Student Counseling and Wellness

Counseling & Wellness Center

The Samuel Merritt College Student Counseling & Wellness Center promotes healthy lifestyle choices, encourages a holistic philosophy and balance to life, and combines a pro-active, positive approach to healthy living. Wellness focuses on the total person, recognizing that good health is more than the absence of illness, but rather a robust state of well-being that acknowledges the importance and inseparability of the mind-body relationship. The wellness philosophy extends beyond the traditional medical model with its emphasis on physical health, to include eight interrelated dimensions of wellness.

The 8 Dimensions of Wellness:
Physical Wellness
Emotional Wellness
Intellectual Wellness
Social Wellness
Spiritual Wellness
Environmental Wellness
Multicultural Wellness
Occupational Wellness

True wellness is an ongoing process, achieved through a lifetime of learning and exploring these different facets of our personalities and nature.

Counseling and Wellness Services strive to enhance the academic environment of Samuel Merritt College by promoting the well being of our students, offering a range of services that include:

Individual Personal Counseling
Admissions & Academic Counseling Services [1] (different campus dept.)
Couple's Counseling
Crisis Intervention
Mental Health Consultation
Outreach & Presentations
Health & Wellness Screenings
On and Off-Campus Referrals

The University Counseling Center is a place where students can get help for personal, emotional, psychological, relationship and family problems. Succeeding with academic work often depends on effectively dealing with emotional and social issues. Because understanding and dealing with a situation before it reaches a crisis stage usually leaves more options, students are encouraged to seek help sooner, rather than later. The Center is open twelve months of the year.

Scheduling Appointments
Your first appointment will provide you with an opportunity to talk confidentially with a counselor about your immediate concerns. By the end of the appointment, your counselor will be able to offer you some initial impressions of what resources or services would be most helpful for you.

Students at the OAKLAND, SAN MATEO, & SAN FRANCISCO campuses can make initial appointments by contacting (510) 869-1516.  The Oakland Counseling Center Office is open Monday - Friday between 9:00 - 5:00 p.m.

The Oakland counseling center is staffed by:

                                  Jeanne M. Zeamba, Psy.D.
                             Director of Counseling & Student Wellness
                                             Samuel Merritt College
                                    Counseling & Wellness Services
                                       450 30th Street, Suite 2802
                                             Oakland, CA 94609
                                           Phone: (510) 869-1516
Students at the SACRAMENTO campus have access to mental health counselors through the Sutter Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Please call (800) 477-2258 to learn more.