Luis G. Salas, LCSW
Case Manager
Assistant Advisor for United Support Network
Pronouns: He/Him/El
Areas of Special Interest Heading link
Paraprofessional administration, supervising/mentoring student volunteers, mental health issues, college adjustment issues, social justice, multicultural issues, relational issues, family issues, domestic violence, suicide assessment and safety planning, crisis intervention, Latinx issues, career planning and mentoring (for students who are planning to pursue advanced degrees and careers in the Mental Health Fields), personality disorders, and PTSD.
Liaison to Heading link
- Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services Program (LARES)
- Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Latinos
- Jane Addams College of Social Work
- Office of Applied Psychological Services (OAPS)
Languages Spoken Heading link
- English
- Spanish
Education and Training Heading link
Masters in Social Work | University of Illinois at Chicago | 2009
Second Year Masters Internship | The Community Reintegration Program at the UIC Department of Psychiatry’s Neuropsychiatric Institute
First Year Masters Internship | Hartgrove Hospital
What I Do at the Counseling Center Heading link
As a Case Manager, I…
- Provide mental health referrals for students who have been recommended to pursue referrals in the community and assist them in getting connected to providers in the community, and can provide other non-mental health referrals/resources as needed
- If needed, can meet with, and assist students in navigating their insurance, either private insurance or Campus Care, for mental health services
- Can provide referrals for Faculty and Staff
- Update and maintain referral database
- Follow-up with students who have been referred out to see if they scheduled appointments, if they need additional referrals, or are having trouble getting connected
- Have provided supervision to predoctoral student who conducted therapy sessions in Spanish
As the Assistant Advisor for the United Support Network (USN), I…
- Co-manage the United Support Network Program providing supervision, oversight, and crisis protocols to group leaders and student e-board members.
- Assist in the development, training, mentoring, and supervision of students who are enrolled in PSCH 386 to prepare them to become peer-to-peer support group leaders for the United Support Network
- Provide advisory around website/social media content to the United Support Network’s student e-board
- Provide advice around outreach events / marketing / fundraising to the United Support Network’s student e-board
- Can supervise 1st year MSW student who wishes to intern with the United Support Network (please note potential intern candidates must meet specific criteria to be accepted as an intern such as completion of PSCH 386 at UIC, and extensive group therapy experience).
About Me Heading link
As a person who is very empathic and emotionally supportive, who wanted to make a difference, and always willing to help others with their relationship and emotional problems, naturally I was drawn to the fields of Psychology and Social Work. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology from UIC. As an undergrad I had an opportunity of a lifetime to not only get hands-on experience in the field and make difference, but also acquired lifelong friendships, when I took a class (PSCH 386 Crisis Counseling Techniques I) which trained students to acquire basic counseling and crisis intervention skills so they can eventually volunteer for the then UIC InTouch Crisis and Support Hotline. Volunteering at the Hotline was a life changer and solidified my passion to work in the Mental Health Field. After graduating college in 2003, I went on to work at the National Runaway Safeline, a crisis hotline for runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth. I eventually went on to get my Masters in Social Work from UIC. While working on my Masters, I was also the TA for PSCH 386 and supervisor for the then UIC Crisis and Support Hotline. After graduating with my Masters degree in Social Work in 2009, I worked at a Community Mental Health Center, and then a psychiatric hospital for adolescents and adults before coming back to UIC. I have been working at the UIC Counseling Center since October of 2012 as the case manager and also managed the UIC Crisis and Support Hotline, which has since evolved to the United Support Network, a Peer-to-Peer Support group program on campus. Talk about coming full circle.
In my spare time I like to walk, listen to music (mostly Rock/Pop, Rock/Pop en Español, and 80s-2010s), attend concerts (mostly of popular artists), and make music and movie playlists. I was/am an avid Chicago sports fan and love to attend games when I can. I also like movies of all kinds but big on The Crow, Star Wars, Marvel, Disney/Pixar, DC, La Bamba. I have a large collection of movies both physical and digital. I don’t watch much tv nowadays, but some modern shows I love are Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, the Mandalorian, and Hawkeye. I also like to spend time with my nieces and nephew. I like to incorporate pop culture in my sessions and meetings with clients as evident in the “vision board” I created and have in my office.