Counseling Services

Welcome to the Counseling Center. Our goal is to provide a supportive and confidential environment to address student concerns and needs.

anxiety
depression
grief
relationship difficulties
adjustment to college

All counseling services are free of charge to registered students.

Our services are designed to help develop deeper self-awareness, strengthen coping skills, foster healthy relationships and improve academic performance and community engagement. The Center offers free and confidential counseling services to Warner Pacific students including individual and group therapy, mediation, crisis management, evaluation, referral and community outreach.

To Make an Appointment

Please email: counseling@warnerpacific.edu and request an appointment.

Hours of operation: Monday – Thursday 9 a.m – 5 p.m.

Emergencies

If a student is experiencing a mental health emergency, the Director of the Counseling Center may be contacted at 503.517.1119 Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Multnomah County Crisis Line may also be contacted for crisis support and evaluation services 24/7 at 503.988.4888. Please call 911 if you are in threat of harm.

Location

The Counseling Center is located at 2211 SE 66th Avenue (at the end of the street in a white house called the “Caldwell House.”)

Staff

The Counseling Center is staffed by the Director of the Counseling Center, the Outreach Coordinator/Counselor and a group of graduate counseling interns. The counseling center operates a graduate training program which accepts graduate counseling interns pursuing advanced degrees in counseling and clinical psychology each academic year. To ensure quality mental health services, each intern receives ongoing clinical supervision and training from a licensed professional counselor.

Cameron W.

Graduate counseling student intern from Western Seminary. In counseling, I work from a CBT and solutions focused approach helping Clients to apply coping skills for dealing with life’s struggles such as depression, anxiety, life transitions, grief/loss, and relationship issues. Together we can uncover and transform patterns and core beliefs that often hinder identity formation, personal boundaries and self-esteem. I consider it an honor to walk alongside clients, offering support and empowerment through challenging seasons.

Cameron is available on Tuesdays and Thursday.

Meghan H.

Graduate counseling student intern from Western Seminary.I have spent the last 10+ years working globally with nonprofit and for profit organizations focusing on humanitarian aid initiatives, education, and mental health needs. I have counseled, mentored and/or coached college students both in the states and abroad and enjoy being on a college campus working with students again. I combine a warm personality with counseling techniques to collaborate with clients to help them explore their worlds and live skillfully. I support clients as they become more aware of their own values and patterns and encourage them as they deploy personal strengths to aid in their healing and growth.

Meghan is available on Wednesdays & Thursdays.

Hanna M.

Graduate counseling student intern from Western Seminary. My background is in higher education. I decided to become a counselor because I love working with college students, and I wanted to help with the anxiety, depression, and the other challenging things that can surface – or intensify – during the college years. I believe that together the counselor and client can work on uncovering thought patterns and narratives, core values and strengths, and ways to use those for the client’s benefit. I hope that in each session you feel seen, heard, and empowered.

Hanna is available Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Julia Garrison, LPC Intern, NCC

The Outreach Coordinator and a counselor. My collaborative approach equips and empowers clients to identify what has been ineffective, strategically challenge those thoughts/beliefs/actions that aren’t working, and gradually bring to surface unmet needs in order to then work together to better understand how to meet those needs in ways that help you flourish. I am also available to lead trainings/workshops related to mental health and well-being.

You may contact Julia via email at jgarrison@warnerpacific.edu

Gene Hall, MA, LPC

The Director of the Counseling Center. Gene Hall comes from a background in Community Mental Health and Private Practice Counseling. Driven by a compassion for people and developing excellence in care both for the Client and the Provider. As a Director of the Counseling Center at Warner Pacific University, his goals include the provision of superior mental health services for students, useful support for staff and faculty, and professional development of service providers. Gene’s passion for mental health work can be traced back to personal calling and early ministry experiences. Gene specializes in working with helping people address the crippling effects of anxiety, and depression, in order to live fuller lives, live into their Values, and build resilience for inevitable adversity.

You may contact Gene via email at ghall@warnerpacific.edu.

