Comparison often makes us feel like the grass is greener on the other side or that others have it better or easier than us. The truth is that comparison leads us to devalue what we have and how we see ourselves. Social comparison theory was developed in 1954 by… read more
Counseling and Mental Health Center
Truths of International Study that Nobody Talks About
Moving from your own country to study in the United States can seem like a journey of a million steps. So once you’ve done the hard work of gaining admission to The University of Texas at Austin, you might be surprised by this fact when you arrive on campus: The… read more
Self-Compassion and Kindness
Self-compassion and kindness toward oneself are concepts that are gaining popularity, especially in the United States. However, for many international students, this may be a new concept — or one that doesn’t necessarily align with cultural values. What is self-compassion? Compassion is a concept that describes the mind’s ability… read more
Addressing Perfectionism
You may have heard people say something like, “Perfect is the enemy of good.” But what does that mean? It’s a common response to the way that many people focus on perfection in every area, keeping themselves from improving or finishing a project. Although it’s good to strive for quality,… read more
How to Be a Successful College Student
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is pleased to feature this guest post from Dr. Arna Erega of UT Austin’s Counseling and Mental Health Center. Hello, international students! I hope your summer is going well so far. In this blog post, I’ll share a few tips about how to be… read more
Managing Exam and End-of-Semester Stress
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is pleased to feature this guest post from Dr. Arna Erega of UT Austin’s Counseling and Mental Health Center. Hello, hardworking international students! I just want to let you know that I see you! I see your hard work, sleepless nights, group efforts, and… read more
Is There Mental Health Support For International Students? Yes!
You may be wondering what to do when you are feeling down or sad — especially after these feelings continue for longer periods of time. Maybe you are experiencing some anxiety in regard to making new friends, being comfortable within large groups of people, or getting ready for a test.… read more
End of Semester Countdown: Top 5 Survival Tips
Are you stressed thinking of what you have to get done before the semester ends? As students know best, finals can be mentally and physically hard on the body. Provided below is a 5-tip countdown to help you reduce stress and dominate these last weeks! Tip # 5: Fuel Up… read more
Mental Health Promotion Week: Be Kind to Your Mind
Mental Health Promotion Week 2016 is a campus-wide event focused on promoting elements of positive emotional well-being. Programs throughout the week emphasize the benefits of exploring social connections, mindfulness, self-care, gratitude, resilience, creativity and play. Wednesday’s event will even feature a particular focus on culture and mental health: Diversity &… read more
Lunch Seminar for International Students
International Student & Scholar Services and Counseling & Mental Health Center invite to attend our next seminar: Managing Stress and Staying Healthy Come join other international students for an informative lunch hour seminar to learn about ways to identify stress when it occurs, techniques to reduce stress, and strategies to… read more