Meet Sean Martin, SGS Wellness Counsellor
On September 16, Sean Martin stepped into the Graduate Wellness Counsellor role at 63/65 St. George, taking over from Saretta Herman, who is currently on maternity leave. In October, he launched the first grad student wellness workshop of the 2017-18 year, and he has already been busy helping graduate students learn how to find greater balance in their academic and personal lives.
Sean Martin, SGS Wellness Counsellor
Having worked at the University of Toronto Mississauga Health & Counselling Centre for seven years, Sean can say with confidence that stress and anxiety are common feelings among students. He also readily admits that sources of anxiety for graduate students tend to be different from those of undergraduates, and may revolve around how to juggle family responsibilities with academic work, how to stay motivated during the dissertation phase, or how to feel confident in one’s ability to perform at a graduate level.
Through brief counselling and wellness workshops, Sean hopes to show graduate students some strategies to “pull back from catastrophic thinking,” enabling them to “turn down the volume” on fears and anxieties and gain a more objective perspective on their situation. He is quick to point out that every effort is made to make graduate students feel as comfortable as possible when seeking support. Both short-term graduate counselling and wellness workshops are conducted at the School of Graduate Studies in spaces dedicated to graduate students. As well, SGS wellness workshops do not follow the model of group therapy sessions; students need participate only as much as they wish to.
If you’re interested in these services, here’s how to get started:
- Graduate Wellness Workshops at 65 St. George Street: Consult the list of upcoming topics on the SGS website. To register, call the Health & Wellness Centre at 416.978.8030 or contact your intake counsellor/clinician. Registration is limited to 15 participants, so be sure to register early. If you have accessibility accommodation needs, please advise during your registration.
- Graduate Wellness Counselling at 63 St. George Street: Call the Health & Wellness Centre at 416.978.8030 and indicate your interest in receiving counselling as a graduate student. Your initial appointment will include an assessment by a professional, and you’ll be directed to the service that is right for you.
Not based on St. George campus? Both U of T Scarborough and U of T Mississauga offer wellness counselling services. Learn more: UTSC and UTM.