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Counseling and Wellness Office

PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH A PLACE TO Grow and learn

The CUNY School of Medicine is an exciting and challenging academic journey. Its intensive academic and professional program is a platform for tremendous personal growth.

It is not uncommon for students to experience stress and anxiety during the course of their studies. Often, students find it useful to take advantage of the CUNY Med Counseling Office to help address their concerns.

  • The Counseling and Wellness Office provides students with a place to speak privately about these concerns or others. We meet in offices in Harris Hall or on Zoom.
  • The Counseling and Wellness Office provides evaluations and counseling, crisis intervention, psychopharmacology, groups and workshops.
  • The Counseling and Wellness Office maintains a strict confidentiality.
  • The Counseling Office services are free for all students.
The office is staffed by psychologists, clinical social workers and a psychiatrist, who are available to address a variety of questions and concerns that often arise. These may include:

  • Stress management

  • Feelings of anxiety and depression

  • Time management

  • Questions about relationships and developing a social life

  • Learning to balance academics with other life demands

  • Questions about career paths

  • Negotiating family responsibilities

  • Helping families understand what student life is about

  • Concerns about sexuality

  • Alcohol and substance misuse

Download our counseling brochure

Counseling Office Staff

On Campus (and on Zoom)

Off-Campus Clinicians (zoom appointments) – These Clinicians are accessed through referrals only through the counselor’s office.

  • Janice Bennett, Ph.D.
  • Eduvigis Cruz-Arrieta, Ph.D.
  • Seymour Pardo, Ph.D.
  • Judith Roth, Ph.D.
  • Eric Rubin, M.D.
  • Addette Williams, Ph.D.
  • Mougeh Yasai, Ph.D.
  • Paul Pomerantz M.D.

To Make an Appointment

To schedule an appointment or for further information, please email Dr. Victor Schwartz at: [email protected] or [email protected].

Or call 212-650-8429 and leave your name, phone number, and some convenient times that you can be reached.

Confidentiality Assured

For urgent problems or to get immediate help after business hours or on a weekend, you can reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or Crisis Text Line by texting “start” to 741-741.

These are both free services available 24/7 for people in acute distress.

*** In the event of an emergency, call 911 or go to the Mount Sinai Morningside Emergency Room located at 113th Street and Amsterdam Avenue OR go to the nearest Emergency Room.

Learn about these 8 dimensions of wellness.

Emotional wellness is integral to overall well-being. If you’re having difficulty striking the right balance and keeping stress at bay, the Counseling/Wellness Office can help. We provide access to on-campus resources for counseling, and academic support, and can provide referrals to top mental health practitioners. We can also help you find non-medical ways of integrating emotional balance into your daily routine.

 

Please find some resources to aid in your emotional wellness below:

*** In the event of an emergency, call 911 OR go to the Mount Sinai Morningside Emergency Room located at 113th Street and Amsterdam Avenue OR go to the nearest Emergency Room.***

 

THE TREVOR PROJECT for students identifying as LGBTQ (24/7):

Provides crisis intervention for students age 25 and under identifying as LGBTQ. Support on a variety of issues affecting emotional well-being, whether or not concerns are directly related to identifying as LGBTQ.

For info about phone and chat services: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

Call: 1-866-488-7386 or text 678-678 to chat

 

CRISIS HELP: NYC Well (24/7):

Speak with a professional or peer counselor for confidential, non-judgmental emotional support, suicide prevention, crisis support, and help accessing mental health and substance abuse care.

Chat online: https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/ 

Call: 1-888-NYC-WELL or 1-888-692-9355

Text: Text WELL to 65173

English: 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355) – Press 2 Call 711 (Relay Service for Deaf/Hard of Hearing)

Español: 1-888-692-9355, Press 3

 

SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE (24/7):

Free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.

Call: 988 | TTY: 1-800-799-4889

Chat online: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat 

 

Mental Health Resources for People of Color:

The Office of Financial Aid is available to assist you in applying for and understanding the finance options for your education as a medical student. The process of obtaining financial aid, along with sustaining funds for living, may be burdensome. 

 

We also provide assistance on how to budget and manage your finances from your first year of medical school through residency. Undergraduate financial aid assistance is provided by the City College Financial Aid Office.

