Counseling

Empowering Your Well-being

WWCC Counseling Services offers a range of mental health services, from individual and group counseling to referrals and resource connection. Services are free, short-term and confidential for all enrolled students. We are here to help you navigate personal, social, educational, and mental health concerns that impact your academic success at WWCC.

Our goal is to help you improve coping and develop skills to achieve personal wellness and academic success in a safe and welcoming environment. You may be referred to a community provider for long-term, specialized therapy options, hospitalization, and services that are outside the scope of assistance provided by our department.

Caley Moyer
LMHC
509.527.4320
caley.moyer@wwcc.edu

Paris Davis
LICSW
509.524.4791
paris.davis@wwcc.edu

In-Person & Online Services Available

In-person & Online Counseling Services Available

In-person counseling services are available on the Walla Walla campus by appointment. WWCC Counselors also provide online appointments, but students must by physically located in the State of Washington at the time of the appointment due to licensure requirements. Walk-in appointments are offered in-person or online, subject to availability. If you need an in-person appointment sooner than is available please contact Blue Mountain Health Cooperative at (509) 973-5788 for free, walk-in appointments Tuesdays-Friday, located at 222 W. Birch St., Walla Walla, WA 99362.

WWCC Counseling Services

logo of bettermynd

To help us meet student needs, WWCC Counseling Services has partnered with BetterMynd, an online therapy platform, to offer students (age 18+) access to free teletherapy sessions from a diverse network of licensed mental health counselors in multiple states. These 50-minute live video sessions are private and confidential and can take place from the convenience of the student’s laptop, smartphone, or tablet. Teletherapy sessions are available during the day, at night, and on weekends, so students can get support whenever it’s best for them.

BetterMynd

What Type of Therapy Works Best for You?

At Walla Walla Community College, we offer both in-person and online therapy options to meet the diverse needs of our students. Explore the options available through WWCC Counseling Services and BetterMynd to find the best fit for your mental health support needs.

Type of Service

Type of Service	Offered by WWCC Counseling Services	Offered by BetterMynd
In-person appointments (Walla Walla campus only)	✔️	❌
Online appointments (WA only)	✔️	✔️
Drop-in appointments	✔️	❌
Available during weekdays	✔️	✔️
Available during evenings and weekends (quarter breaks and Summer quarter)	❌	✔️
Ability to pick therapist based on demographics, identities, lived experiences, and specialties	❌	✔️
Crisis services	❌	❌
For students under the age of 18	✔️	❌

FAQ

Do I need to be a full-time student to receive mental health services?
- No, you do not need to be a full-time student to access mental health services, but you must be currently enrolled in at least one class at WWCC.

What should I expect during my first counseling session?
- You deserve to feel safe and supported. Remember that this is your therapy session, meant to help you! Take a deep breath, relax, and know you’re in a safe place with a trained and trustworthy counselor.

During your first session, your counselor may ask you a lot of questions. Their goal is to learn more about you so they can assess your concerns and current well-being, and determine how to best help you.

Tips:

- - It can be useful to write down a few notes about why you’re seeking help.
  - Think about what you are hoping to resolve or feel better about.
  - Don’t like your counselor? No worries, try another one.
  - Not feeling it? No problem (don’t feel bad, it happens).

Can I change my counselor?
- Yes, WWCC offers you the flexibility to change your counselor preferences at any time (if availability allows). You also have access to a diverse group of online therapists through BetterMynd.

What if I need an appointment sooner than one is available?
- You can contact your counselor directly or call or visit the front desk in the Student Success Center for assistance. Availability varies, but we will do our best to meet your needs.
- For immediate help if you are experiencing a crisis, please use the following:
  - Call or text 911
  - Go to your local emergency department
  - Call or text 988
  - Text HEAL to 741741
  - Walla Walla County Crisis Response Team: (509) 524-2999
  - Asotin County Crisis Response Team: 1 (800) 970-3785
  - Umatilla County Crisis Response Team: (541) 240-8030
What is the ‘No-Show’ Policy?
- If you are not able to keep an appointment you scheduled, contact your counselor or the Student Success Center front desk (509) 527-4262 or go to the Zoom scheduler and change your appointment (if the original appointment was booked online). Canceling or rescheduling your appointment frees up this time and allows another student to schedule an appointment.
- If you do not attend your scheduled appointment without canceling or rescheduling, this will be considered a “no-show” appointment. We understand that sometimes life happens, so you are allowed two “no-show” appointments during each quarter. Further “no-show” appointments may result in you being denied future appointments until the next quarter.

I need a mental health diagnosis. How do I get one?
- WWCC Counselors do not provide diagnosis, documentation or formal assessment related to disabilities, mandated treatment or for court purposes.
- Receiving a mental health diagnosis requires multiple sessions with a counselor. Our teletherapy partner BetterMynd has therapists that may provide diagnosis. You can register for BetterMynd support services here.

Where do I go for mental health services?
- You can receive in-person or online mental health therapy at WWCC. WWCC Counselors are located in the Student Success Center (Main Building D) on the Walla Walla campus. Counselors offer virtual therapy appointments but you must be physically located in the state of Washington at the time of the appointment. You can schedule an appointment on our webpage.
- WWCC also partners with BetterMynd, who offers teletherapy with a diverse network of therapists. BetterMynd therapists offer additional availability during evenings and weekends, may have bilingual skills, and are licensed in different states (ex. If you live in Oregon or Idaho and want to engage in teletherapy from home).

Crisis & Emergency Contacts Emergency & 24-Hour Crisis Services:

WWCC Counselors & BetterMynd do not provide on-call, crisis or emergency services. If you have a physical or mental health urgent need or life-threatening situation, please immediately call or text 911 or seek assistance through the Emergency Room. Do not use email, text messages, or leave phone messages to communicate emergent or crisis information. Here are some crisis services available:

911 – Call or text for emergency

988 – Call or text for the 24/7 Lifeline

Walla Walla Crisis Response – 509.524.2999

Clarkston Crisis Line – 509.758.3341

Columbia County Crisis Line – 509.382.1164

Umatilla Region Crisis Line – 541.240.8030

Crisis Text Line – Text HEAL to 741741 to text with a crisis counselor

Trevor Life Line (LGBTQ) – 866.488.7386

Trans Life Line – 877.565.8860

National Sexual Assault Hotline – 800.656.4673

YWCA Crisis Line – 509.529.9922 (Walla Walla)/ 800.669.3176 (Lewiston, ID)

Confidentiality

Please take into consideration that confidentiality will be considered by the Counseling Service at every point but cannot be guaranteed when communicating with students by phone, email, or internet. We are attempting to provide the highest level of service to students under these difficult circumstances. Your understanding of the circumstances and the possible limits to confidentiality is implicit in your communication with the Counseling Service.

Information disclosed by the student during counseling is protected under confidentiality regulations of Washington law (RCW 18.225.100), but information may be released under the following exceptions as mandated by Washington law (RCW 18.225.105):

With your written authorization for use and disclosure of information, or in the case of death or disability, the authorization of your personal representative.
To any individual if the counselor reasonably believes that disclosure will avoid or minimize a serious, foreseeable or imminent risk to you or any other individual.
When there is reasonable cause to believe that a child, dependent adult or vulnerable person is being or has been abused or neglected.
When the student waives the privilege of confidentiality by bringing charges, complaints, lawsuit or dispute against the counselor.
If the counselor receives a subpoena from the court to provide information. If this happens, only the minimum information necessary to satisfy the court’s order will be provided.