Graduate Peer Support Providers Several of our Peer Support Providers are working as facilitators of Check-In Groups that are offered by GradPro. Click here to learn more about this opportunity. Graduate Peer Support Providers (PSPs) also meet one-on-one with graduate students at UC Berkeley to provide assistance in navigating the processes related to mental health, basic needs, and academia. Graduate school can be a challenging adventure and we aim to make it easier for students to find services and support to help them thrive. As graduate students themselves*, PSP’s provide support to their peers through understanding, experience, respect, and an equity based lens. They will work to provide guidance and support to meet your unique needs. *PSPs are supervised by faculty in the School Psychology Program, in collaboration with CAPS. Schedule a Chat SessionVisit the PSP Chat Session scheduling page to sign up. Chat Sessions with the Graduate PSPs are 20 minutes in length. Please read the description box in the appointment confirmation carefully. This is where you will indicate whether you would like to meet in person or via zoom. Please note that any appointments made after 5 p.m. the day before your appointment will not be honored because of staffing restrictions due to COVID. Want to get connected to PSPs resources? Join our listserv to receive regular updates and special resource spotlights (make sure and click “Join group!) Schedule a Chat SessionWhat Graduate PSPs can do: Talk through and provide a listening ear for concerns related to academia, mental health, wellness, basic needs, socialization, etc. Support students with tedious processes such as scheduling appointments, finding health care providers, accessing academic forms, searching for housing, etc. Share information about mental health services at UC Berkeley by providing access and guidance through resources or in the moment navigation. Provide encouragement and empowerment to students as they navigate graduate school. If you are unsure if a Graduate PSP can support your unique concern, please sign up for a chat and we will do our best to point you in the right direction! What Graduate PSPs are not equipped to do: Provide mental health counseling. Get access to counseling/therapy resources on campus. Provide input around possible disabilities or suggest classroom accommodations. That guidance is provided by the Disabled Students Program. Act as a liaison between students and advisors. Get information about Ombud’s office. Expand AllPSP WorkshopsNo upcoming events in category Peer Support Providers Peer Support Providers BiosUmara HansenUmara Hansen is a second year PhD student in the School Psychology program at UC Berkeley. She received her Honors in Psychology B.Sc at the University of Ottawa, Canada. She is interested in exploring the manifestations of toxic stress within the classroom with the goal of creating a nurturing and supportive environment for all children both at home and at school. Umara has ample experience in the mental health field by working in research practices and organizations across the United States and Canada such as Anxiety Canada, Best Buddies, research labs and psychological clinics. In her free time Umara can be seen exploring the great outdoors surfing, hiking, skiing, and sailing! Jackie Lopez SantiagoJackie Lopez Santiago (she/her) is a third year PhD student in the School Psychology Program at the Berkeley School of Education. Jackie is an alum of UC Santa Barbara, where she graduated in 2017 with a B.A in Communication and a minor in Applied Psychology. Her primary research interest involves better understanding the K-12 schooling experience of Latine youth with the goal of improving their school outcomes. In her free time, Jackie enjoys reading, going on runs, and checking out different coffee spots. Meg StomskiMeg Stomski (she/her) is a fourth year PhD student in the School Psychology Program at the Berkeley School of Education. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond in Psychology and Business Administration. Before starting graduate school, she helped provide no-cost mental health evaluations to families at the Child Mind Institute in Harlem, New York. Her research interests include bullying and related mental health experiences of immigrant youth and strengthening interprofessional collaboration between school psychologists and school principals to better support student mental health. In her free time, Meg is passionate about connecting with her Japanese community, being outdoors, going to concerts, and making pour over coffees. Cassandra YeeCassandra Yee (She/her/ella) is a third year PhD student in the school psychology program at the Berkeley School of Education. She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Arizona in 2021. Cassandra’s current research focuses primarily on social and emotional outcomes of Latine immigrant youth and families as well as equity-centered and culturally relevant pedagogy in education. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her shih-tzu, going to concerts, attending spin classes at CycleBar, watching the Challenge on MTV, and playing Animal Crossing on her switch. Kyla KembleKyla Kemble (she/her) is a third year PhD student in the school psychology program at the Berkeley School of Education. She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology Honors at Seton Hall University in 2021. Kyla’s current research focuses on establishing and maintaining culturally responsive practices in classrooms, consultation and collaboration with teachers, and implicit biases in education. In her free time, Kyla is often connecting with the Black community in the Bay Area, spending time with her two cats, and spinning on a bike at CycleBar.