Confidential mental health support for students
Counseling Services at the Student Wellness Center offers short-term mental health counseling to currently enrolled students at no additional cost. Counselors can help you work through personal, emotional and academic challenges, develop coping strategies and connect with additional resources.
Counseling can help with anxiety, depression, academic stress, relationship conflicts, family challenges, grief, trauma-related concerns and other issues affecting your well-being.
Make an appointment
To schedule an appointment, call 360-546-9238, email van.counseling@wsu.edu or visit the Student Wellness Center during regular clinic hours.
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The office is closed for lunch from noon to 1 p.m.
Same-day appointments
Same-day appointments for urgent concerns may be available, depending on availability. These appointments focus on immediate needs and next steps.
Cancellation policy
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, contact Counseling Services as soon as possible. Canceling an appointment less than 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment will be considered a late cancellation.
Late and/or repeated cancelations or no-shows may result in the inability to use counseling services on campus and a referral for off-campus resources.
Counseling Services
Limited same-day appointments may be available for students experiencing a crisis. Ongoing counseling is scheduled separately. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please contact Counseling Services as soon as possible.
Counseling Services Schedule
- Mon – Fri: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Services offered
Counseling Services provides short-term, confidential mental health support for currently enrolled students. Services include:
- Individual counseling (50 min. sessions)
- Same-day urgent support for crisis concerns, as available (30 – 50 min. sessions)
- Referrals to community providers for specialized or longer-term counseling and psychiatric care
- Mental health and wellness workshops and trainings
- Mental health medication management
What to expect at your first appointment
Your first appointment is an opportunity to talk about what’s been going on, ask questions and consider how counseling might help.
Please arrive 10 minutes early to the Student Wellness Center so you have enough time to complete the check-in process. Bring your CougarCard with you.
Before you arrive, make sure to:
- Complete the required paperwork (online or in person)
- Write down questions or concerns you want to discuss. It can help guide the session.
Please complete your paperwork at least two hours prior to your appointment, so that we can begin your appointment on time. Late paperwork may result in the rescheduling of your appointment.
The initial session will be 45 minutes long.
Your counselor will talk with you about your concerns, goals, history, coping strategies and what you’re hoping to gain from counseling. This helps them understand your needs and determine the best next steps.
Together, you’ll develop a plan for your care, which may include:
- Short-term individual counseling sessions
- Follow-up sessions (typically 45 – 60 minutes; most students attend 1 – 6 sessions)
- Referrals to campus or community resources
- Participation in workshops or group programs
- Mental health medication evaluation (if needed)
- Deciding how often to meet and how progress will be monitored
It’s normal to feel a range of emotions after a session. Give yourself time to rest and reflect. Take a walk, grab a snack or do something enjoyable. Journaling your thoughts can also help you prepare for future sessions. Most importantly, feel good about taking a step toward your well-being.
You may be scheduled for follow-up sessions, referred to workshops or connected with other campus resources.
Short-term counseling
Counseling Services uses a brief, goal-focused approach. The number of sessions depends on your needs and the services available. If you would benefit from longer-term counseling or specialized care, your counselor can help connect you with community providers.
Confidentiality
Counseling Services is confidential. Your information will not be shared without your written permission, except in rare situations required by law to protect your safety or the safety of others.
Workshops and trainings
The Student Wellness Center offers interactive workshops for classes, student clubs and other groups. Topics include coping strategies, stress management and campus wellness resources.
Need urgent help?
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis or need immediate support, the following resources can help you find assistance on and off campus.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.