EWU Counseling Services
Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) offers a variety of short-term mental health counseling services for EWU students, including both in-person and telehealth options. Our offerings include individual counseling, walk-in crisis sessions, one-time single sessions, biofeedback services and consultation services for both students and staff/faculty.
Please Note – Not all EWU students are eligible for counseling services.
See FAQs for more information
Counseling Services
Use the drop-downs below to explore the different counseling services CWS provides. For more information, see our FAQs below.
Services
CWS provides short-term ongoing individual mental health counseling to eligible EWU students. We offer in-person appointments at both the Cheney campus and Catalyst building, as well as online telehealth appointments.
Similar to other healthcare facilities, the first step to accessing CWS counseling services is completing some initial paperwork. You can complete this online through our Client Portal or stop by our office in Martin 225.
We ask all new clients and clients who have not been seen in 3+ months to complete paperwork. See below for which forms to complete.
New Clients
1. Informed Consent
2. Student Schedule
3. New Client Information
Returning Clients
1. Informed Consent (if available)
2. Student Schedule
4. Returning Client Information
Once paperwork is complete, a CWS staff member will reach out regarding scheduling and provide information about your appointment. If you have any questions regarding this process, please reach out to us at (509) 359-2366.
Please note, paperwork is only processed during CWS office hours. If you are in a mental health crisis outside of office hours, please call 988.
New clients will first be scheduled for an intake appointment. Once an intake appointment is attended, students will be placed on our waitlist to be scheduled for ongoing services. A student may or may not see the same counselor for both their intake and ongoing sessions.
Please see the FAQ below for more information, including our late/no-show policy, session limits, and other common questions.
Single sessions are offered on a limited basis for students who have specific concerns they would like to discuss with a counselor, but aren’t interested in ongoing services. Single sessions are typically scheduled within the same week on a first come, first serve basis. Examples of topics that may be appropriate for a single session include:
- Processing bad news
- Managing a roommate conflict
- Dealing with a recent breakup
- Stress management
- Coping with anxiety symptoms
- Navigating adjustment to college
Single Sessions are not intended for students in crisis, students seeking letters of support, or students seeking ongoing services.
Interested in scheduling a Single Session appointment? Complete the initial paperwork through our Client Portal or in Martin 225 within office hours.
CWS offers walk-in crisis appointments for students experiencing a mental health crisis, including, but not limited to:
- risk of harm to self/others
- auditory/visual hallucinations
- recent death of someone close
- a recent traumatic event such as a sexual assault, arrest of a loved one, or eviction
Designated walk-in crisis hours on EWU school days are between 1PM-4PM, Monday-Friday. However, students in crisis are encouraged to reach out at any time within office hours. Outside of office hours, please call the 24/7 National Crisis Line at 988.
If you or someone else is at immediate risk of serious injury or death, please call 911.
Students interested in a walk-in crisis appointment will need to complete the initial paperwork through our Client Portal or in Martin 225 within office hours. Walk-in crisis appointments are scheduled based on need and severity, meaning some students may be seen ahead of others.
Looking to connect immediately with a counselor without completing paperwork? EWU students who are 18+ can call the 24/7 BetterMynd Support Line at (844) 287-6963.
CWS offers biofeedback therapy to students as another tool for mental wellbeing. Biofeedback (“feedback from the body”) is a form of therapy that brings awareness to how stress impacts the body. Instruments provide immediate information of your response to stress and anxiety and uses the information to help you learn how to modify your reactions.
Clinicians teach various regulating techniques during biofeedback training. These include mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, and breathing exercises. As with any skill, the more you practice, the more you gain.
Biofeedback has been shown to be helpful in reducing the negative effects of stress and improving mental clarity, self-regulation, and performance-based activities. It can help with a variety of conditions, including but not limited to stress, anxiety, headaches, muscle tension, and pain.
Thermal biofeedback measures the temperature of your hands with the aim of teaching you to voluntarily create a relaxed state. The more stressed we feel, the colder our extremities tend to get.
