Community and Coursework: Rethinking Graduate Student Wellness

In this episode of Plugged In to Public Health, Lauren sits down with Rachel Valentine, a PhD student in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of Iowa, practicing therapist, and Mental Health Director for Graduate and Professional Student Government. Together, they explore the growing issue of isolation among graduate and professional students and discuss how institutions can better support student well-being through community-centered approaches. What We Cover: -Why isolation is so common in graduate and professional programs -The role of academic pressure, life transitions, and systemic expectations -Why traditional student programming often fails to address real needs -The concept behind the Graduate Student Dialogue Series -How student-driven, informal spaces can foster connection -The importance of multidimensional wellness beyond clinical mental health -Practical ways students can begin to rebuild connection in their own lives Featured Initiative: Graduate Student Dialogue Series A new, student-informed initiative designed to create informal, discussion-based spaces for graduate and professional students to connect, share experiences, and build community across disciplines. Help shape the series by completing the needs assessment survey: https://uiowa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/... Additional Resource: Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program The Graduate College’s GradLife P2P Mentorship Program matches first-year PhD students with experienced peer mentors. Participants also gain access to networking events and community-building opportunities. Learn more here: https://grad.uiowa.edu/grad-success/g... About the Guest Rachel Valentine is a first-year PhD student in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of Iowa and a practicing therapist in Iowa City. Her work focuses on student mental health, wellness, and building accessible, community-based support systems for graduate and professional students. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/n... Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthcare #graduates #gradstudents #counseling #education #peertopeer #mentorship #gradlife #iowacity