 

Please find some resources to aid in your financial wellness below:

 

General Tips: 

Quick Fact: Making your own coffee at home five times a week can save you over $300 a year versus a $2 cup of coffee you’d buy out.

Wellness starts with good physical health. Being busy with classes and rotations can sometimes take a toll on your own health. We strongly believe that taking care of your overall health comes first. You cannot care for others if you are not well.

 

Please find some resources to aid in your health and wellness below:

Quick Fact: Get some sleep! Chronic low-grade sleep deprivation and poor sleep habits harm not only your academic & clinical performances but also your health  The Doctor’s Table

Success in medical school is based, in large part, on the rapid acquisition of a vast volume of knowledge. The Wellness/Counseling Office is committed to making the stress of learning manageable. Sophie Davis/CUNY School of Medicine offers academic support to all students free of charge through our Learning Resource Center (LRC), located in Harris Hall 114. The LRC provides students with access to individual and group tutoring sessions, exam review workshops, academic software, habits, and time management skills.

 

Please find some resources to aid in your health and wellness below:

Quick Fact: “Studying with other people can help you to personalize and interact with the material.”

Our food choices can have a significant impact on our physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. Eating properly can make us more efficient in our work, and more focused and energetic overall. Sophie Davis/CUNY School of Medicine supports making healthy food choices on and off campus! 

Please find some resources to aid in your health and wellness below:

Local Farmer’s Markets 

  • Harlem Hospital Market
    Location: W. 137th St. & Lenox Ave, New York, NY 10037
    Hours: Fridays, 8am – 7pm/ Market Open Year Round
    Features Cooking Demonstrations 
  • West Harlem Farm Stand
    Location: Broadway between W. 137th St. and W. 138th St
    Hours: Tuesday, 8am – 4pm. June 5th – Nov 20th 
  • 125th Street Farmer’s Market
    Location: Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 163 W. 125th St, NYC 10027
    Hours: Tuesdays, 10:00am – 7:00pm 
  • Columbia Thursday Greenmarket
    Location: Broadway between 114th & 116th Streets, Manhattan
    Hours: Thursdays, 8:00 am – 5:00pm. Year-Round Market. This location is also open Sundays. 
  • Lenox Ave Farm Stand
    Location: Lenox Ave between W. 117 St. and W. 118 St. New York, NY 10026
    Hours: Saturdays, 8:00am – 4:00pm. June 9th – Nov 17th. 
  • Harvest Home Farmer’s Market
    Location: 104 E. 126th St. #3D. New York, Ny 10035
    Phone: (212) 828-3361 
  • Metropolitan Market
    Location: E. 98th Street and 2nd Avenue New York, NY 10029
    Hours: Fridays, 8:00am – 4:00pm. June 8th – Nov 16th. 

Quick Fact: Google has a nutritional information search function, making it simple to look up calories, protein, carbs, and other nutrients for nearly any food or dish! 

https://greatist.com/health/google-releases-nutritional-information-053013#1

Staying physically fit is much-needed in medical school and throughout your whole career. Sophie Davis/CUNY School of Medicine encourages both exercise and other healthy ways to take care of your body. CCNY’s Wingate Hall offers a fitness center on campus, open to all students, faculty, and staff. 

Please find some resources to aid in your physical fitness wellness below:

Quick Fact: Working out can boost your mood! Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed. Mayo Clinic

Social wellness starts with a sense of community and connection. Sophie’s Pulse hopes to help build a community of students who will share experiences and support each other over the years they are in medical school and beyond. Balancing hard work with good times and lasting friendships is a vital aspect of well-being. 

 

Please find some resources to aid in your health and wellness below:

 

Quick Fact: Laughter is one of the best medicines. Have a laugh to sleep better, feel better, and even protect against heart attacks. 

https://greatist.com/health/how-important-it-laugh-ourselves-even-about-health#1

The definition of spiritual wellness varies from person to person, but feeling grounded is probably the most common characteristic. The pressures of medical school can sometimes lead students to neglect this aspect of their well-being.

Whether it’s through yoga, mindfulness, or a more traditional religious practice, Sophie Davis/CUNY School of Medicine seeks to ensure that everyone has a wide range of options to stay centered and reflective. 

