Carol Gernat, PhD

Something I remember from my early counseling training is that counseling psychologists “deal with the messy problems of living.” The reason this has stayed with me, I think, is because so many factors (internal to the self and external in the environment) shape well-being, and I see a good part of my work as connecting non-judgmentally with students so they can tell their own stories, process thoughts and feelings, and heal. I consider myself a generalist, and I have worked with students who present to counseling with a range of concerns such as acute psychological crisis, panic, anxiety, and depression, as well as the effects of trauma, and coping with loss. In the years that I have been at Drew (since 2004), I have become more interested and involved in sexual assault awareness, prevention, and support of survivors. I also have a strong interest in meditation and its use as a stress-reduction tool, and I have conducted open groups on campus focused on mindfulness skills.