Making an Appointment

Please email: counseling@warnerpacific.edu and request a counseling appointment, including your name and phone number as well as ALL times you are available Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. You will receive a reply email with a counseling appointment time and date, your counselor’s name and further instructions on how to prepare for your first session. You will also receive a link to an online confidential intake form. Please follow the instructions and complete all forms before coming to your fist session.

Structure of Therapy

Counseling sessions are scheduled weekly or bi-weekly and typically last 50 minutes per session. Some clients like to check in monthly.

During the first appointment the counselor will review initial paperwork and explore reasons for seeking therapy. After the assessment of client concerns and review of the client’s goal the therapist will craft a plan of treatment and eventually review this with the client. Evidence-based practices and interventions are used to create change and establish growth for the client. Either by the end of the semester, when the treatment plan is completed, or when the client feels they no longer need services, sessions will be terminated. Students are welcome to return for services at any time during the school year and when there is availability.

Referrals are provided if the client wishes to continue counseling over break so if the client needs specialized treatments they can receive care. If for any reason a client is not comfortable with their therapist, they have the option to meet with another therapist based on availability. While sessions are free to students there are policies in place for clients who repeatedly no-call/no-show or who have a pattern of canceling late.

Confidentiality

Counseling services are confidential. All communication shared with your counselor, including registration for services, will be kept strictly confidential and will not be revealed to anyone outside the Counseling Center without your written permission. Consent may not be necessary in a few exceptions. These include, but may not be limited to:

Any present evidence of child, elder, & disabled person abuse.
Threat of bodily harm to yourself, others, or animals. Any threat or implication to commit a harmful crime.
In the case of a legitimate subpoena issued by a court of law.
In the defense of claims brought against the counselor.
If you are a minor (under the age of 18).

Reasons for Seeking Therapy

The most frequent request by students is for individual and relationship counseling. Individual counseling can focus on such concerns as anxiety and tension, depression, procrastination, grief due to loss, loneliness, low self-esteem or self-confidence, performance/striving issues, issues with food, identity or orientation concerns, and many other personal issues. Relationship counseling focuses on improving or understanding relationships between roommates, teachers, friends, engaged couples, spouses, and parents.

Counseling Services also offers a variety of opportunities for clients to understand themselves better and to enhance their relationships with others.

Counseling Services can also help students to:

Develop more independence and maturity.
Handle life situations more effectively.
Accept responsibility for behavior.
Manage stress and anxiety appropriately.
Live by a personal value system.
Create a healthy and satisfying lifestyle.
Develop a mature sexuality.
Develop and maintain satisfying interpersonal relationships.
Enhance self-esteem and self-confidence.
Resolve conflicts and make decisions more effectively.
Address and gain satisfaction out of work activities.

Signs that counseling could be helpful or needed

So when is counseling helpful or needed? It’s a question of measuring to what extent you are managing — anything that makes you feel overwhelmed or limits your ability to function to the level you would like are basic cues that it is time to seek a counselor. Other signs include:

Everything you feel is intense or overwhelming (or conversely, you feel numb and detached from life).
You’ve suffered trauma and you can’t seem to stop thinking about it.
You have unexplained and recurrent headaches, stomach-aches or a rundown immune system.
You’re using a substance to cope.
You take extra measures to either avoid people completely or constantly distract yourself from being by yourself.
You’re getting negative feedback from work or school.
You feel disconnected from previously beloved activities.
Your relationships are strained.
Your friends or family have told you they’re concerned.

When self-harm or suicidal thoughts are present, talk to someone and see a counselor. This is absolutely a time to engage in a non-judgmental, accepting counseling relationship to find the support and care that you need.

Mental Health Screening Tools

Mental Health Emergencies

Clear warning signs of suicidality:

Threatening to kill self/others or talking about wanting to hurt self/others
Seeking access to firearms, pills, etc.
Talking or writing about death, dying or suicide (especially when the person doesn’t normally do this)

NEVER leave someone alone who is showing suicidal behavior. Call 911 immediately.

