Resources for Struggling Students at YDS

Thank you for being here. You have come to the right place if you or a student you know is struggling or experiencing a crisis. Yale and YDS have many resources available for students. We hope that this page offers guidance as you navigate this process.

If this is an urgent situation...

In case of a life-threatening emergency, please call 911. For other urgent situations, please see the resources immediately below.

Yale Mental Health and Counseling

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Mon-Fri in Office

24/7 Support via Phone

203-432-0290

Yale Acute Care

8:30 AM - 10:00 PM Mon-Fri

203-432-0123

Yale Police

8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Mon-Fri

Walking Escorts: 203-785-5555 or the LiveSafe app

203-432-4400

Yale’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Response and Education Center (SHARE)

(24/7, 365 days per year)

203-432-2000

YDS Specific Resources

  • Office of Student Affairs

    The Yale Divinity School Office of Student Affairs offers advocacy and assistance with student personal matters and academic concerns and is dedicated to ensuring that all students have the resources needed to flourish during their years at YDS.

    If you don't know where to turn or have a concern about a student, please contact Vicki Flippin, Associate Dean for Student Affairs: vicki.flippin@yale.edu

  • Mental Health Counselor at YDS

    As the YDS Embedded Mental Health Counselor, Elizabeth Burns serves as a part-time counselor working for Yale Mental Health & Counseling in coordination with the YDS Office of Student Affairs. She provides community programming and short-term individual therapeutic support to YDS students. Her office is located on the lower level of the northeast building (near the Jonathan Edwards Center), and she will be in person at YDS an average of two days a week. Schedule a time to meet with Elizabeth:

    • Email: elizabeth.burns@yale.edu

  • Discrimination and Harassment Concerns

    Yale is a community committed to fostering an environment of diversity, mutual respect, and intellectual discovery in which all students can thrive. Acts of discrimination and harassment are contrary to the community standards and ideals of our university. Yale does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, or veteran status.

    If you have experienced discrimination or harassment, been witness to a situation, or just need to talk, we encourage you to seek support. When you have concerns or questions, you have a wide range of choices for support.

    The Discrimination and Harassment Resource Coordinator (DHRC) for Yale Divinity School is Lynn Sullivan-Harmon and her contact information is (203) 432-4858 lynn.s.sullivan@yale.edu.

    If you would like to talk with someone about sex- or gender- based discrimination including sexual misconduct, you can reach out to a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. Additionally, The Title IX at Yale website provides information on accessing support, reporting options, policies and definitions; and education and outreach including resources for pregnant and parenting students.

    The Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Yale Divinity School is Director of Professional Formation Alison Cunningham, M.Div. (she/her/hers) and her contact information is Office S127b, (203) 432-5330, alison.cunningham@yale.edu.

    Visit the Title IX and DHCR website for more respurces.

  • Financial Aid

    If you or a student you know is experiencing a financial hardship, whether it be from unexpected emergencies or systemic concerns, our Financial Aid office is available to talk through all student financial situations holistically and confidentially. You are encouraged to contact Shalane Hansen-Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, at divinity.finaid@yale.edu.

  • Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning

    Students who find themselves struggling academically are encouraged to consider the offerings of the Poorvu Center specifically for YDS students. Our liaison at Poorvu is Patricia Trainor, who is available for individual consultations on organizing academic workloads and staying on task, as well as reviewing academic writing. To see all that the Poorvu Center offers YDS students in particular, visit this website or contact Patricia:

    YDS Liaison is Patricia Trainor, JD (she/her/hers) patricia.trainor@yale.edu

    Associate Director of Graduate Writing Support, Graduate Writing Lab

Additional University Resources

Title IX

Yale University is committed to fostering an environment of respect and belonging. An integral part of this commitment is ensuring a campus environment free of sex- or gender-based discrimination. This includes promoting a welcoming environment for pregnant and parenting individuals. At the Title IX Office you can access support and make a report.

Chaplain’s office

Chaplains from a variety of religious and spiritual traditions are available for confidential support and care. The very foundation of the work that they do at Yale is about creating an environment that feels welcoming to all people. Students often talk to chaplains about grief, adjusting to college or graduate school, building and maintaining relationships, vocation, and more. You do not need to identify as religious/spiritual to speak with a chaplain. Call 203-432-1128 to make an appointment or feel free to reach out to any of the chaplains by email. You can also sign up directly to Chat with a Chaplain here. Chaplains are available Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm.

Office of International Students and Scholars

The Office of International Students and Scholars is here to help support students throughtout their Yale experience and beyond, be it questions about immigration status or transitioning to this new commuity and culture. They help with all things related to your time at Yale as an international student.

Sexual Harrassment and Assault Response & Education (SHARE)

SHARE is available to all members of the Yale Community who are dealing with sexual misconduct of any kind. They assist individuals who are dealing with current/recent and past experiences, as well as offer support to those who may experience something indirectly, such as supporting friends, family or loved ones, or witnessing something of concern. Additionally they have resources for individuals who may have questions about their own behavior. They offer crisis support, advocacy, referrals for care and counseling for students.

Student Accessibility Services

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is the office at Yale responsible for responding, approving, and facilitating accommodations for students with disabilities. SAS works will all Yale students with disabilities and strives to create equal access in education to all students across the Yale community using accomodations that are appropriate and equitable.

The Good Life Center

The Good Life Center is the official student wellness center of Yale University, offering space for wellness-related meetups, peer-to-peer support The Center seeks to empower students with evidence-based skills for fostering mental, physical, social and emotional well-being.

Connect to Care (C2C)

We know mental health and wellness is important to you. There are a number of resources in the Yale ecosystem available to you. Connect to Care (C2C) is a new tool that can help you: (1) Self-reflect on whether you are satisfied with your current mental wellness, (2) Orient yourself to all the resources available, and (3) Find resources and next steps that might fit your needs best. Want to find a drop-in meditation session? Talk to a health coach? Join virtual group therapy? Check out C2C.