A Day in the Life of a Mental Health Clinician

StarVista’s Strengthening Our Youth Program (SOY)

A Program of StarVista’s Early Childhood and School-based Services

StarVista’s Strengthen Our Youth (SOY) Program provides San Mateo County children, youth, families and farmworkers with comprehensive mental health services that build resilience, strengthen mental health, and cultivate community wellness.

Meet Catina, a clinician with StarVista’s Early Childhood and School-Based Services!

Catina Chang has her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is currently a Mental Health Clinician in the SOY program at StarVista at South San Francisco High School.

What does my day to day look like?

My day to day varies. There are some days where I support students that are a part of the SOY program and are seen regularly and can include things that the school may need support with such as supporting a student work with their school counselor when they return to school after a suspension or hospitalization for a return to school plan.

However, there are also days where I may be called into a crisis (or two). This includes assessing for suicidality and discussing hospitalization, or reporting to CPS or other agency.

Some students have family backgrounds where there is domestic abuse, violence, substance abuse, identity issues, and family conflicts. A lot of these students just need someone to talk to and support in not just navigating schoolwork but also dealing with other stressors in their life.

Another way SOY clinicians support students are through skill building. An example of this includes supporting a student with ADHD and helping them learn how to use technology, how to track schoolwork, and sometimes even addressing issues with their teacher.

“The students of South City come from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Some are aiming to attend university while others may be planning to enter the workforce, some come from families where they are the first to possibly attend university, many students are new arrivals to the country.

Many of the students I work with are those who typically would not be able to access mental health services, whether because of a lack of support from their parents, due to family finances not allowing it, or because of a lack of access due to systems issues.

Being seen during school hours and being a part of the Wellness Center team allows me to be informed of the issues that go on on campus such as fights or other crises and to support students if a crisis happens during school hours, as it often has. Especially with the drop in option, when available, students are able to have a safe space to decompress and re-regulate in the moment and talk with a trusted adult. It can help prevent a confrontation or behavioral issue because the student was able to seek support. It also helps that we are also not school administration members so that we can be a neutral party to help bridge a student who may be wary or unaware of options through the school to address their concerns.”

Counseling, Education, and Prevention Services

StarVista’s Strengthen our Youth (SOY) program offers professional counseling, education, and prevention services to students and families. SOY helps students learn to make healthy decisions as they enter their teenage years.

Through school-wide awareness programs, students build decision making and critical thinking skills, stronger self-esteem and social skills, and closer and healthier relationships with peers, family members, and the school community.

By strengthening students’ self-esteem and decision-making skills, SOY hopes to prevent interest in alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and to reduce violence, bullying, and interest in gangs.

SOY Clinicians

SOY clinicians are available to see students who are having difficulties at school; show interest in alcohol, drugs, or gangs; or have personal or family issues that could lead to substance abuse and other risk-taking behaviors.

SOY clinicians can also work with any student who needs help finding a way to navigate the challenging years of adolescence.

Clinicians with the SOY program are present in 3 high schools and 2 middle schools in Half Moon Bay, South San Francisco, and Daly City:

Ben Franklin Intermediate

Thomas R. Pollicita Middle School

Half Moon Bay High School

Jefferson High School

South San Francisco High School