Counseling Services

Short-term individual and couples counseling

• (7 sessions, 50 minutes in length), to any currently enrolled Green River student for the total time they are attending.
• Counseling sessions are free and confidential.
• During the initial counseling session, your counselor will assess your needs and make a treatment plan based on his/her professional opinion and in collaboration with you.
• You and your counselor will work together to decide how frequently and for how long a period it is necessary to meet.
• You may decide to take no further action at that time - you are not obligated to continue counseling once you've attended an initial session. If you have any additional questions about the first appointment, please don't hesitate to call our office at 253-833-9111 ext. 2460.

Crisis response and intervention

• walk in hours
• or just come by
• call us

Referrals (See counseling resource list sheets)

Both college and personal life can be complicated and stressful. We can help students deal with personal problems and situational crises, gain coping and stress management skills, improve self-esteem, decrease anxiety and depressed mood, learn new relationship skills, adjust to college life, and reach their personal and academic goals.

Just about anyone can benefit. No problem is too big or small. Check out the top 10 reasons GRCC students come to see us.

1. Symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression
2. College adjustment issues such as homesickness, schoolwork or academic problems, and relationships
3. Interpersonal difficulties, including roommate conflicts, family problems, romantic relationship concerns, problems with assertiveness, and other issues
4. Bereavement and grief related to the loss of a loved one (such as relationship breakups, deaths, parental divorce, or other major losses)
5. Questions/confusion about identity, career choices, self-image, sexuality, gender, or religious concerns
6. Single-parenting challenges
7. Concerns about body image, food, eating, or weight
8. Experience with sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, abuse, or other trauma
9. Thoughts of suicide, death, or hurting others
10. Behaviors that can be harmful to you, like drug or alcohol abuse or cutting

Still not sure if you want/need an appointment? Try our free Anonymous Online Assessment to help you decide what's right for you. Also consider calling us at 253-833-9111 ext. 2460 to discuss your situation.

Anonymous Online Assessment

Our counselors are trained to intervene or provide support for a countless number of issues, far too many to list in any comprehensive way. While counseling might be helpful in numerous situations, there are some conditions in which we would strongly encourage you to seek counseling services:

• You are unhappy on most days or feel a sense of hopelessness
• You worry excessively or are constantly on edge
• You are unable to concentrate on your schoolwork or other
• You are unable to sleep at night or constantly feel tired
• You have experienced a change in your appetite or your weight
• You have experienced a loss (e.g., a relationship breakup, a parent's death)
• You have increased your use of alcohol or other drugs (including cigarettes)
• You feel overwhelmed by what is going on in your life
• You are having thoughts about hurting yourself or someone else

Define your goals. Think about what you would like to get out of counseling. It might be helpful to write a list of events, relationship issues, or feelings that you think are contributing to your distress. Take time before each session to consider your expectations for that session. Self-exploration and change involve hard work, and sometimes painful feelings are stirred up in the process of healing. Counselors are trained to pay close attention to these issues and will probably encourage you to discuss these feelings openly.

Be an active participant. This is your counseling experience, so be as active as you can in deciding how to use the time. Be honest with the counselor and give her or him feedback about how you see the sessions progressing.

Be patient with yourself. Growth takes time, effort, and patience. All of your coping skills, behavior patterns, and self-perceptions have been learned and reinforced over a long period of time, so change can be difficult and slow at times.

Ask questions. Ask questions about the counseling process, any methods used by the counselor, or about any other services at CMHC. Your counselor is there to assist you.

Lutheran Counseling Network - 15 sites at churches throughout the King County area (counseling is non-denominational).
Call 206-364-1046 to locate nearest site.
Auburn Area - 253-839-1697
Kent/Renton Area - 425-271-9711
Very low sliding-scale fee - depends on location and provider (ask when calling). No Medical coupons accepted.

Presbyterian Counseling Services - Serving South King County. For location nearest you call 206-527-2266. Sliding-scale fee. No Medical coupons accepted.

Catholic Community Services - 1229 West Smith Street, Kent, WA 98032 206-328-5574. Sliding-scale fee. Accepts Medical Coupons.

Highline-West Seattle Mental Health Center - 1010 South 146th St., Burien, WA 98168 206-248-8226. Sliding-scale fee. Medical Coupons.

Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation -  2705 I Street NE, Auburn, WA 253-939-4055 Sliding-scale fee. Accepts Medical Coupons.

Seattle Counseling Services for Sexual Minorities - Serves South King County 206-323-1768. Sliding-scale fee.

CRISIS

King County 24-hour Crisis Line
206-461-3222 or 866-4CRISIS

Teen Link
206-461-4922 or 866 4CRISIS

Pierce County 24-hour Crisis Line
253-798-4333

General information on counseling and mental health issues:

• National Institute of Mental Health
• The Center for Mental Health Services

Specific mental health issues (traditional treatment methods):

• National Mental Health Association - Index of information on specific concerns
• Mental Health InfoSource - Information about a wide range of mental illnesses
• Mental Health Resources - Index of links to mental health information resources
• Pendulum - Information on bipolar disorder
• Internet Mental Health - Information on mental disorders, treatment and medication
• Mental-Health-Matters.com - Clearinghouse for a wealth of resources including alternative treatments (see below)
• Mental Help Net - Information, resources, treatments, "Ask the Pharmacist," news, support forums
• Save - Suicide Awareness/Voices of Education

Alternative Medicine and Mental Health: Look here for nutritional and alternative medical approaches to mental health issues.

• Mental Health Matters - Index of links to alternative mental health treatments
• Office of Alternative Medicine. National Institute of Health
• Alternative Medicine Foundation - Research-based information on alternative medicine
• Orthomolecular Medicine Nutritional - Alternative approaches to illness, including schizophrenia
• Whole Health MD - Information on alternative approaches to health
• Callahan Techniques/Thought Field Therapy - Alternative Mental Health Treatment
• BrainGym - A system of physical exercises for improving concentration and various cognitive skills. Selected by the National Learning Foundation as a leading technology for education
• HerbMed.org - Index of herbs listing research and effects/side effects

Substance Abuse:

• Prevline - The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
• Web of Addiction - Links to alcohol and substance abuse information, including fact sheets on a variety of alcohol and drug related topics