Counseling Services
The Graduate Medical Education (GME) Counseling Service provides free and confidential counseling services to residents and fellows (“trainees”) of SUNY Downstate, regardless of paysource. Two Licensed Clinical Social Workers are available to provide screenings, evaluations, short-term psychotherapy, and/or referrals to psychiatry and other behavioral health services.
The GME Counseling Service is not part of the administration of SUNY Downstate. Any involvement with the Counseling Service will be kept strictly confidential and records of visits will not be accessible to administrative staff, nor will they be released without written permission from the trainee, except when required by law. No counseling information is included in a trainee’s academic record.
All services are offered in a safe, accepting, and non-judgmental environment.
Services Offered
Single Session Counseling
A confidential 45-minute one-time only, solution-focused session. This type of counseling may be appropriate if you have a good understanding of what the issue or concern is and are seeking help developing a plan of how to address it. The following are examples of topics that may be appropriate for single session counseling:
- Establishing coping mechanisms to manage anxiety
- An interpersonal conflict with a family member, friend, colleague, supervisor or patient
- Experiencing a patient death
- Struggling with feelings of inadequacy
- Preparing for a test
- Improving communication skills
Short-term Individual Counseling
Confidential 45-minute sessions that allow for exploration of personal concerns. The recommended frequency and duration of treatment will be determined on a case-by-case basis by your counselor and will be based on the presenting issue and counselor availability. The following are examples of topics that may be appropriate for short-term counseling:
- Academic stress/burnout
- Anxiety, panic, and worry
- Depression
- Identity and self-esteem issues
- Becoming or being a parent
- Cultural adaptation
- Compassion fatigue
- Secondary trauma
Referrals
If you need a mental health service that GME Counseling does not provide, a counselor will provide you with an appropriate referral(s) and work with you to ensure you are properly connected to it. The following are examples of referrals that GME Counseling provides:
- Psychiatric evaluations and/or medication management consultations
- Long-term individual counseling
- Couples or family counseling
- Disordered eating
- Substance abuse
Not sure what you’re looking for? That’s okay! A GME Counselor will meet with you to discuss your needs and help you develop a plan of action.
For general inquiries, please send a message to GMECounseling@downstate.edu