VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Counseling Services

VCOM Internal Counseling Services VCOM’s Mental Health Counselors provide assistance to students experiencing individual stressors and/or difficulty with personal levels of functioning and are available for any student seeking assistance with preserving or restoring their mental health. The assistance provided to students is conceptualized holistically with attention to contextual influences on persons’ lives influenced by the stress of medical school and in relationship to their family, societal, historical, cultural, and socioeconomic concerns. The counseling sessions are available to address emotional and social issues that may be impeding the student’s progress. The counseling services at VCOM focus on wellness and a holistic approach to mental health. All student information gained during the counseling sessions are confidential to the student and counselor (unless required by law for a student at considered at risk). To schedule an appointment, students should call or email VCOM’s Mental Health Counselor or contact CIFSS for assistance in making the appointment if needed. Appointments may be conducted as in-person meetings or via ZOOM or phone if a student is located away from campus. VCOM recognizes that there are issues that a student may not wish to discuss with a VCOM counselor or that there may be mental health issues that require ongoing care. For such instances, VCOM has contracted with external counseling services (see info below). Auburn Campus Mary Ann Taylor, PhD, MS Office: 250 334-442-4037 mtaylor@auburn.vcom.edu Carolinas Campus Natalie Fadel, PsyD Office: 123 864-327-9875 nfadel@carolinas.vcom.edu

Louisiana Campus John Webb, PhD, LPC-S, PLMFT Office: 211 318-342-7178 jwebb@ulm.vcom.edu

Virginia Campus

Ed Magalhaes, PhD, LPC Office: 240 540-231-1944 emagalhaes@vcom.edu

External Counseling Services In addition to VCOM’s Mental Health Counselors who provide confidential counseling services, VCOM contracts with mental health providers in the campus community to assure that VCOM students have readily accessible mental health services when preferred by the student. The fee for the first four visits, per incident, are covered by the agreement between VCOM and these agencies and is free to students and their immediate families. Visits beyond this will be at the expense of the student (or the student’s family member). The purpose of the sessions will be: (1) to provide crisis intervention and counseling services; (2) to determine the participant’s need for assistance, counseling, and treatment; or, (3) if appropriate, to refer the participant to one or more resources for assistance or treatment. These services include a 24-hour emergency counseling services hotline that is available to support students outside of regular hours. Students who require psychiatric support or physician’s evaluation and support will be referred for external medical/counseling services.

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