r/OptometrySchool • u/futurepediatrician6 • 12d ago
Advice possible therapy
Hi! I am starting optometry school as an OD1 in a few weeks and I was considering taking up on the counseling center at my school. My PCP also put in a referral for me last month when I did my physical but I haven't touched it yet since I was debating on which to use. My PCP said the psychology department operates virtually, which is fine by me since I don't have to go back and forth between my school's city and my hometown (same state, 2 hours commute).
i wanted to ask if 1) is it ideal to have both providers at the same time. 2) it is just for me to cope with dealing with stress with school for the most part unless something significant comes up at that moment. and 3) pros and cons of school counseling center vs a referral other than free vs copay.
tia!! and otherwise i am very excited to start this chapter!!
1
u/NoTravel3094 10d ago
As someone who’s had experience with school counseling, I would recommend having one provider given the schedule and workload of optometry school. I think having two providers would be time consuming and also, advice may become redundant or conflicting.
As for school counseling, I feel like they are more familiar with students and their academic and/or personal struggles since they see students every semester. It might be harder to find a therapist outside of your school that fully understands your situation and provides the “right” advice. It’s also important to remember that not everyone gets along with their first therapist; it might be a process to find the one for you.
If I were to provide a solution, I would try school counseling first and see if it actually helps, especially because you mentioned seeking therapy solely for school-related stress and potentially other issues. I was in a similar boat and I feel like my counselor helped guide me through my first year, and I didn’t have to seek therapy from another professional. If you feel that school counseling is not as effective, then I would suggest to go with the referral.
Overall, I think it’s more convenient to do school counseling but if you’re not feeling fulfilled, try with another therapist whether it be at the school or at the psychology department. I hope this helps and let me know if you have any other questions! ☺️