Surface Electromyography (sEMG) measures muscle tension and allows you to better influence the activation or relaxation of your muscles. It can be helpful in reducing tension headaches and muscle spasms.
Skin Conductance (SC) measures the sweat gland activity of the surface of the skin, which is sensitive to emotional and cognitive responses. It is useful for identifying stressors and learning to reduce their impact.
Respiratory Biofeedback involves the monitoring of breathing rates and patterns. It can assist you in learning to regulate your breathing.
Heart-Rate Variability (HRV) measures heart-beat intervals and provides feedback of heart rate patterns. It is helpful for increased self-regulation and the reduction of performance-related anxieties.
Interactive Mindfulness Meditation provides self-guided training options based on HRV biofeedback.
Biofeedback is considered safe but may not be appropriate for everyone. Those with a medical or mental health condition should check with their health care provider to determine the suitability of the program, prior to its use. Consultation is particularly recommended for the following conditions:
- significant psychological disorders (e.g., acute psychotic illness, paranoia, severe OCD, or dissociation)
- acute, severe, or unstable medical illness
- neurological conditions (e.g., seizures) and/or severe impairments of memory or attention
- irregularities of heart rhythm (e.g., atrial fibrillation, flutter, or intense clusters of premature atrial contractions)
Interested in scheduling a Biofeedback appointment? Complete the initial paperwork through our Client Portal or in Martin 225 within office hours. If you are a current client, please discuss your interest with your counselor at your next appointment.
CWS offers referral appointments that students can access for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to:
- Desire or need for long-term counseling
- Diagnosis/assessment of mental health condition
- Specialized mental health care such as DBT or EMDR
- Ineligibility for CWS services
Looking to schedule a referrals appointment? Complete the initial paperwork through our Client Portal or in Martin 225 within office hours.
CWS offers Let’s Talk as a low-barrier option for students to receive support, offering a confidential space for a brief informal conversation with a CWS counselor. Let’s Talk is offered in partnership with select offices on the Cheney campus. Stop by, no appointment required, for a 10-15 minute consultation – a counselor will listen to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.
Current Let’s Talk Availability
Veterans Resource Center – Tuesdays, 11AM-12PM, Showalter 122
JLR Multicultural Center – Thursdays, 11AM-12PM, PUB 329
Pride Center – Thursdays, 1PM-2PM, PUB 336
Let’s Talk is not intended as counseling or mental health treatment. If you are interested in counseling services, please see the tabs above.
Are you an EWU office interested in offering Let’s Talk? Complete our Request Form.
CWS offers group counseling as an opportunity to learn, share, and grow with others in a guided therapeutic environment. Unlike other services as CWS, there is no limit to group counseling sessions. Groups typically form at the start of each quarter and meet weekly for about 90 minutes. Most groups will require a brief pre-group interest appointment to review your counseling needs and group expectations.
Current Group Counseling Availability
CWS does not currently have group counseling available.
Please check back in Spring ’26 for group offerings.
Groups are offered and run based upon student interest. If you are interested in group counseling, please contact our office at (509) 359-2366 or stop by Martin 225 within office hours.
FAQs
CWS counseling services are funded through the Comprehensive Health & Wellness Fee and therefore only available to EWU students who pay this fee. These are typically students who are registered for 6+ credits AND live within 50 miles of the Cheney/Spokane campus. All Running Start students also have access to CWS counseling services.
Students in fully online programs, accelerated online programs, and part-time programs are typically not eligible. Students in EWU Bellevue programs can access Bellevue College counseling services.
Students who are ineligible for services can access a referrals appointment to help connect with a community provider.
Similar to other healthcare facilities, the first step to accessing CWS counseling services is completing some initial paperwork. You can complete this on your own through our Client Portal or stop by our office in Martin 225.
We ask all new clients and clients who have not been seen in 3+ months to complete paperwork. See below for which forms to complete.
