Students filled the Cal State Fullerton Housing Piazza Thursday night to participate in the Halloween-themed Spooktacular Self-Care Night, joint-hosted by Housing and Residential Engagement and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) from 5-7 p.m.
This is the second year CAPS and HRE have held this free event, inviting both on-campus and commuter students to get together and engage in Halloween-themed activities.
The event featured a photo area, pumpkin and cookie decorating, complimentary hot chocolate, a raffle booth and giveaways. Costumes were encouraged, with the night ending in a contest for the best dressed student.
The event that took the star of the show was the namesake of the night — doggy therapy. Since 2021, CAPS has built a partnership with a volunteer therapy dog program to help put on events like these, which are very popular with students. Thursday’s event featured seven different therapy dogs, with students encouraged to interact with, pet and give treats to the pups.
Well-being and Strategic Initiative Specialist Ken Rios talks about the importance that dogs have in reducing stress, which is a key factor in why CAPS holds these events.
“Just petting a dog and spending time with them helps release that emotional stress,” Rios said. “It helps release those positive endorphins and lowers your cortisol.”
CAPS counselor and Mental Health Liaison for Housing and Residential Engagement Dr. Noemie Cloutier also mentioned how research shows dogs can reduce stress hormones and how that is important to students as academic pressure rises.
Students gathered around a grass patch where the dogs and their handlers set up shop, inviting participants to engage with the dogs and handing out trading cards with the individual therapy dog’s information.
Community was another important factor behind doggy therapy, which is why CAPS teams up with HRE in order to host events that bring students together and build relationships and bonds between the on-campus student body.
“CAPS is one of our really key partners in Housing,” said Director of Residential Engagement Lafayette Baker. “They join our weekly staff meetings, we really consult with them on different ways to care for our students.”
The Spooktacular Self-Care Night offered students a way to relax while also building community, whether that be growing existing connections with friends or bonding with a new person.
Fifth-year psychology student Avon Campovasso emphasizes that events like doggy therapy are good at bringing people together, mentioning friends and bonds they have fostered through meeting people at past CAPS events.
“I would say it’s a mix of the community aspect because so many people come together for doggy therapy,” Campovasso said. “You have people even who don’t live in housing come to doggy therapy and it’s just because, that community aspect, everyone is sharing the experience together.”
Aside from the ever popular doggy therapy, the costume contest was also a hit. Contestants showed off their outfits with the crowd members cheering for their friends or whoever they thought was the best-dressed. First place went to a student dressed as Ariana Grande from the “petal” music video.
Whether it be petting a dog, practicing self-care or highlighting the Halloween spirit to bring people together, students were given the chance to relax for a few hours, have fun and focus on their mental well-being.
“It’s really nice to have the opportunity to get students all together in one space in a way that’s focused around general wellness,” Cloutier said. “Not just individual therapy or case management or psychiatry, but something that’s more centered around students’ general wellness.”
CAPS’ next doggy therapy event will be held in partnership with Titan Future Teachers on Nov. 20 in the Laurel Multipurpose Room from 10:30 a.m. to noon.