Counseling services at the University of California, Davis: helping medical students cope

Abstract

Our on-site counseling for medical students at UCD School of Medicine has provided easily accessible services by psychologists who understand the rules, values, and traditions of the medical training experience. We also have had the benefit of a close working relationship with the faculty, staff, and administration of the School of Medicine. Counseling can facilitate exploration of personal issues that have been exposed during medical training, and it offers medical students an opportunity to learn new coping skills and enhance their understanding of themselves and their training environment, which in turn contributes to their professional growth. On-site psychological services also provide faculty and staff with a referral resource when they encounter students who present with specific psychological challenges and concerns. We encourage students who are experiencing the stress of their arduous training experience to seek counseling when their usual coping strategies are exhausted. We encourage other medical schools to provide effective, accessible counseling services to their students. These services will assist in the development of a training atmosphere in which students can learn that medical education involves their whole person.