Individual SHARE Support

Individual Peer Support Drop-Ins: Spring 2023

Individual drop-in peer support with SHARE Support Specialists is now available to all UT Austin students! Support Specialists are certified in Mental Health First Aid and have a semester+ of training in how to help others explore and articulate thoughts and emotions, navigate tough situations or decisions, identify their strengths, and connect to other resources.

Individual meetings with SHARE may be helpful for students who:

• are undecided about whether to pursue therapy (or any other campus resource) and want to learn more about their options from a student’s perspective.
• want to improve their social confidence, self-compassion, or relationships but find older adults intimidating to reach out to for help.
• have difficulty talking about mental health or seeking support and could use reassurance from someone with a similar background.
• need someone to vent to about the stresses of life so they can avoid placing the burden entirely on family, friends, or partners.
• want help from a third party to talk through complex situations, make tough decisions, or define personal wellness goals.
• already have a relationship with a therapist, but want to connect with a peer in a non-clinical setting to talk about their shared experiences and/or diagnoses and exchange coping strategies.

Scheduling & Availability

SHARE Support Specialists’ current drop-in availability is listed below, and is subject to change; we will do our best to keep the below information up to date.

All UT students are welcome to meet with any of our peers, but some Specialists have also chosen to position themselves as “Liaisons” for peers in specific academic colleges/areas of study, or for peers carrying specific identities or lived experiences. Most drop-ins take place in a physical space, but limited Zoom drop-ins are available and more may be added throughout the semester.

Learn more about the SHARE Support Specialists by reading their individual bios and interest areas on our Who We Are page, and feel free to explore our other peer support offerings for more opportunities!

Chandni Bhagtaney, SHARE Liaison for Pre-Med Students

• In-Person
• Thursdays 9 to 11 a.m.
• Longhorn Wellness Center, SSB 1.106

Shihe Chen, SHARE Liaison for International Students

• In-Person
• Wednesdays 3 to 5 p.m.
• Perry-Castañeda Library, PCL 5.501

Ana Guevara, SHARE Liaison for First Gen Students / Women in Natural Sciences

• Virtual
• Fridays 1:30 to 3 p.m.
• Zoom Check-In Form Form is only monitored during scheduled hours

Julia Mahavier, SHARE Liaison for Moody College of Communication

• In-Person
• Tuesdays 10 a.m. to noon
• Moody Student Success Suite, DMC 1.206E

Sophia Ortley-Guthrie, General Support

• In-Person
• Wednesdays 10 a.m. to noon
• Longhorn Wellness Center, SSB 1.106

Miriam Pereira Martinez, General Support

• In-Person
• Mondays 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
• Perry-Castañeda Library, PCL 5.501

Kaya Stiffel, SHARE Liaison for Neurodiverse Students / College of Liberal Arts

• Virtual
• Tuesdays & Thursdays 1 to 2 p.m.
• Zoom Check-In Form Form is only monitored during scheduled hours

Kayla Wong, SHARE Liaison for McCombs School of Business

• In-Person
• Thursdays 2 to 4 p.m.
• McCombs Wellness Center, CBA 3.204

Donya Yazdi, SHARE Liaison for College of Natural Sciences / Pre-Health Students

• In-Person
• Wednesdays 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
• Longhorn Wellness Center, SSB 1.106