Life at SUA is a time of great change, transition, and personal growth. It can be exciting, fulfilling, and sometimes challenging. There are times when the demands of university life may feel overwhelming and lead to academic, emotional, and/or social difficulties. Counseling Services provides a safe and confidential place to assist students in coping with the various issues they may encounter. Areas of concern may include:

1. Soka employs April Nelson Afoa who is a licensed mental health professional who provides individual & relational on-campus and tele-health counseling sessions to SUA students. She is located in the Ikeda Library 3rd floor Student Affairs suite, room 309. Because she is often in closed session with other students, the best way to reach her to get more information or to schedule an appointment with her, please email Counseling@soka.edu.
2. Soka is partnered with Carolyn Noble-Loder who runs a private practice near campus with a focus on working with black and African identifying students. Soka students can email noblelmft@gmail.com to schedule an appointment.
3. Soka has contracted Virtual Care Group (VCG), a tele-health platform, that offers on-demand urgent calls 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, on-going counseling appointments with a designated provider who matches students' preferences & needs, and on-going life coaching appointments to address issues such as how to create & live within a budget, how to prioritize & organize your time, how to best approach a problem or make a plan for achieving a goal. Register to access any of VCG's services. Be sure to enter 92656 when prompted.

For more information regarding counseling services, click here!

Soka University operates a free shuttle service for students to get around town. The shuttle leaves from the steps of the Ikeda Library (on the right side, opposite of Grad School) at every half hour and loops around the three shopping plazas nearby campus: Aliso Viejo Town Center, Target shopping center, and Walmart shopping center (See star on map below). Please be at the shuttle stop 5 minutes prior to departure time, as the shuttle will leave on the hour (--:00) or half-hour (--:30).

While students may submit special shuttle requests for destinations within 5-mile radius of campus to purchase food, medicine, and personal items, trip requests to other restaurants, specialty shops, or other destinations will be limited until further notice. Our priority for special shuttle requests will be supporting students' doctor/medical visits.