Environmental program potluck reception
There will be a potluck reception for all students and faculty with an interest in environmental and land use law, at the home of Prof. Mary Jane Angelo on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 6 p.m. Bring your favorite dish and get to know some students and faculty who share your interests. Please RSVP to Lena Hinson at hinson@law.ufl.edu, and let her know if you need directions to Prof. Angelo’s home.

Resource counselor available in Student Affairs Stressed out? Overwhelmed? Feeling anxious? Simply want to talk with someone besides your friends and family? Our new resource counselor, Ron Del Moro, is now available for you, the UF Law community. Del Moro’s office is located in the Office of Student Affairs 164J, immediately on your right when you walk in. Del Moro is a nationally certified/licensed counselor who completed his graduate work at UF. He is open to working with individuals, couples and groups with any issues and/or concerns. Everything is confidential and free of charge. His office hours are Mondays 1-5 p.m. and Wednesdays 12-5 p.m. Please stop by anytime. Walk-ins are welcome or you can email him at rondel@ufl.edu to set up an appointment or ask questions.

Specialist can help your writing skills
Concerned about your writing skills? Our new legal writing specialist, Andrew Reynolds, is now available to help you. He graduated from UF this August with a Ph.D. in English, and he has worked as a writing instructor and tutor for several years. You are encouraged to visit Reynolds for assistance with any writing issues you might have, whether you need specific questions answered or want to learn general strategies for more effective communication. His office is located in HOL 372. He is available Mondays (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Tuesdays (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.), and Thursdays (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). E-mail him at areynold@law.ufl.edu to make an appointment. Walk-ins are also accepted. In addition, Reynolds will be conducting writing workshops on Sept. 16, Sept. 23, Oct. 7 and Oct. 14. All four workshops will take place in HOL 285C at 10 a.m. Additional information about the workshops will be provided closer to the scheduled times.

Many students have expressed concerns about seeking assistance from the resource counselor based on a fear that confidentiality will be breached. Services rendered by the resource counselor are not shared to any member of the staff unless permission has been given or an extreme circumstance arises (i.e., harm to self or others).

I encourage you to seek help for any situation that you are having difficulty managing, no matter how great or small. No instance of anxiety, depression, or like problems will be disclosed to anyone. These discussions will have no bearing on one’s ability to gain employment or insurance based on what is discussed within the law school or particularly with the resource counselor.

Mental health professionals practice in a variety of settings, including independent practice, community agencies, managed behavioral health care organizations, integrated delivery systems, hospitals, employee assistance programs, and substance abuse treatment centers. Mental health counselors provide a full range of services including crisis management, psychotherapy, alcoholism, and substance abuse treatment, in addition to many others.

However, counselors, such as a resource counselor, have no formal training in curriculum management, advising on school related issues, or career services. There is staff in place to assist you in these matters, namely the assistant deans and career services office.

Counseling professionals abide by a strict code of ethics and laws that regulate their practice. At any time, you have the right to access your records or refuse services. Additionally, the law states that, “Mental health counselors have a primary obligation to safeguard information about individuals obtained in the course of practice, teaching, or research.

“Personal information is communicated to others only with the person’s written consent or in those circumstances where there is clear and imminent danger to the client, to others or to society. Disclosure of counseling information is restricted to what is necessary, relevant and verifiable.” Therefore, by law, your rights as a client are protected.

I hope that this clarifies any misgivings of the work that is done with the resource counselor or any recommending staff. Please feel free to email me at noblesw@law.ufl.edu with any questions that you might have to set up an appointment. I look forward to meeting and talking with you soon.