Please find some resources to aid in your spiritual wellness below:

Mindfulness Sites: 

PLACES OF WORSHIP NEAR SOPHIE DAVIS/CUNY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

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  • United Moravian Church
    Address: 470 W. 143rd St. New York, NY 10031 between Convent & Amsterdam Ave.
    Phone: (212) 234-5581

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  • Ipul Manhattan Pentecostal Church
    Address: 541 W. 145th St. 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10031
    Phone: (917) 295-0825

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  • Murid Islamic Community in America
    Address: 46 Edgecombe Ave, New York, NY 10030
    Phone: (212) 234-0130 
  • Futa Islamic Center
    Address: 207 W 135th St. New York, NY 10030
    Phone: (646) 597-1170

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  • Masjid Al Firdaus
    Address: 207 W 135th St, New York, NY 10030

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Religious Clubs at CCNY​

CCNY Gospel Choir

The CCNY Gospel Choir is a Christian club on campus whose goal is to spreal the gospel of Jesus Chris in a universal language through music. It has been on campus since 2008, and is integrated into the student life by performing at various on-campus events. Its goal is to allow choir members to express themselves musically while progressing spiritually.

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Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF)

The mission of the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship is to establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities of students and faculty who follow Jesus as Savior and Lord, growing in love for God, God’s word, God’s people of every ethnicity and culture, and God’s purposes in the world. 

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CCNY Hillel

CCNY Hillel is committed to supporting the growing Jewish community and anyone with Jewish identity at City College. It is Hillel’s goal to provide a place for all kinds of Jews to come together and connect with their culture. Its goal is to create a warm, friendly atmosphere for all the Jews on the City Collge campus. 

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Chabad of CCNY

Chabad is a Jewish club on campus with the mission of reaching out to every Jewish student and faculty member. It aims to give them a space to practice their Judaism on campus, as well as foster a sense of Jewish pride, raise awareness, and educate the community while building the Jewish community at CCNY. 

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Muslim Student’s Organization

The Muslim Students’ Organization’s mission is to provide a place where Muslims can worship freely. We also plan classes, events, and set up tables to spread awareness, as well as benefit the community. This club was founded over 30 years ago and still continues to be one of the most vibrant and active clubs in CCNY. 

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Muslims Giving back @CCNY

A student organization at the City College of New York based on the non-profit organization, Muslims Giving Back (MGB) which is dedicated to upholding the true image of Islam through action. As the City College Chapter of the organization, the club MGB @CCNY consists of students from a wide variety of backgrounds who genuinely enjoy giving back and serving the community, MGB recognizes the need for constructive interaction among students of various disciplines and desires to unite City College students by means of community service. 

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Women in Islam

Women in Islam at The City College of New York aims to serve the campus community by clearing misconceptions of Islam and bringing communication and understanding between groups of various origins. 

Quick Fact: While Yoga can make us limber, help us relieve anxiety and pain, and reduce blood pressure, new studies show it may actually make our brain work better too.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-benefits-of-yoga

We all need to create a “wellness toolkit” for ourselves (unless you already have one!). A good recipe for self-care includes:

  • Nutrition – What have you been eating? Can you plan for a healthy variety of nutritious foods? How about finding a new recipe and trying it?
  • Sleep – It’s time to think about a good “sleep routine” – and how many hours you need/are getting.
  • Water – Good old H2O – so important to be drinking daily!!
  • Movement – Some regular movement – walking, running, biking, yoga, swimming – what kind of exercise/movement works for you?
  • Make a plan – I always recommend that you wake up and start your day with a plan; get “ready” as if you’re going to work/school – even if working from home.
  • Mindfulness/meditation/mindful breathing – Start a routine!
  • Set boundaries – Time between work/school and time for you; others and time for you; set aside and protect “you” time – when you’re not doing work and/or school.
  • Social – Connect with others – don’t isolate yourself & lean on your loving network.
  • Daily spiritual practice – Important for many people, not for everyone – but we all can practice self-compassion!
  • READ!
  • Creative outlet – Find something other than school or work that you get some pleasure from.

*Take some time to think about what to put into your toolkit, and dedicate yourself to using your tools to foster taking even better care of yourself. 

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**You can’t show up for others if you don’t take care of yourself –  BE INTENTIONAL

 

Make your own toolkit – and see what works for you!

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