Auburn Vet Med Community Wellness Initiative

The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine is dedicated to providing an environment that encourages habits of wellness, increases availability of resources contributing to well-being and inspires individuals to take responsibility for their own physical, mental and spiritual health.

The Dean’s Office and Office of Academic Affairs are committed to providing a culture of wellness across the Auburn Vet Med community by enhancing wellness through:

1. providing two full-time embedded counselors to provide services to students and house officers;
2. adding dedicated wellness blocks to the schedules of all DVM students in the 1st through 5th semesters;
3. incorporating wellness content into the professional DVM curriculum;
4. supporting the first national Not One More Veterinarian (NOMV) student representative; and
5. streamlining examination schedules.

Meet the CVM Counselors

Email to make an appointment!

Mary Catherine Turner

(334) 844-2685
mct0023@auburn.edu

Mary Catherine is the embedded counselor for Auburn Vet Med, providing individual counseling to veterinary students, residents, interns and graduate students, as well as consultation and resources as needed for faculty and staff. Her goal is to provide veterinary students with a supportive environment to share concerns and learn to effectively manage those concerns while simultaneously becoming a healthy and successful veterinarian. She graduated from Auburn University with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. Her clinical interests include transition, anxiety, interpersonal relationships and compassion fatigue. Outside of work, Mary Catherine enjoys time at Lake Martin, spending time with family and friends and shopping for bargains.

Christy Newberry

cln0014@auburn.edu

Christy is the embedded Licensed Psychologist for Auburn Vet Med, providing therapy and consultation services. She earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Chicago, a master’s in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in Professional Psychology from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. Christy incorporates warmth, empathy, and humor into her strengths-based, collaborative approach. Specific clinical interests include compassion fatigue, burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and trauma. Originally from southeast Tennessee, Christy enjoys coffee shops, spending time with her sister, friends, and her sweet rescue pup, Joy.

Wellness Nook

AUCVM’s Wellness Nook was purposefully designed to create a safe space for students. Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed, need some silence, relaxation, or a change in study scenery? We welcome you to take a seat in the Wellness Nook and to use our in-house relaxation and wellness tools so that you can get in the right headspace to conquer whatever is coming next. This room includes a Book Nook for students to donate to and rent books from, aromatherapy oils with a diffuser, a Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) light, yoga mats, comfortable chairs and couches, a white noise machine, inspirational wall art, and a binder full of wellness resources.

Thank you to Auburn’s SAVMA organization and AVF funding for this room.

Wellness Events

Wellness Resources

Campus Resources

Physical & Mental Health

• Auburn University Medical Clinic
  (334) 844-4416
• Marriage & Family Therapy Center
  (334) 844-4478
• Student Counseling & Psychological Services (SCPS)
  24 hours a day, 7 days a week crisis line and on-call services
  (334) 844-5123
• QPR (Question. Persuade. Refer)
  QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer – the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide.
• Crisis Services (SCPS)
  If you or someone you know is experiencing an urgent crisis, then SCPS provides consultation, assessment and evaluation as needed.
  (334) 844-5123
• Substance Use Services
  Programs to help students explore how their substance use may be impacting other areas of their life in a non-judgmental and safe environment.
• Drug Abuse and Prevention

Food, Shelter & Clothing

• Auburn Cares
  Auburn Cares is designed to support students throughout their college career in order to best achieve their academic and co-curricular goals.
  (334) 844-1305
• Campus Career Closet
  Provides students access to FREE professional attire appropriate for career fairs, interviews, networking events and the workplace.
  (334) 844-4744
• Campus Food Resources
  Multiple resources for food insecurity including the Campus Food Pantry, Feed the Family Fund and Share Meals programs.

Safety

• AU Campus Safety and Security
  (334) 844-8888
• Security Shuttle
  The Night Security Shuttle will continue to provide door-to-door on-campus transportation from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week while classes are in session. Request a ride through the free Auburn Safety app or by calling (334) 844-7400.

Intimate Partner Violence & Sexual Assault

• Safe Harbor
  Safe Harbor believes, supports and assists students and employees of Auburn University who have experienced power-based personal violence, including dating/domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking/ harassment.
  (334)-844-SAFE(7233)

Access and Opportunity

• Support from the Office of the Provost
  (334) 844-4184
• AUCVM Veterinarians as One Inclusive Community for Empowerment (VOICE) Club 
• Resources School of Communication and Journalism – College of Liberal Arts – Auburn University
  Professional development resources as well as tools and articles.
• Safe Zone
  Training designed specifically to educate faculty, staff and students about sexual orientation and gender identity to create a safe space for LGBTQ+ students.

