Counseling

If you feel overwhelmed or are having trouble dealing with problems on your own, seeking counseling might be a good option for you. There are many ways to take care of yourself and heal through counseling options, stress reduction techniques, support groups, and other resources.

How does counseling help people deal with the effects of trauma?

Counseling can:

• Teach you about trauma and its effects.
• Teach you relaxation techniques or anger management strategies.
• Provide tools to help improve your sleep, diet, or exercise habits
• Help you identify and deal with negative feelings about the traumatic event, such as feelings of guilt or shame.
• Help you identify and deal with negative thoughts about traumatic events such as self-blame.
• Assist you in making behavioral changes to reduce anxiety when exposed to people or places that are reminders of the trauma.

About confidentiality

UW Counseling Center records are not part of academic records and no one on or off campus has access to them or any information in them. Communication with your counselor and your records will be kept in confidence and will not be shared with anyone outside of the Counseling Center unless you give written authorization and/or except under these extremely rare circumstances:

•  If there is a risk of imminent harm to yourself or another identified person, we are required to notify appropriate authorities to ensure everyone’s safety.
• If there is reason to suspect that a minor or an elderly person is in danger of being abused or neglected, we are legally required to report this to the Department of Social Services.
• If a court of law orders the release of certain information about a client, we are legally required to comply with this order.
• If you file a lawsuit or other legal action against the Seattle, Bothell, or Tacoma campuses or their employees, agents, or officers contesting your services at the Counseling Center, information contained in your records could be released to UW attorneys if relevant to your lawsuit.