Let's Talk - Fall 2025

BLUF: Let's Talk is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from T to 6th period (1240 - 1530).
Stop by Nimitz #213 during available times for a snack!

See more available times here. 

To reinforce the resilience of the Brigade, the Let’s Talk program provides easy access to confidential drop-in conversations with a trained mental health professional at a convenient location outside the MDC suite. 

To reinforce the resilience of the Brigade, the Let’s Talk program provides easy access to confidential drop-in conversations with a trained mental health professional at a convenient location outside the MDC suite. Midshipmen can talk about anything that hinders their resilience. This may include bouncing around ideas and working through their emotions.

Some common concerns might include:

• Unable to lead effectively 
• Stress
• Sadness
• Adjusting to new things
• Academic concerns
• Concentration and attention difficulty
• Family & financial problems
• Relationship concerns

Hours and Location

Fall 2025 Let’s Talk is held in #213 at Nimitz Library. 

Mondays and Wednesdays 1240 - 1530

You can reserve a time here. Simply dropping by is welcome, although slight wait may be needed if someone is ahead of you.  

POC: “Meng” Mengchun Chiang, PhD (chiang@usna.edu) 

Common Q & A

Q: Who should visit Let’s Talk?

Any midshipmen can benefit from Let’s Talk. It’s best fit for those who:

• Want to chat things out, take a break, or learn self-care and destress tips
• Have a specific problem and would like someone to talk it through with
• Have a concern about a friend or family member and would like to brainstorm ideas about what to do
• Are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like to have the perspective of a trained professional
• Are not sure about seeking counseling or wonder what it’s like to talk to a counselor

Q: What happens in a Let’s Talk session?

If have not done so before arrival, after completing a brief check-in form, the Let’s Talk trained professional will carefully listen to your concerns and will most likely ask you some brief questions to understand your goal for the conversation. Once your problems and goals are clear, depending upon your needs, they will offer you suggestions for addressing the concern. You are welcome to return to Let’s Talk at another time, but this decision is up to you. No follow-up meeting is necessary.

In addition, if your Let’s Talk professional assesses that you could benefit from other services on the yard, they will help you identify appropriate resources on the yard or surrounding communities.

Q: How is Let’s Talk different from the services at MDC? 

The Let’s Talk program provides easy access to confidential drop-in conversations with a trained professional at a convenient location outside the MDC suite. Let’s Talk is usually a short/quick, one-time meeting, unlike regularly scheduled counseling sessions at MDC. In addition, the nature of the drop-in conversations is such that we do not collect any paperwork for Let's Talk, but the MDC does administer paperwork in advance of counseling sessions and ongoing appointments.  

Q: Let’s Talk visits are confidential. Are there any limits to confidentiality?

Conversations with Let’s Talk professionals are confidential, with few exceptions: (1) when there is an imminent threat of harm to you or others; (2) a current abuse of a minor, an elderly person, or someone otherwise incapacitated; (3) mandated by the chain-of-command or the court or judge. Let’s Talk professionals are required to report the information you shared in the above situations.

Q: How do I participate?

Midshipmen can just stop by. You can also reserve a time here. 

Q: I am currently seeing a counselor at MDC and I would like to talk to someone sooner than my next appointment. Can I go to Let’s Talk?

If your next appointment is not soon enough, it’s best to contact your counselor directly to see if they can see you sooner. Let’s Talk is not a substitute for traditional counseling or psychiatric care.

Q: I have attended a session and where can I offer feedback to help this program improve? 

We’d like your feedback. Please offer your feedback here. 

**MDC thanks MWF for their generous support for the 'Let's Talk' program.