Welcome to the fall 2009 semester. I am Heather Thornton and I am the resource counselor for the 2009-2010 academic year. I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Florida. I have a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and master’s/specialist degree in marriage and family counseling. I currently work at Locascio Consulting Services, Inc., a private practice where I see children, teens, families, and couples as I work towards dual licensure as a marriage and family therapist and mental health counselor.

As we start a new semester, it is imperative that students practice effective self-care methods in order to prevent the negative effects of stress. For law students, stress can be a result of the overwhelming work load, intimidating classroom dynamics, excessive competition, student loan debt, personal isolation, lack of feedback from professors, and the grading and ranking system. So what does self-care look like, and why do you need to start now, before you’re actually stressed out? Self-care is personal health maintenance. It is any activity of an individual, family or community, with the intention of improving or restoring health, or treating or preventing disease.

For you, this may include finding personal ways to manage stress, utilizing effective time management skills, maintaining positive relationships, and practicing relaxation techniques. Unfortunately for law students, who have very little time for any of these activities, eating well-balanced meals and getting adequate rest are also key components of self-care. The upside is that self-care is completely individual. It may include:

• Reading a book
• Taking time out to play a video game or on the computer
• Getting coffee with a friend
• Calling someone close to you
• Any physical activity
• Spiritual, religious, or meditation practices
• Processing emotions through journaling
• Drawing
• Gardening
• Cleaning
• Or simply singing loudly in the car/shower

However, the impact of not practicing self-care can be costly. The following results have been found to be independent of age, gender, or grades in law school. Negative effects include, but are not limited to:

• Headaches
• Sleeping too much or inability to sleep
• Weight fluctuation
• Inability to concentrate
• Difficulty with family, peer, and romantic relationships
• Procrastination

The University of Florida and the Gainesville community provide several additional counseling resources at no charge to students. UF Student Mental Health at the SHCC
Phone: 352-392-1171

Individual, couples, and group therapy as well as psychiatric services
UF Counseling Center
Phone: 352-392-1575

• Individuals, couples, and group therapy as well as a new Biofeedback lab for stress, anxiety, and other related symptoms
• Anonymous online screening services for depression, bipolar disorder, alcohol, eating disorders, generalized anxiety, posttraumatic stress
Alachua County Crisis Center
Phone: 352-264-6789

• 24 hour crisis hotline as well as provider of other counseling services

For more information, please stop by my office – the first office on the right, located on the first floor of Student Affairs – or call 352-273-0633 or e-mail thorntonh@law.ufl.edu My office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and by appointment.

Resources:
Gerald F. Hess. Heads and hearts: The teaching and learning environment in law school, 52 Journal of Legal Education 75 (2002)