Counseling  -  Consultation  -  Education and Training  -  Emergencies/Crisis Intervention  -  Confidentiality  -  On-Line Appointment Forms

Services

The mission of the Midshipman Development Center is derived directly from the USNA mission statement and focuses on fostering the development of the whole midshipman.  Midshipmen have four years to develop the personal traits, attitudes, and skills that they need to be effective commissioned officers, responsible citizens, and healthy adults.  MDC assists in this process of development by providing a wide range of preventive, educational, and remedial services to the midshipmen.  MDC also provides consultation and training for faculty and staff who are responsible for midshipman development.  The focus here is on growth, learning, healthy development, success, and mastering the personal challenges involved.

Hours

The center is open to midshipmen for services from 0800-1600 Monday to Friday.  There is a Navy psychologist on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Brigade Medical.
 

Counseling

A variety of direct clinical services are provided by the MDC to midshipmen.  These include but not limited to: 

individual psychological and nutritional counseling
 group counseling
 performance enhancement (e.g., physical fitness, athletic performance, 10-meter tower jump)
 dietary evaluations, counseling, and consultations
 crisis intervention and emergency services (e.g., traumatic event stress debriefing, suicide evaluations)
referral services

When you contact the Center, we will ask you to fill out a questionnaire that helps us pair you with the counselor most qualified to help you.  You will either be matched with a clinical psychologist or the sports nutritionist/registered dietician and an initial appointment will be coordinated working around your busy schedule.

While appointments are tailored to your specific need and circumstances, most counseling is short-term, generally 2-6 sessions, and geared toward building your own skills in resolving the problems that brought you to the Center.

While there are numerous "routes" to MDC, the most common is the "midshipman self-referral."  Midshipmen should feel free to call us (x4897) or stop by the center during open hours to make first contact or just to ask any questions you have.  You do not need a referral from medical or your chain of command to make an appointment (the only exception to this is plebe summer.)
 

Consultation

As consultants, the MDC staff provide timely and valuable information, guidance and recommendations on the psychological, behavioral, emotional, and nutritional issues faced by midshipmen.  They specifically serve as consultants to the Commandant and the Commandant’s staff and special assistants.  This may includes, but is not limited to the following groups:

Battalion and Company Officers
 Senior Enlisted Leaders
 Faculty
 Coaches and Trainers

The MDC staff will also maintain liaison and coordinate services with other support services available to midshipmen, including among others:

 Mental Health Department at Hospital Point
Brigade Medical
Chaplains
Character Development
HERO Program
 

Education and Training

A wide range of training is provided by MDC staff for a variety of personnel at the Academy, including the following: 

 Naval Academy Staff (e.g., suicide prevention, management of psych. problems)
Brigade Medical
Chaplains
Brigade HEROs (e.g., eating disorders, grief and bereavement, depression)
Plebe Detailers (e.g., behavior modification, leadership methods)
 Plebes (e.g., plebe orientation)
Sexual Assault Victim Intervention (SAVI) training

Outreach and prevention efforts provide the midshipmen with information and experiences that they can use to improve the quality of their lives, reduce the probability of severe problems developing, and to improve the environment of the Yard to facilitate their healthy growth and development.  The programs that MDC presents vary over time, depending on identified needs, but have typically included the following:

 Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program
Nutrition for Performance
HELM Committee (Healthy Eating and LIfestyle
Sexual Assault Prevention and follow-up counseling (with SAVI Program)
MATES Team (Midshipman Assistance and Traumatic Events Support)
HERO meetings–training and consultation for peer counselors
“Tango Group” for plebes who are disenrolling during Plebe Summer