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MD & PhD Student
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Counseling

Life can be stressful while pursuing a graduate or professional degree. The School of Medicine knows this and wants to support you during your time here. As an MD or MD/PhD student, you are eligible for School of Medicine specific counseling support. To schedule an initial assessment or to learn more about available services, please email the counselor you would like to meet with.

Available services include an initial assessment of needs, individualized treatment planning for brief therapy, referral coordination to community-based providers for specialized or ongoing care, connection to group therapy services, and support for medication management. Financial support for out-of-pocket mental health expenses is available if needed. For crisis or 24/7 support, call UNC CAPS at 919-966-3658 or call/text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Mental Health Fund

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Because mental health care is variably covered by insurance, the expense of care can be a barrier for students seeking treatment. We propose establishing a fund of $30,000 to award students grants of up to $500.00 per semester to pay for mental health care not covered by insurance. The $500.00 award may be renewed with documentation from the student’s external mental health care provider that the previous funds were used for services and that there is a need for continuing care. This program is available to current MD Program students and is contingent on the availability of funding.

Learn More:
Mental Health Grants Disbursement Process 2020


(CLICK TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION)


School of Medicine CAPS Counselors

Christine

CAPS Counselor for MD students
About Christine
Christine Crowther is a UNC CAPS Counselor working with MD students at the UNC School of Medicine. Christine has a Masters in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh and a BA in Political Science from UNC Chapel Hill. Christine also has experience providing individual and group psychotherapy to support clients in managing issues including anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, and relationship challenges.
You can contact Christine via email at CCrowther@unc.edu.

Zoe

CAPS Counselor for MD students
About Zoe
Zoe Silverman works with MD students at the UNC School of Medicine as a UNC CAPS Counselor. She received her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and her BA from the George Washington University. Zoe has experience supporting clients who are struggling with anxiety, depression, adjustment, relationships, and other concerns. She strives to create a warm and affirming environment and uses interventions including CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and self-compassion. She is respectful of each client’s unique cultural background and embraces the exploration of intersectional identities as an essential part of her practice.
You can contact Zoe via email at zoe.silverman@unc.edu

 

Embedded Counseling FAQ

 

Embedded Counselors are licensed clinicians employed by UNC Counseling and Psychological Services, who work exclusively with UNC School of Medicine students. Counselors offer brief therapy, and also help students get connected to ongoing therapy, medication management, and a number of other resources and services. Counselors work with students on a range of issues, from anxiety and imposter syndrome to relationship stress, grief, or general feelings of low mood and overwhelm. Appointments are offered in-person and through telehealth. Night and weekend hours are available if needed
Email Christine Crowther or Zoe Silverman.
You will receive an email response with scheduling options for your brief initial appointment. At that visit, you can discuss your concerns and strategize with the therapist around next steps to best to support you. These initial meetings generally take place within a few days. If you are in crisis and need immediate support, walk into CAPS, call 919.966.3568, or contact emergency services.
In brief therapy, you and the therapist will discuss the challenges you are facing and identify specific treatment goals to work on together to address those challenges. While there are not session limits, brief therapy focuses on goals that can be meaningfully addressed in weeks to months, rather than months to years. Often, students will meet with an embedded counselor for brief therapy around a specific issue, and then get connected to open-ended therapy to address broader or more ongoing concerns.
No, your insurance is not billed and there is never any cost associated with meeting with an embedded counselor.
Yes, meetings are confidential, and your information is protected under HIPPA. The only times a therapist would break patient confidentiality would be if there was an immediate safety concern, concern for abuse or neglect of a child or elder, or if records were subpoenaed. CAPS/Campus Health records are entirely separate from hospital/UNC Health records – they are not in EPIC.
No. Many practicing medical professionals receive ongoing mental health treatment. Receiving mental health treatment, obtaining a mental health diagnosis, or taking psychiatric medication does not in itself exclude you from licensure.
The brief therapy model focuses on issues that are relatively well-defined and which can be adequately addressed or resolved in a brief time frame. If you know that you want therapy to be a regular, long-term part of your mental wellness, or if you need ongoing or highly specialized treatment, a provider in the community may be a better fit. This determination is made collaboratively with the embedded counselor at the initial meeting. Referral Coordination support is available to help students get connected to ongoing therapy, and funding may be available to help cover any associated costs.

 

Location

 

The School of Medicine CAPS Counselor Offices are located within School of Medicine buildings. Please discuss meeting location with your counselor.