. Counseling Records: Like medical records, these are protected by law. In addition, counseling records are kept separately from medical records. |
