Psychologist Beth Cohen of the Academic and Staff Assistance Program has a whole new perspective on life, literally.

For one, she is seeing the world from a whole new place, Davis, California — a far cry from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles County.

Secondly, she is working at UC Davis, where she said experts are all around to help her with her work. "I think the collaboration is phenomenal," she said.

Cohen joined the Academic and Staff Assistance Program, or ASAP, as clinical director a year ago, and she became interim director of the overall program when Sally Harvey retired last month. ASAP's job is to provide assessment and consultation, and, if required, referral to outside providers for long-term care. Cohen noted that the program is a free benefit for all employees, and it is also available to close family members. All services are provided on a confidential basis.

Harvey, who ran ASAP for 17 years, said Cohen is "terrific at what she does, really good at finding answers to questions she doesn't know the answers to initially, and she always gets the job done."

Cohen explained what brought her to Davis: For nearly 23 years, she had encouraged other people "to find out what it is they need in their lives to be healthy and satisfied, to create balance in their lives."

Then one day, she put herself in her clients' shoes and said, 'Let me walk my talk!' "

Cohen said life in Manhattan Beach had turned scary. Sure, it has an idyllic name — it is a beach city, after all — but it is still in LA County. She recalled how two adults on bicycles had been struck by cars and killed.

She wanted a rural life for her and her family. In Davis, Cohen said, "we are riding our bikes all over town, and it's fun."

And they are frequenting the farmers market. "I've never eaten better vegetables in my whole life."

She said her work-life balance is doing just fine — and she and her colleagues at ASAP strive to help other university employees achieve the same satisfaction.

Many obstacles can get in the way. There can be chronic illness, drug or alcohol abuse, or stress on the job or at home. People may be dealing with relationship problems or eldercare issues.

"People are dealing with a lot of life issues," Cohen said.

ASAP puts on a number of workshops throughout the year on such topics as anger management, dealing with difficult people, perfectionism and workaholism, managing change, and talking with children about tough issues — war and terrorism, for example.

Counselors welcome clients who come forward on their own, and ASAP reaches out as well, by training supervisors to be on the lookout for employees who may be in need of ASAP's services. Sometimes supervisors will summon ASAP to help a group of employees, say, who are dealing with grief upon learning that a co-worker has died or has a serious illness.

For individual cases, a supervisor can suggest a visit to ASAP. If the employee is reluctant to go, a supervisor might volunteer to walk the person to the ASAP offices, Cohen said.

Or, to fight the stigma often associated with counseling, a supervisor might confide that he or she has sought help from ASAP previously.

Cohen said she emphasizes wellness of body, mind and spirit. She said meditation can help, and, as a certified meditation instructor, she will be leading an eight-week meditation group. "The goal is to place our bodies in a calm state," she said.

She also espouses the benefits of walking. She belongs to Aggies On the Move, a campus organization that promotes walking as exercise.

And, as a specialist in eldercare issues, Cohen said she is collaborating with the university's Staff Work-Life unit to develop a program for people who are juggling work and taking care of their parents.

The important thing is for people to know about the assistance program in whatever way possible, via workshops, support groups or counseling, Cohen said. To help further this cause, she and her colleagues have embarked on an initiative called "Meet the New ASAP."

Not "new" as in a new program, but "new" as in new staff. Cohen pointed out that she and her entire staff — three other licensed counselors and three interns — are all new to ASAP within the last year and three months.

The mission remains the same. "Sally's goal is my goal," said Cohen, referring to her predecessor, "to promote life satisfaction, productivity and work-life balance."

And, Cohen said, she will call upon Harvey for her "sage wisdom and advice."