If you’re unsure and need support please call:

Multnomah County Crisis Line & Project Respond
503-988-4888

Washington County Crisis Line
503-291-9111

Clackamas County Crisis Line
503-655-8585

Southwest Washington State (including Clark County) Crisis Line
800.626.8137 | TTY 866.835.2755

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800-273-TALK (8255)

Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare: Urgent Walk-in Services
Open 7 days a week from 7am – 10:30pm
4212 SE Division, Suite 100, Portland, OR 97206;
enter at corner of SE Division and 42nd Ave.

Alcohol & Substance Abuse

A Better Today Recovery Services

Portland Therapy Center: Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Dependence

Serenity Lane

Teras Counseling/ DUII, Anger Management, DV Offender

Hospitals (Local)

Adventist Medical Center-Portland
10123 SE Market St.
(503) 257-2500

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
2801 N Gantenbein Ave.
(503) 413-2200

Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
1015 NW 22nd Ave.
(503) 413-7711

Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU)
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road
(503) 494-8311

Providence Portland Medical Center
4805 NE Glisan St.
(503) 215-1111

Insurances Resources

Care Oregon

Oregon Health Plan

Washington Health Plan Finder

Mental Health Care

Search engine: Search for licensed therapists on Psychology Today.

How to Seek Mental Health Counseling Services outside of WPU

If you’re no longer a student or are for any reason unable to schedule an appointment with the Counseling Center please consider these basic steps to connect with a licensed therapist in your area.

Basic Steps

If you have health insurance, clarify with them if you have mental health coverage.
Search for a therapist that meets your criteria of needs/goals.
Interview the potential therapist(s) over the phone or through email.
Schedule a first meeting to see if it is a good fit.

Inpatient Care:

Cedar Hills Hospital
https://cedarhillshospital.com/inpatient

Providence Adult Eating Disorders Treatment Program
https://oregon.providence.org/our-services/p/providence-adult-eating-disorders-treatment-program

Providence Inpatient Psychiatric Care
https://oregon.providence.org/our-services/p/providence-behavioral-health-adult-inpatient-treatment

Unity Center for Behavioral Health
https://unityhealthcenter.org/mental-health-inpatient-care-temp

Outpatient Care:

Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare
4212 SE Division
Urgent walk-in clinic 7days/week: 7am to 10:30pm (503) 239-5952
(Connected to Project Respond)

Cornerstone Clinical
CCS Eastside Milwaukie, OR (503) 786-1711
CCS Westside Tigard, OR (503) 352-0036
http://www.cornerstoneclinicalservices.com/clinicians.php

Lacamas Counseling
Vancouver, WA
lacamascounseling.com

A New Day Counseling Center
Western Seminary
5511 SE Hawthorne
(503) 517-1895
http://www.anewdaycounseling.org

Providence Psychiatric Dialectical Behavior Outpatient Therapy Program
https://oregon.providence.org/our-services/p/providence-psychiatric-dialectical-behavior-outpatient-therapy-program

Providence Psychiatric Intensive Outpatient Program
https://oregon.providence.org/our-services/p/providence-psychiatric-intensive-outpatient-program

Refresh Therapy (2 locations)
Vancouver, WA
http://www.refresh-therapy.com

Western Psychological & Counseling Services (Multiple Locations)
12636 SE Stark St., Plaza 125, Building J
Portland, OR 97233
(503) 253-4600
https://www.westernpsych.com

Sundstrom Clinical Services
21900 Willamette Drive, Suite 202
West Linn, OR 97068
(503) 653-0631
https://www.sundstromclinic.com/areas-of-specialty

Psychological Testing | Full Evaluations to Diagnose Disabilities

Please contact WPU Disabilities resources for more information.

George Fox University Behavioral Health Clinic
Counseling and Testing Services (Sliding scale offered)
https://www.georgefox.edu/bhc/index.html

Pacific Psychology & Comprehensive Health Clinic
Counseling and Testing Services (Sliding scale offered)
https://www.pacificu.edu/about/community/healthcare-clinics/pacific-psychology-comprehensive-health-clinic

Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Resources

Please see WPU Sexual Misconduct and Title IX and the Personal Safety resources.

