Q&A with Kalya Castillo, YSM’s Embedded Mental Health Clinician

Dr. Kalya Castillo serves as the Yale School of Music’s Embedded Mental Health Clinician — a dedicated counselor just for YSM students. Bringing her experience from private practice and a deep understanding of the unique pressures students face, she offers compassionate and informed care to help them navigate personal and academic challenges. In this candid conversation, Castillo shares her insight on student life, resilience, and the kind of support that can truly make a difference.

Q: What are some of the most common mental health challenges students face, regardless of background or discipline?

When students first arrive on campus, they are navigating new spaces: they’re figuring out how to communicate with peers and professors, how to make good impressions, how to build relationships that could be helpful in their future careers. That pressure can become stressful and lead to anxiety. Given the structure of programs at YSM, where the student body is small, it can be easy for students to experience social pressure if they feel limited to the group of people within their program. If students aren’t branching out, it can feel isolating.

Work-life balance is another significant topic for graduate students, who are managing time differently than undergrads. Some are functioning without the financial or social support systems they had before — all while managing their academic courseload, performances, and work-related responsibilities. For students across the board, just recognizing that you need help is a challenge in itself when you are just trying to get through your day.

Q: Students in specialized fields like music often face unique pressures. What stands out to you about their experience?

A great deal of identity is tied to their craft. Many have been training for this their whole lives, and now they have arrived at this pivotal moment where the finish line is in sight. Questions like “What do I do next?” or “How will I make this sustainable?” come up a lot. And there’s pressure from family or society about the practicality of their career path.

Isolation, perfectionism, and imposter syndrome also come up a lot. Therapy can be a space to process those experiences. These aren’t just insecurities; they’re real challenges.

Q: What role does sleep play in mental health? And why do so many of us overlook it?

Sleep is huge. People underestimate how much poor sleep affects mood, concentration, and overall function. When you’re young, you might bounce back from an all-nighter. But over time, poor sleep habits can reinforce other negative patterns, like procrastination, anxiety, even low mood. In a high-stress environment, sleep is often the first thing to go.

I always highlight the importance of getting back to your basic needs, especially if you’re going through a period of high levels of stress: you have to sleep, you have to eat, you have to move your body, and you have to talk to people. You don’t need to be the most social person, but you do need connection. These basics matter in the contexts of maintaining your mental health.

Q: What’s the difference between stress and burnout?

Stress is normal. It’s part of life. But burnout is when stress goes unchecked and starts to erode your ability to function. It’s not just feeling overwhelmed — it’s feeling depleted.

Students might ignore early signs like rumination, anxiety, self-deprecating thoughts, and imposter syndrome. But eventually they hit a wall. Burnout is when you dread showing up, when you’re withdrawing, when you’re not eating or sleeping normally. That’s when support becomes essential.

Q: How can students tell when they’re starting to struggle with their mental health, especially if they’re not sure how to reach out for help?

Some signs include prolonged and consistent feelings of being on edge and overwhelmed, excessive worry, persistent sadness or emptiness, and a loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy. Of course, symptoms may vary, but even if you’re just not feeling like yourself it can be an opportunity to explore in a therapy space. 

Try not to wait until you’re in crisis-mode if possible. I encourage students to connect with resources early, when things still feel light and manageable. Get to know who’s available: me, Yale Mental Health and Counseling, Associate Dean Albert [Lee], Deputy Dean [Paul] Berry. Just reach out to have a conversation.

Q: What kinds of mental health resources are available to YSM students, and what’s the best way for them to access support when they need it?

Yale Mental Health & Counseling
55 Lock Street, #55
On-call clinician 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
(203) 432-0290
 
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55 Lock Street, Lower Level Mon-Fri: 9-5:00 pm; 24 hour hotline
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The Good Life Center
Wellness Services
(203) 436-5977