New Clients
1. Informed Consent
2. Student Schedule
3. New Client Information
Returning Clients
1. Informed Consent (if available)
2. Student Schedule
4. Returning Client Information
Once paperwork is complete, a CWS staff member will reach out regarding scheduling and provide information about your appointment. If you have any questions regarding this process, please reach out to us at (509) 359-2366.
Please note, paperwork is only processed during CWS office hours. If you are in a mental health crisis outside of office hours, please call 988.
If you are already established with CWS and regularly seeing a counselor for ongoing appointments, contact us at (509) 359-2366 or secure message us through our Client Portal for scheduling.
Late arrivals, no-shows, and late cancellations/reschedules impact CWS’s ability to provide timely services to other students. As such, we ask that students arrive on time for their appointment and notify CWS as soon as possible if needing to cancel or reschedule. When able, we ask students to contact us at least one day prior.
Appointments are marked as a no-show when a student has not arrived within 10 minutes of their scheduled time. Consistent no-shows and late cancellations may result in being placed back on the waitlist.
If a student no-shows an appointment, it is the student’s responsibility to contact CWS to reschedule.
To cancel or reschedule an appointment, please call us at (509) 359-2366, stop by Martin 225, or secure message us through our Client Portal.
CWS has limited availability for ongoing individual counseling appointments at the Catalyst Building in Spokane.
Students interested in appointments at the Catalyst building will first need to complete paperwork through our Client Portal. Once paperwork is completed, a CWS staff member will reach out regarding scheduling and provide more information such as office location. Please note, paperwork is only processed during CWS office hours.
Our Catalyst office does not have a reception area; please reach out to our main office at (509) 359-2366 or in Martin 225 on the Cheney campus for general assistance, scheduling, or questions.
CWS counseling services are funded through the Comprehensive Health & Wellness Fee and there is no additional cost when accessing services. We do not ask for insurance information or payment of any kind for our services.
We may ask for a copy of your insurance for referral purposes only.
Yes. Confidentiality is a integral part of the therapeutic process and strictly safeguarded by counseling staff. Your private information is protected by state law and professional ethical standards.
Without your written permission, we cannot share your information or confirm if you are/aren’t a client. Your counseling records are not part of your academic record, and a student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) cannot access them without written consent.
There are a few specific exceptions when counselors are legally required to share information, such as if there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else, suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, or a court order. Your counselor will review these with you during your first appointment.
Like most university counseling centers, CWS ongoing counseling services are offered on a short-term basis. As the needs and situations of students differ, the amount of sessions a student receives is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Students who need or desire longer term therapy can be provided with a referral appointment to help find a community counselor. Students are welcome to use CWS services as they transition to longer term care in the community.
If you are…
- Experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911.
- Experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 988.
- In need of immediate mental health support, you can all the 24/7 BetterMynd support line at (844) 287-6963 (Must be 18+ and an EWU student).
- Looking for ongoing services outside of CWS hours, such as evenings and weekends, you can access BetterMynd for ongoing telehealth appointments (Must be 18+ and eligible for CWS services).
If you are concerned about a student and they are not willing to seek help on their own, the university provides resources to help connect the student with support.
CWS is able to provide consultation to those concerned about a student, including staff/faculty, family members, community members, and other students. During consultation, you will be able to discuss your concerns with a CWS counselor and receive guidance and resources for the student in need. If you are interested in scheduling a consultation, please call us at (509) 359-2366.
If you would like EWU to reach out directly to a student to provide support, please complete the ICARE Form provided by Student Accommodations and Support Services. Students can also complete the Student Intake Form to request support for themselves.
If a student is an immediate risk to themselves or others, please call 911.
Like other healthcare facilities, appointments at Counseling and Wellness Services must be initiated and made by the student seeking services. CWS does not reach out to students unless they have first initiated contact.
If you are a concerned friend/roommate, family member, faculty/staff, or community member and would like to alert EWU of a student in need, please complete the ICARE Form provided by Student Accommodations and Support Services.
