Welcome to Student Psychological Services
Dear Students,
We all have had unique experiences and come with our own set of wins and losses, hardships and privileges, and perspectives and short sights. No matter our experiences and age, we always have room for growth and development.
Your medical school experience will excite and challenge you, perhaps more than you ever expected. Student Psychological Services (SPS) is here for you. We focus on providing high-quality, accessible services that are tailored to your individual needs and life circumstances and designed to reduce stigma, enhance self-compassion, increase your insight into yourself and the world, and promote resilience in the face of adversity. We hear you, see you, and support you.
Ashwini Lal, PsyD, ABPP
Board Certified in Clinical Psychology
Lead Clinical Psychologist
Elizabeth Poloskov, PhD
Psychologist
Confidential Mental Health Resources
Student Psychological Services (SPS) offers individualized services to promote success and mental well-being, based on each student’s unique identities, experiences, and needs. Please see below for a highlight of some of our services. To make an appointment, visit our Student Health Portal . Students must be signed on to the Kaiser Permanente network for access.
Let’s Talk
All first-year students must meet with the psychologist once for a 20-minute visit. In addition, all students can use Let’s Talk – a brief meeting focused on problem-solving that is not a clinical therapy visit.
Psychotherapy and Crisis Services
SPS offers students a range of mental health services, including short-term and long-term psychotherapy tailored to individual clinical needs. The frequency of sessions naturally shifts in response to academic demands and clinical needs, with weekly sessions being the most we offer. Crisis support is available both during and after school business hours. SPS also provides compassionate care and resources for students who have experienced sexual assault, are dealing with alcohol or substance-use difficulties, or are looking for support with coping skills and overall well-being.
Referral Services
There may be instances in which SPS Psychologists will have to refer students to providers within the Kaiser Permanente system. If this becomes the case, your provider will discuss the reasons a referral is necessary—often to ensure you get the level of care that best fits your needs based on our clinical assessment.
For students who prefer not to meet with SPS but desire therapy, you have access to therapy services through Kaiser Permanente. They will engage in their own assessment with you and connect you with an internal or external therapist. If you need support with connecting to a provider in Kaiser Permanente, please let us know; we are happy to help.
Books
Students also have access to a growing collection of books available for check-out from the SPS Book Corner.
Ways to Connect
Are you a student in crisis?
During school business hours, students can make a crisis appointment through the Student Health Portal (must be signed on to the Kaiser Permanente network for access) or by visiting the Office of Student Affairs on the second floor of the medical school building.
After business hours, students may access mental health crisis services through the TimelyCare website or the TimelyCare mobile app (available from the App Store or Google Play), or by contacting the Kaiser Permanente Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 800-900-3277.
For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.