December 15, 2006

Counseling for Students Unable to Work

To the Editor:

A graduate student called "Sean" reports to Ms. Mentor, "Because of panic attacks, I haven't worked on my dissertation since June" ("They Will Not Comfort You," Careers, November 10). He asks whether he should confide in his thesis adviser about the situation.

Ms. Mentor argues strongly against such a confidence for various professional reasons. Instead, she prescribes "writing and support groups, online discussions under pseudonyms, ... and places to vent outside