Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine

Sarah Kate Griffin joined the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine as wellness coordinator/counselor in early September. "Supporting individuals that are helper/healers is something that I am passionate about – and I cannot wait to bring that passion to the students here!" she said. "In my free time, I enjoy Crossfit, reading and (slowly) figuring out how to garden. We don’t have a puppy yet, but that’s on our list this year, so welcoming all recommendations!"

In her role, she will provide counseling services for the student body and support overall wellness for the college broadly. We sat down with her for a Q&A about her passion and approach to counseling and its importance for veterinary students.  

Why are you passionate about counseling? 
I am passionate about helping people, especially people who are in helping professions. I think counseling is an opportunity and invitation to connect with yourself, intentionally moving towards a direction you want to go. Often helper/healers are giving at the expense of themselves; and I think counseling is one way to challenge that outcome. 

I have seen mental health counseling benefits in my own personal experiences, the experiences of close family and friends, and the experiences of clients. It’s encouraging to say “yes” and see others say “yes” to connecting with themselves in a world where distraction, disconnection, and dissociation run wild. 

What's your counseling philosophy? 
I approach counseling from a person-centered lens. In that, I believe that the client is the expert on themselves, and that my role is to come alongside them in holding space and navigating what it means to move through the world. I also incorporate pieces from personality assessments, internal family systems, mindfulness, and solution focused therapy. 

What are the unique challenges that face veterinary students?

Students pursuing such a rigorous career path could be facing immense pressures on performance and perfectionism. In addition, the rate at which veterinary students are growing their knowledge and experience is rapid. Transitioning from undergraduate to professional school can be difficult, so the first year is full of navigating learning curves, adjustment to a new college, building relationships, and balancing high pressure course work with life.

With that being said, it can be easy to go into autopilot, with opportunities for ignoring physiological and emotional signals and “just pushing through.” Finding balance (wellness) is something that could feel almost impossible, and the challenges of patient care and high stress environments can add to the battle. Seeking wellness can feel like the opposite of the path to becoming a DVM, and requires intentionality, prioritization, and consistency for there to be balance. My hope is to present resources, support and encouragement for this balance in my role.

Why is counseling and wellness so important for veterinary students?
Wellness is important because these students have come in passionate about helping animals and their humans – but if the students don’t or can’t take care of themselves and begin that process of caring for themselves now, the sustainability of their enjoyment and participation in a career they have sacrificed so much for will be compromised.

It’s easy to give and give and give. And they have chosen a career path that is taxing – and starting early to seek and be curious about ways to find balance in their lives is a skill that is necessary as a student and beyond. Building the skills now allows for the strengthening of those skills throughout their career! 

Counseling, in many forms such as single sessions, brief, short term, long term, and groups, can be helpful for connecting with yourself, identifying your goals, and working towards those goals in small and large ways. Counseling is also a confidential place for support and release – it’s easy to bottle up the impacts of this career path. Counseling is an outlet to process the experiences students are having. 

What are your hopes for building on the counseling and wellness services at the college? 
My hopes are that students feel more connected to themselves and each other. I think this connection can come through intentionality around all dimensions of wellness. I hope that students feel seen in the various wellness offerings, participate in their own pursuit of wellness and that the college continues their efforts to the prioritization of wellness for the community. I have been enjoying my training and connecting with voices within college and Oregon State University, and I look forward to all that is to come in supporting students and this community as the wellness coordinator/counselor.