The Counselor Led Resident Wellness Study

Residency training has been identified as a challenging time in a physician's career. Prior studies have identified the positive effects of wellness support services on resident and attending physician wellbeing and burnout. A recent systematic review in PLoS One identified only one study in which counselors or psychologists, as opposed to peer mentors or other professionals including coaches, were utilized for the mental health wellness intervention. These studies show a benefit for some but not all metrics studied. Professional therapists may have additional skills or insight that may enhance wellness interventions. To help improve physician wellness at the University Health (UNR Plumas) Clinic, the investigators have developed an evidence based counselor wellness support group. The study will be a parallel group randomized controlled trial that seeks to build upon the above literature but also introduce additional novel components. Specifically, the study will utilize trained mental health counselors, instead of online or in person coaches or trained peer support, to provide in person physician wellness services to resident physicians. It will track the efficacy of a longitudinal, evidence-based curriculum by collecting data on wellness, depression, and anxiety using standard metrics, with the goal of increasing physician wellness in a cost-effective manner.