Student Affairs

FAQs

Click one of the questions below to jump to the answer or scroll down to read them all in order.

Quick links

Who can use the Counseling Center?

Our year-round services are open to all students currently enrolled in classes at UW Bothell or Cascadia College.

We cannot support non-Bothell or non-Cascadia College students – not even students from other UW campuses. Sorry!

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How much do mental health counseling sessions cost?

The Counseling Center provides free brief mental health services for currently enrolled UW Bothell and Cascadia College students.

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Will anyone find out that I received mental health counseling here?

The mental health counseling process is confidential, which means that we cannot share any information about you without your permission, except under specific legal conditions. If you have concerns or questions, please review our confidentiality policy and discuss them with your intake counselor. 

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What kinds of problems do students seek help with?

Students commonly seek help for (but not limited to):

  • stress
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • low self-esteem
  • adjustment difficulties
  • concentration problem
  • sleeping difficulties
  • academic problems
  • body image concerns
  • grief and loss
  • relationship issues
  • domestic violence
  • sexual assault
  • family issues
  • or any other concern causing distress or interfering with academic progress
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When should I seek mental health counseling?

Any time! College is a time of change and you may find it useful to seek the assistance of a caring professional. Our trained clinicians help you discover ways to cope more effectively with problems in day-to-day living like resolving a personal problem or practicing emotional regulation skills.

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What can I expect from mental health counseling?

Mental health counseling is an opportunity to talk about what is bothering you with a caring, empathetic clinician. Your clinician will work with you to identify your personal goals for mental health counseling and then tailor the process to you and your goals. You can expect that your clinician will listen closely to understand your experience and find ways to assist you in moving towards your goals. This is a personalized experience, so how it helps differs from person to person. It will often involve things such as getting a different perspective on your experiences, exploring and discovering things about yourself, making changes in unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving, processing difficult experiences, and learning healthy coping tools.

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What should I expect on my first appointment?

Please refer to the “What to expect” section of our services page.

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Is mental health counseling effective?

Yes, mental health counseling, or psychotherapy, has been shown to help people make positive changes in their lives. Approximately 75% of people who begin mental health counseling felt some improvement. And 80% of people who engage in mental health counseling do better than those who do not receive counseling at all.

It can be difficult to open up to someone, but your clinician will be more effective in helping you address your concerns if you are open and honest with them. At the same time, it’s important to take your time and share at a pace that feels safe to you. Mental health counseling works best if you find a good balance between taking the time to build trust with your clinician and taking the risk of sharing what you’re experiencing.

Learn more about the myths vs. realities of psychotherapy.

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What is group therapy?

We’re glad you asked! Please read about the types of groups on our group therapy webpage.

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What if I need more than brief mental health counseling can offer?

The Counseling Center offers brief therapy and most students resolve their concerns in four sessions or less. If you and your clinician decide that you need more sessions, your clinician will try to find a group therapy option that fits or refer you to case management services to help you find longer term care off campus.

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Can I get documentation for a former quarter drop, tuition forfeiture petition, DRS accommodations, or international student reduced course load petition?

Please review our documentation policy.

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Can I get documentation for an emotional support animal (ESA)?

The Counseling Center does not provide ESA letters.

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Why do Cascadia College students have different services?

The Counseling Center is staffed by UW Bothell and has an agreement with Cascadia College to provide mental health services to their students. Cascadia students receive the services that are specified in the agreement.

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Can I interview someone from the Counseling Center for a class project?

We have many requests to help students with their class and extracurricular projects. Our office does not offer drop-in interviews for student projects, but you may submit a request through the outreach link. Please be prepared to send us your questions before the interview.

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Can I use the Counseling Center services as a faculty or staff member?

Please review our policy page.

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What if I have more questions or don’t know where to start?

Please call (425) 352-3183, email uwbcc@uw.edu, or stop by the front desk in UW1-080.

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