Academic-Related Stress

• Student Conduct
  Student Conduct is responsible for addressing non-academic violations of University policy through the Code of Student Conduct.
  (334) 844-1305
• Academic Support & Coaching
  A personalized partnership designed to support each student in meeting their academic goals.
  (334) 844-5972

Financial

Glen Sellers teaches the Professional Development and Business course during first year and counsels Auburn Vet Med students to help prepare for their financial future and handle student debt with confidence.

On-Campus & Area Activity Opportunities

On-Campus

• Donald E. Davis Arboretum
  The Donald E. Davis Arboretum is a 13.5 acre botanic garden facility located in the heart of Auburn.
• AUCVM Wellness Center: basement level of Bailey Teaching Hospital.
• AU Recreation Center
• Yoga at the vet school: check emails and the community calendar to see when sessions are being held.

Off-Campus

• Chewacla State Park 
  Chewacla State Park’s 696 scenic acres offer a 26-acre lake, swimming area, playground, a modern campground, picnic areas with tables, grills and shelters, cabins, hiking and mountain biking trails.
• Town Creek Park 
• Dinius Park
• Kiesel Park 
  Kiesel Park is Auburn’s largest park, with a pavilion, a garden, a pond and a walking trail with a distance of 2 1/4 miles.

External Resources

Physical & Mental Health

• In crisis text “NAMI” to 741-741
  24 hours a day, 7 days a week crisis support via text message
  National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline
• National Suicide Prevention & Crisis Lifeline
  The Lifeline provides 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
  (800) 273-TALK (8255)
• Not One More Vet
  NOMV provides the necessary support to all members of veterinary teams and students who are struggling or considering suicide.
• AVMA Suicide Prevention
• Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
  SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
  (800) 662-HELP (4357)
• Emotional Regulation Worksheet (PDF)
  Taking care of your mind by taking caring of your body.

Compassion Fatigue

• Self-Compassion Guided Practices and Exercises
• TED – Beyond the Cliff
  The cumulative toll that can occur when we are exposed to the suffering, hardship, crisis or trauma of humans, other living beings or the planet itself.

Academic-Related Stress

• Treating Test Anxiety
• End Procrastination with the 5-Minute Rule
• TED – Laura Vanderkam: How to gain control of your free time

Intimate Partner Violence & Sexual Assault

• National Domestic Violence Hotline
  Free. Confidential. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  (800) 799-SAFE (7233)
• Domestic Abuse Shelter Locator
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• National Dating Abuse Helpline
  Love is more than just the way you feel.
  (866) 331-9474
• National Network to End Domestic Violence – Safety Net Project
  Technology is often misused by abusive partners and perpetrators against victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and trafficking. Technology, in its various forms, offers essential tools victims can use to access help, strategically maintain safety and privacy and remain connected to family and friends. It can also be used to prove guilt and hold offenders accountable.
  (202) 543-5566
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission – Facts About Sexual Harassment 
• RAINN – Sexual Harassment 
• RAINN – Stalking 

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• The Trevor Project Hotline
  Provides information & support to LGBTQ young people 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.
  (866) 488-7386
• The Trans Lifeline
  Peer support for the trans community.
  (877) 565-8860
• TED: Priya Vulchi and Winona Guo: What it takes to be racially literate
• Five Ways to be More Culturally Aware – Mental Health First Aid
• Pride VMC – Gender Identity Bill of Rights

Body Image/Self-Esteem

• Here to Help – Body Image and Self-Esteem
• National Eating Disorders Association  – 10 Steps to Positive Body Image (PDF)
• National Institute of Mental Health – Eating Disorders 

Financial

• AVMA – Managing Personal Finances 
• AVMA – Veterinary Debt Initiative

Miscellaneous

• Very Well Mind – How to Make Friends as an Adult
• TED – Elizabeth Cox: What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it?

Emotional Support Animals 

• AVMA – Considering Partnership With a Service Dog FAQs (PDF) 
• AVMA – Assistance Animals Rights Access and Problem of Fraud (PDF) 
• Ultimate Guide to Service Animals 
• AVMA – Do You Have an Assistance Animal Poster (PDF)