By Taylor Stewart (Marketing Specialist, UAB Student Affairs Marketing & Communications)

A big misconception about counseling is that it is a very stiff and cold environment where you lay on the couch and talk about whatever to a person who is emotionally distant. That could not be further from the truth,” says Oliver Smith, Blazers Let’s Talk’s newest Counselor-in-Resident.

Blazers Let’s Talk is a collaborative effort between Student Counseling Services (SCS) and Student Housing and Residence Life (SHRL) to give all Blazers who live on-campus access to mental health services. These walk-in hours are available to all on-campus residents Monday through Friday from 4 to 5 p.m.

All meetings take place in Camp Hall room 105, are confidential and are 15-20 minutes long. UAB’s Counselor in Residence staff offers walk-in services, single sessions, grief counseling, and group/couples counseling. Counselors can also help you schedule a follow-up appointment with SCS and even offer referrals.

Smith graduated from The University of Montevallo with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 2020 and a Master of Education in clinical mental health counseling in 2023. In college, he served as a Resident Assistant and was an active member of Phi Gamma Delta and the Honors program.

Smith views his role as a counselor as being a fellow traveler, “While I do not know everything and do not have all the answers, I am happy to walk with you and find the answer together. Part of this is non-judgement. We are all human. We all make mistakes, and that is the beauty of our journey through life.”

We asked Oliver five questions to get to know him better:

• What is your comfort TV show?
  While it may be childish, I shamelessly love Regular Show. I grew up watching it and love its absurd sense of humor. With that, I also love King of the Hill and Futurama.
• Where’s your favorite spot to grab a snack on campus?
  If I had to pick one, it would be Einstein’s (Einstein Bros. Bagels). I love their coffee, and I am a sucker for their bagels, especially on busy mornings when I need something to get my day started.
• If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be?
  At this point, it's probably coffee-flavored due to all of the coffee I have drank and how I absolutely love it.
• Who is your favorite fictional character?
  I am a huge sucker for Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars. I love his story/character development in the storyline, and I love his overall personality.
• Where is your favorite place to eat in Birmingham?
  My favorite spot has to be Bay Leaf in 5 Points. I actually never tried Indian food prior to eating there with my girlfriend one day, and we both fell in love with it. Since we both love it, it is a frequent date night spot for us!

To learn more about this service, click here. To stay up to date on all events, services, and programs hosted by Student Counseling Services, follow @UABSCS.