USC’s “Let’s Talk” Program -- An Overview

By: Antonia Le ‘22

As college students, one of the hardest things for us to do is to take care of our mental health. With midterm season still in full swing for some, while social and extra-curricular responsibilities continue to exist, it’s difficult to find time to sit down and ask yourself, “Am I okay?”. If the answer is no, then it’s near impossible to start making efforts to improve one’s own mental health. I’ve struggled with mental health issues all throughout high school and through my freshman year of college, and for the longest time, I was good at bottling up my feelings and pushing through.

However, this semester, I’m taking a harder course load than ever, and I couldn’t deny my own feelings. I needed to talk to someone who would understand how to help me. As a result, I made the trek over to STU 422, where I decided to talk to a counselor for the first time in my entire life.

For those who don’t know, USC Student Health offers a program called “Let’s Talk”: on every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, students can come by STU 422 anytime between 2:30 and 3:30 to talk to a licensed counselor about anything that might be bothering them. These talks generally last no longer than 30 minutes.

When I dropped by, I was greeted by a nice woman who led me into her office and asked me about what was bothering me. I told her that I was struggling with managing my stress and productivity while in midterm season. We had a long conversation in which she tried to pinpoint exactly what was going on with me and how I needed help. By the end, my counselor offered me a few tools to help manage my productivity, some advice for the future, and a recommendation to check out some of the group therapy options offered by Engemann. It was really nice talking to someone who had a clinical understanding of what I was going through and could offer me clear advice that I wouldn’t be able to get from random internet websites or my friends. 

My talk lasted no more than twenty minutes, and yet I left feeling a lot better about my workload than I had in a long time. Though my work style didn’t change drastically before and after my meeting, and I still had to stay up until 3am every night that week to get everything done, the talk left me with a renewed sense of “I can do this”. I was still struggling to swim in a sea of deadlines and test dates, but at least I wasn’t drowning anymore.

I think that having a meeting with a licensed counselor helped me a lot, but I know that it’s not for everybody. In fact, I’m not sure if I’ll ever get the chance to go back if I really did it.

For starters, these drop-in sessions are only offered for a very small window of time. In total, there are only three hours a week in which a student can come by, and the 2:30-3:30 time conflicts with many students’ schedules. I really needed to deliberately plan my schedule around going to one of these sessions to make it there. It’s hard to simply “drop-in” to what is supposed to be a drop-in kind of space. Moreover, because the lengths of the sessions vary, someone who comes by for a talk might be faced with a bit of a wait. I was lucky enough to have only needed to wait for around five minutes, but things could always change depending on who comes in before me and how much help they need. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend coming to one of these sessions if you know you have only one hour between classes, and you can’t be late. 

Additionally, I recognize that my positive experiences might have something to do with the fact that I came in with a problem that was solved with a quick fix: stress and time management. I didn’t want to talk about my deeper issues because my stress was currently the most important one. I don’t know what would have happened if I had opened up more. For most people (even if they aren’t counselors), it’s easier to give advice on something as universal as stress than something like depression or anxiety. 

While I cannot thank the woman who worked with me enough for getting me through one of the worst weeks of this school year, I’ve also heard horror stories about the Let’s Talk program. One of my friends has expressed that she has felt unfairly judged while coming to one of the Let’s Talk counselors about her issues. Feeling judged in a space that is supposed to be safe, open, and welcoming is never good. 

Just like with all health advice and mental health resources, what works for one person might not work all that well for another. It truly depends on you and your situation. If I had to give any insight into the program, I would say that it’s definitely worth checking out if you are having a temporary issue that you just need a little encouragement or a tiny bit of advice on. 

If you are dealing with something serious and ongoing, I still think you should give it a try. During my talk, my counselor asked me if I had any ongoing or pressing issues. I didn’t have time to unpack my entire history then, but I was grateful that she asked instead of just assuming that everything was okay for me outside of the stress factor. Even though I can definitely see how the Let’s Talk counselors might not be everyone’s cup of tea, I think it’s good that they are willing to help and that they try to care about you. Most likely, a Let’s Talk counselor can’t solve all of your problems in a quick 30-minute session (the sessions aren’t intended to be a replacement for long-term counseling and therapy), but if they’re good, they’ll give you the boost you need to take the next step in your mental health journey. 

Even if you think that you’re fine, I think I would still recommend just dropping by for a quick chat with one of the counselors available about what the Let’s Talk program is. It’s always good to know what your options on when it comes to mental health resources in case you ever need it, and it’s important to demystify and normalize the idea of getting help. 

Everyone I have talked to told me that trying to get mental health care through USC is a taxing process. Even though Engemann does therapist referrals, it’s hard trying to find someone who really understands you and will truly be the best for your mental health journey. I know people who have tried for months to find a good therapist, with no good results. If the thought of going to therapy at all seems scary to you, try taking baby steps by meeting with one of the Let’s Talk program’s counselors. One of the reasons this program exists is to try to make mental health care more accessible to anyone who needs it. This program is not a perfect fix by any means, but it’s a good start. 

If you do end up attending one of these drop-in sessions and hating it, please know that you are not alone. This program definitely needs improvement, and right now, the program simply has not been made to accommodate your needs. However, you still shouldn’t be afraid of seeking help. 

In an environment where everyone is hustling all the time and the workaholic lifestyle is glorified, it might be easy to think that everything is terrible and that no reprieve exists. However, there is help, and things do get better. You just might have to jump through a few hoops to get there.

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