Bradley Angle (LGBTQ+ Services)
503-235-5333
https://bradleyangle.org/get-help/programs/lgbtq-services

Call to Safety (Portland Women’s Crisis Line)
1-888-235-5333
https://calltosafety.org/resources/quick-facts

The Gateway Center (DV Services in Multnomah County)
(503) 988-6400
Monday- Friday 9am to 4pm
10305 East Burnside Street
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/gatewaycenter

Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC)
24-hr anonymous, confidential and free support call: (503) 640-5311
http://www.sarcoregon.org/resources/24-hour-support-line

Transportation

Getting around Portland: List of option
https://www.travelportland.com/plan-your-trip/getting-around

Ride Connection: Door to Door Services
https://rideconnection.org/

Trimet Bus Services
https://trimet.org/bus/index.htm

If a student is experiencing a mental health emergency, the Director of the Counseling Center may be contacted at 503.517.1119 during the days of M-Th 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Graduate Internship Inquires

Warner Pacific is a Christ-centered, urban, liberal arts college dedicated to providing students from diverse backgrounds an education that prepares them to engage actively in a constantly changing world.

Cover a Wide Array of Issues

Interns may have the opportunity to provide individual, group and/or couples counseling, psycho-education and guest speaking to students, faculty and staff, and student advocacy. Counseling is free and available to all students on campus. Graduate counseling interns, the Outreach Coordinator & Counselor, and the Director of Counseling staff the counseling center.

We cover a wide array of issues like:

anxiety
depression
chemical abuse/dependence
trauma
relationship issues
grief
eating disorders
adjustment
abuse/assault
psychiatric referral
multicultural
legal
financial issues

Intern Qualifications

Warner Pacific is seeking LPC-track counseling interns who have a passion and desire to authentically care for and work with traditional- and non-traditional-aged college students of various backgrounds toward health and healing. Interns will be expected to have a positive, open and teachable disposition with their peers and supervisor as well as a willingness to connect and engage with faculty, staff and students.

Internship applications for the 2020-2021 school year will be available the beginning of January 2020. Application deadline is TBD. To receive an application, please email your request and attach your resume to Gene Hall, MA, LPC – Director of the Counseling Center at ghall@warnerpacific.edu.

Community Resources

Community resources are local and/or nationwide organizations that individuals can turn to for assistance in filling an unmet need such as food, shelter, etc. The below resources are not affiliated with Warner Pacific University in any way. If you need additional help or have questions, please reach out to your Academic Advisor.

211 info helps you to navigate and connect with local resources such as bill pay assistance, shelters, low cost, or free clinics, etc. You can get help via the website, by calling 211 on your phone or texting your zip code to 898211.
http://211info.org/

The Oregon Food Bank’s Food Finder will help you find local food boxes, free meals, pantry style grocery programs, etc. They also offer cooking and gardening classes to help you learn to cook nutritiously while staying on a limited budget.
https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/

Multnomah County Food Access-related Resources is an interactive map showing you places for free food, community gardens, DHS offices, farmers markets, and WIC clinics. The map also includes public transportation routes so you can find a convenient location.
http://multco.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f41add90d0e42b8a6d7f85a1abc0d66

Request Accommodations for a Disability

Do you have a documented disability that requires classroom or campus accommodations? The Disabilities Resource Center (DRC) provides support to help you fully participate in your classes and succeed in college. For any student seeking accommodations, contact the Disability Resource Coordinator as soon as possible, ideally 30 days prior of each semester in which you are seeking accommodations. For processes and information, visit the DRC webpage.

To contact the Disabilities Resource Coordinator, Jann McCaul, call 503.517.1577, email jmccaul@warnerpacific.edu, or stop by her office Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Her office is located in Smith Hall, Room 208, on the Mt. Tabor campus.