Providing supporting documentation is a service that best occurs within the context of an ongoing therapeutic relationship.
If you have never been seen at the counseling center, or if your engagement with the center has been very limited, it is unlikely that we will be able to provide you with a letter of support.
While our counselors remain supportive of students’ academic efforts, they generally cannot confirm difficulties or issues about which they have no prior information or knowledge.
However, there are times such letters can be written – it will depend upon the nature of the letter you are requesting, the time frame of which it’s requested, the concerns relevant to the letter, the degree to which a student has been engaged with the counseling center, and the counselor’s professional judgement.
CWS does not provide ESA letters or documentation. We typically recommend students connect with their primary care provider regarding this request. Additionally, your insurance provider may be able to provide referrals.
BetterMynd
EWU has partnered with BetterMynd to offer students another avenue to access online therapy and provide an easy and flexible way to connect with a counselor. BetterMynd is a great option for students whose scheduling needs cannot be accommodated by our CWS Counseling Office. Students must still meet eligibility requirements to access BetterMynd (see FAQ below).
Why Online Therapy with BetterMynd?
- Personalized Care: Choose from a diverse network of licensed therapists, ensuring you find someone who truly understands you.
- Convenient & Flexible: Access therapy sessions from the comfort of your dorm, apartment, or wherever you feel most at ease—no commute required.
- Confidential & Safe: Your privacy is our top priority. BetterMynd provides a secure platform where your conversations are confidential and protected.
- Discreet & Judgment-Free: Whether you’re new to therapy or have experience, online therapy offers a discreet space to explore your thoughts and feelings.
How Does It Work?
Getting started is easy. Just log in, browse through our list of counselors, and choose someone who feels like the right fit for you. These roughly 50-minute live video sessions are available during the day, at night, and on weekends, so you can schedule them around your busy college life, making it simple to prioritize your mental health without sacrificing your studies or social life.
BetterMynd FAQs
Like our in-office counseling services, BetterMynd is available to students who pay the Comprehensive Health and Wellness Fee. This typically applies to students who are taking 6+ credits AND live within 50 miles of the Cheney/Spokane campus.
Due to BetterMynd policy, you must also be 18 years of age or older to use BetterMynd. Students under 18 are still welcome to use CWS services through our main counseling center.
Students who are otherwise eligible have access over breaks, including summer, so long as the student will return to EWU the following quarter/semester.
If you believe you are eligible but you are not able to access BetterMynd, please contact our office at cws@ewu.edu or (509) 359-2366.
To register for BetterMynd, click here and use your EWU email to register.
After registration you will go through the terms & conditions, complete a brief intake survey, and then be directed to your dashboard to view available counselors and schedule your first appointment.
BetterMynd, like CWS counseling services, is intended to serve as short-term counseling. We encourage students looking for long-term services to connect with community providers. Our office is happy to assist any student with referrals.
Students will automatically receive 8 “credits” that can be used for 50-minute sessions with a counselor. No shows will count toward this credit limit.
EWU students who are 18+ can call the 24/7 BetterMynd support line at (844) 287-6963 to access immediate mental health support over the phone, including those in crisis.
BetterMynd is not able to provide full walk-in/crisis appointments. Please refer to CWS counseling services if you are need of a walk-in crisis appointment.
The 24/7 National Crisis Line is also available at 988.
Unlike CWS counseling services, BetterMynd partners with a wide variety of counselors who can serve students outside of WA State. Refer to BetterMynd for specific availability.
Students must still meet eligibility requirements referenced above.
We ask that you only utilize one of these services at a time. Students are welcome to switch from CWS services to BetterMynd or vice versa depending on your needs.
BetterMynd is not associated with BetterHelp.
BetterMynd is a third-party platform with separate processes and policies that may differ from the CWS office. If you have any questions about these services, please reach out to BetterMynd at support@bettermynd.com
