If you would like to make an appointment, please click here to request one with Counseling and Wellness at COM. All students will need to complete intake paperwork and informed consent before utilizing counseling. Please click here to complete paperwork. You will need to be on the UCF VPN in order to access this page. Instructions for accessing CWS forms remotely. If you would prefer to set up an appointment with Dr. Daly or Heather Rashal, LMHC directly, you may contact them via phone or email.

	Katherine Daly, PhD	Heather Rashal, LMHC
Hours	Monday – Friday	9:00-5:00 PM
Phone	407-266-1076	407-266-1500
Email	katherine.daly@ucf.edu	heather.rashal@ucf.edu

Requests reach Dr. Daly and Heather Rashal, LMHC during work hours. Appointments with CWS are not available outside of business hours, during campus closure, or weekends. If this is an afterhours mental health emergency, please call the CAPS Crisis Hotline at 407-823-2811 and press 5, 911 or the campus police.

Counseling is available for medical students through Counseling & Wellness Services at the Health Sciences Campus at Lake Nona. Their office is in the Lake Nona Cancer Center in rooms A1524 and A1522. Although CWS is separate from main campus Counseling & Psychological Services, as enrolled UCF students you may use main campus services as well if you prefer, including use of their after-hours crisis hotline. For information on the counseling center located on the UCF main campus, please log on to CAPS.

At CWS, counseling services are free to all currently enrolled students. Services are also confidential (except for a few specific legal exceptions) and counseling records are entirely separate from academic records. Below is a list of specific services available at CWS to enrolled UCF medical students:

• Individual therapy
• Referrals to UCF psychiatrists
• Group psychotherapy
• Workshops and outreach related to wellness and mental health
• Couple’s therapy (one partner needs to be an enrolled student)
• Crisis intervention services

Dr. Katherine Daly is a licensed psychologist (Florida and Maryland). She began her education in psychology at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She then received her MA in Counseling Psychology at the University of Missouri, and PhD in Counseling Psychology at the University of Florida. Following her doctoral internship at the University of Tennessee, Dr. Daly began practicing psychology in Tennessee providing clinical services in an integrated primary care clinic. She was Assistant Director of Counseling Services at St. Mary’s College of Maryland from 2012-2014. In 2014, Dr. Daly joined the University of Central Florida College of Medicine and has since become the Director of Counseling & Wellness Services and Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Sciences.

Dr. Daly has more than a decade of counseling experience. In addition, she has an active research program in health disparities and medical student wellness. She has primarily focused her clinical work in health settings, such as VA hospitals, community crisis centers, integrated primary care, and in student counseling and health centers. Dr. Daly is passionate about the integration of counseling and health and how improving one’s mental health and wellness ultimately improves physical health outcomes and quality of life. She enjoys working with clients around clinical issues such as maladaptive perfectionism, bereavement, chronic health issues, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety, burnout, and counseling to simply improve one’s life and relationships. Theoretically, she draws from Cognitive-Behavioral, Client-Centered, and Existential therapy approaches in her clinical work.

Dr. Daly is currently affiliated with the UCF College of Medicine Physician Advising and Support System. She is also a member of the American Psychological Association.

Meet Dr. Daly through her welcome video.

Hours:

Monday – Friday 9:00 AM -5:00 PM

To schedule with Dr. Daly (either new or returning clients), call (407) 266-1076. Please leave a voicemail if you want your call returned (Evening hours are typically reserved for students on clerkship.)

Email: Katherine.Daly@ucf.edu  

Please note: Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed as email is not a secure medium. To discuss personal concerns, please call Counseling & Wellness Services during business hours at 407-266-1076 or 407-266-1500. If you need to urgently speak to a counselor after-hours, you may contact main campus Counseling & Psychological Services at 407-823-2811 and dial 5 to speak to an after-hours phone counselor. If you are in crisis and need immediate assistance, please go to the local Emergency Department or call 911.

Heather Rashal is a licensed counselor with over 10 years of experience in mental health. She supports medical students in their academic, emotional, and personal development. As part of the UCF College of Medicine team, she provides counseling services designed to help students navigate the unique challenges of medical education. With a compassionate and student-centered approach, Heather creates a safe and supportive environment where students can process stress, manage mental health concerns, and build resilience during their rigorous training.

Counseling Approach

Heather Rashal, LMHC believes in a holistic, student-centered approach to counseling that emphasizes both mental health and well-being. Her therapeutic style blends evidence-based techniques such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with mindfulness, internal family systems (IFS), and stress management strategies. Heather works collaboratively with students to help them build coping skills, maintain academic performance, and enhance personal growth while managing the pressures of medical training.

Areas of Support

• Stress and anxiety management
• Academic performance and test anxiety
• Burnout prevention and wellness planning
• Depression and emotional well-being
• Grief, trauma, and personal crises
• Relationship and identity concerns
• Adult Children of Alcoholics/ Addicts and Addiction Recovery

A message from Heather: My commitment to medical students is rooted in the understanding that medical training is both deeply rewarding and uniquely demanding. I strive to create a safe, confidential and nonjudgmental space where students feel seen, supported, and empowered to care for their emotional and mental well-being. My goal is to help each student navigate challenges with resilience and self-awareness, while reminding them that seeking help is a strength—not a setback.

In addition to counseling, Heather works with students in the Peer Support Program helping to facilitate walk-in hours and events.

Hours:

Monday – Friday 9:00am to 5:00pM

You can schedule with Heather Rashal, LMHC by calling 407-266-1500 (please leave a message to have your call returned) or send an email.

Email: Heather.Rashal@ucf.edu

Please note: Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed as email is not a secure medium. To discuss personal concerns, please call my number at Counseling & Wellness Services during business hours at 407-266-1500. If you need to urgently speak to a counselor after-hours, you may contact main campus Counseling & Psychological Services at 407-823-2811 and dial 5 to speak to an after-hours phone counselor. If you are in crisis and need immediate assistance, please go to the local Emergency Department or call 911.