Medical How to find mental health expert counseling when I don't want to use the school's?

[Goro]

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I am a nontrad OMS-II struggling with Covid-19 isolation, med school and board prep. I don't want to use my school mental health counselors (for confidentiality purposes; I know it's SUPPOSED to be, but...) but want to speak with someone who is familiar with med student struggles.

Any suggestions on where to look? Google searches aren't helpful.

Ask your doctor or a trusted faculty advisor/mentor.

And yes, counseling IS confidential. Don't use a bogus fear of being outed to PDs (a HIPAA violation) to avoid your school's counselors.

 

[GoSpursGo]

I think you have an understandable but unfounded concern about confidentiality. While 10-15 years ago there may have been a valid concern about what you discuss making it back to your school, this has received so much attention recently that any real conflict of interest for the counselors shouldn't exist any longer. And it's generally free, while mental health services outside of your school may be pricey.

That said, if you're still concerned, calling your school's counseling office might still be a reasonable place to start. Because they have to be able to refer patients to someone else in the community when their enrollment ends (and thus mental health benefits end as well), they often have a list of services in the community that can help. Just realize that you're never going to get someone who is as "familiar with med student struggles" as the people at your school, because most people in school use the services there.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I would use your school counselor first.

 

[futureapppsy2]

Actually, counseling offices through universities DO have less confidentiality. They are covered by FERPA, not HIPAA, which means other university offices can request your counseling records in the event that they have a “reasonable need” to do so to protect the institution. This rarely happens but it has and can.