The mental health landscape for college students has transformed dramatically in recent years, leaving many parents feeling unprepared and overwhelmed. In this episode, mental health experts Dr. Sarah Olivo and Dr. Liz Seidler join us to share their wisdom and their REACH framework (Realizing values, Elevating mental fitness, Acting with purpose, Creating healthy relationships, and Handling hard things wisely) designed specifically for today’s college students’ mental fitness. Liz and Sarah also address the notorious “triple S triangle” of Sleep, Study, and Socializing that forces many students to sacrifice crucial aspects of wellbeing. Our conversation offers guidance on preparation before college, communication during separation, and recognizing warning signs that might indicate serious issues. Whether you’re preparing to send your child to college or supporting them through current challenges, this episode provides compassionate, evidence-based strategies from experts who understand both the clinical landscape and the lived reality of today’s college experience.
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We had a wonderful, and informational, conversation with mental health experts Dr. Sarah Olivo and Dr. Liz Seidler of the podcast College Is Fine, Everything’s Fine. Liz and Sarah’s podcast is geared for college students and it creates a place for students to come to find real, actionable tips and to know that they’re not alone.
Dr. Olivo and Dr. Seidler both are practicing psychologists who work with young people in their practices.
We began by talking about what “good mental health” really means. Liz and Sarah talked about five core areas they like to use to help describe what good mental health can be. They talked about mental fitness, just as we think about physical fitness. Their program is called REACH (reaching your best mental fitness) and they described each of the following areas – R = realizing your values, E = Elevating your mental fitness, A = acting with purpose, C = creating healthy relationships, H = handling hard things wisely. 
We also talked about the importance of the foundation of sleep. (We’ve heard this one so many times before.) Sarah and Liz broke it down and talked about what they have dubbed the Triple S Triangle – sleep, study, socializing. They shared the importance of students finding the balance between these three things.
Liz and Sarah shared the importance of preparing students for their mental fitness. It’s important to think about what skills your student needs to build and help them work on strengthening these skills rather than accommodating them. We heard about the importance of modeling the values we’d like to instill in our family.
We covered so many important topics, including how we communicate with our students once they’re away, the importance of parents having a support network, the importance of understanding that the first semester is hard for almost all students, the effects that both Covid and the current political climate have on so many students, and the importance of students seeking help when they need it.
Counseling centers are important (and there may not be enough access for all students), but Liz and Sarah also talked about the importance of schools creating an environment that promotes all-around good health for students.
Sarah and Liz are working on a course to present all they have talked about on their podcast for all to work through, as well as an upcoming book. Stay tuned to their College Is Fine podcast for more information upcoming.
Dr. Liz Seidler’s practice is www.cbtridgefield.com and Dr. Olivo’s practice is drsaraholivo.com
You can find much more information about Dr. Seidler and Dr. Olivo on their website, CollegeIsFine.com, including their podcast, their Youtube channel, and contact information. Be sure to check it out!
Don’t forget that you can listen to all of our previous podcast episodes here or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.
Let us know what you’d like to hear about on future podcasts! Leave a comment below or email us at podcast@collegeparentcentral.com.
