Individual Counseling – Counseling and Wellness Services

Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) offers a variety of in-person and telehealth options.

Please Note - Not all students are eligible for counseling services.

If you are a Running Start student and are having difficulty accessing the Client Portal, please contact our office at (509) 359-2366.

We are aware that some eligible students are having difficulty accessing the client portal. We are working with IT to resolve this issue. Please call our our office and we will be happy to assist you!

Typically, individual counseling services are available to students who:

- - - Take 6 or more credits
    - Live within 50 or less miles of Cheney/Spokane campuses

Ongoing Individual Counseling (short-term)

Students who would like ongoing sessions, must first schedule an intake (new client) appointment.

Paperwork to start this process can be found in the client portal link below.

Ongoing counseling typically consists of up to 6 scheduled sessions per academic year.

Services are available at the Cheney campus and the Spokane Catalyst building, with in-person and telehealth options.

Paperwork will need to be completed prior to your appointment.

Once the paperwork is completed, students will sent be sent a very brief assessment form to complete to help triage their appointment.

Here's the link to start the paperwork:

Client Portal

Please note that no-show appointments may limit options for future appointments.

Note that these forms are not monitored 24/7. If you are in mental health crisis and we are outside of business hours, please call:

24 Hour Crisis Line: 988

1-877-266-1818 or 911

Washington State Regional Crisis Lines by County

Same-Day Single Session Therapy Appointments

CWS has limited appointments for same-day, single session therapy. These sessions are stand alone appointments and not for those currently seeking ongoing sessions (see Ongoing Individual Counseling). They are also NOT for those experiencing a mental health emergency (see Walk-In Crisis). Here are some examples of needs that can be met with single-session therapy:

Students can request these appointments by calling (509) 359-2366 or stopping by Martin Hall 225 starting at 8 am each morning (voicemail left before 8am will NOT be considered for single session reservations). Single Session requests will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis.

Walk-In Sessions for Urgent and Crisis Situations

CWS offers crisis sessions for mental health emergencies, for example:

suicidal intent
auditory/visual hallucinations
recent loss of someone close
a recent traumatic event, such as domestic violence incident or hate crime

Students may utilize crisis services in-person at our Cheney location or by telehealth if unable to meet at the Cheney campus.

They are generally offered on a first come, first served basis, but please be aware that on occasion, a student may be seen ahead of others.

Crisis Walk Ins are currently offered Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 pm. Schedule may vary over breaks. Please call 509.359.2366 for more information.

24 Hour Crisis Line: 988

Group Counseling (in person)

CWS counseling groups usually form at the beginning of each quarter and typically meet once a week for about ninety minutes.

Take advantage of this opportunity to learn, share, and grow with others. Note that most groups require a pre-group interest appointment to learn more about whether a group will meet your particular needs. *Group sessions do not have session limitations.*

Spring Group Therapy Offerings

Compassion Focused Therapy Group facilitated by Michael McClung, M.S., LMHC

Experiencing difficult emotions like anxiety, sadness, shame, and anger are part of the human experience. This group will help participants understand why difficult emotions arise, and what their purpose is, so that we can more intentionally respond to them. Group members will also learn tools such as mindfulness and compassion to grow their ability to engage their soothing systems and live a more balanced, intentional life.

Grief & Loss Group facilitated by Marissa Jenks-Barajas, MSW, LSWAIC

This group will aim to discuss emotions & normalize feelings around grief and loss, while also working to provide a safe space for group members to express their own experiences.

Perception Check: Tabletop Role Play Group Therapy (TRPG)* facilitated by Michael Ochi, PsyD

This alternative group therapy approach allows individuals to build a character within a fantasy realm. Players are invited into a world where they will role play the characters they created within a team-oriented setting. This form of narrative play is designed to challenge the group and broaden their perspective with various social, behavioral, and mental health concerns. Due to the creative flow of role-playing games, most players can explore new methods of social and behavioral skills without judgment or “real life” consequences.

*no experience with tabletop gaming necessary

Groups are offered and run based upon student interest.

Please call Counseling and Wellness Services at (509) 359-2366 if you are interested in group counseling or if you have questions about a particular group.

You may be asked to complete some online paperwork. The receptionist can assist you with this process.

Let's Talk: Availability Varies

Brief, confidential conversations with a CWS counselor. Let's Talk does not require students to fill out any paperwork.

It is not mental health treatment, but is a brief conversation to discuss a problem, receive support, explore possible solutions, and receive resources.

2022-2023

Mondays

3-4PM, Monroe 203, Chicana/o/x Studies Lounge

Wednesdays

10AM-12PM, Showalter 122, Veterans Resource Center

Referrals

For some students, their mental health needs will not be met by the short term model used by the counseling center.

Their intake counselor may direct them to an appointment for community referrals.

CWS will work with the student to identify counselors in the community that best pair up with the student's concerns, based upon scheduling availability, insurance, and other resources.

Students can also directly request a referral appointment.

Please see "Individual Counseling" above for more information on necessary paperwork.

At least one day prior to your appointment, please send a picture of the front and back of your insurance card to the department email: cws@ewu.edu

Students, staff/faculty, and members of the EWU community are also welcome to utilize a referral directory called ThrivingCampus

Biofeedback Therapy (in person)

Biofeedback Therapy

Biofeedback is a type of therapy offered by the counseling center that can be very
effective for some students.

Biofeedback helps students learn how to influence their physical responses to
stress and anxiety. For example, they may learn how to voluntarily warm their
hands, reduce muscle tension, or slow and deepen their breathing to reduce stress.

Some reasons students might consider biofeedback:
o Anxiety
o Stress
o Pain
o Muscle tension
o Headaches

Please see our biofeedback page for more information about this program: CWS Biofeedback Services

If you are an ongoing client at the counseling center, please ask your counselor
about biofeedback therapy.

If you are new to the counseling center, please see "Individual Counseling" above
for information about scheduling an appointment to meet with one of the
counselors trained in biofeedback therapy.

Outreach Presentations

While meeting student counseling needs remains the principal focus of the center, the staff can be available for some outreach events/presentations.

When requesting staff for an outreach event, please provide as much notice as possible. Depending upon the event, staff will need 2 to 4 weeks notice and may need to turn down requests if it will impact student counseling priorities.

The best way to contact Counseling & Wellness Services to request an outreach presentation is through email: cws@ewu.edu

Some workshops that have been given in the past:

- Responding to Distressed Students

- Dealing with Microaggressions on Campus

- Breaking the Procrastination Cycle

The counseling staff is available for group trauma response counseling if necessary. In light of such circumstances, disregard the notice period. Please call the center directly to make arrangements at (509) 359-2366.