Counseling Services

The staff of the Welty Health and Counseling Center have a very high level of concern for and respect toward the confidentiality of individuals receiving services from this office. Staff collect, record and store client information only as needed for the effective and legal provision of services. All information is considered privileged and is maintained as confidential, consistent with ethical guidelines as well as the Washington State and federal statutes. The services of the Counseling Center are separate from any other student records kept at Whitman College. Information revealed in counseling sessions will remain confidential, except in cases of imminent danger to the client or another, when mandated by law, or when permission is granted to release information.

Client Records

Client records are secured in locked files and/or secured electronic files and accessed only by authorized personnel. Records are destroyed after seven years following the last client contact. Clients have the right to inspect and receive copies of their records; however, access to these records by the person receiving counseling may be restricted by the treating mental health professional during the course of treatment.

Release of Client Records

Individual client information may be released outside of the Counseling Center under the following circumstances:

• With Informed Consent: 
  A client may request that specific information be sent to another entity. Prior to the disclosure, the client must sign a “Consent for Release of Information” form. Information unrelated to treatment will not be released.

• Without Informed Consent: 
  Client information may be released without consent in the following situation:

  • When there is clear and imminent danger of harm to oneself or another person. In these circumstances we are legally required to take action to protect life. Thus, our actions may include arranging for voluntary or involuntary hospitalization, notifying law enforcement authorities, and/or family/friends/individuals at risk.

  • When a situation otherwise must be reported by law.

  • Washington state law provides that the parents and/or spouse of a deceased patient has the right to access their deceased child’s or spouse’s health care records.

Email Communication

Due to the non-secure nature of email, the confidentiality of such communication cannot be ensured. Please note that staff members may not check email with regularity or frequency, and may not access email outside of Counseling Center hours. Therefore, be advised that your communication with the Counseling Center or your counselor may not receive a timely response if a response is indicated. Please use discretion when sending information that is sensitive in nature. In the event of an emergency, do not rely on email—contact 911, Whitman Security at 509-527-5777 or the Welty Health Center at 509-527-5281. For the most timely and confidential communication, please call the Counseling Center directly during business hours at 509-527-5195.

We want to accommodate every student who would like to be seen by a counselor. If you are a student, you can begin by initiating a request for counseling services:

• By email: counseling@whitman.edu
• By phone: 509-527-5195 (we are available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
• Or simply walk into the WHCC during business hours to schedule your first appointment.

During your time with the counselor, they will speak with you about your concerns and what the next best step is for you to get your needs addressed. Depending on the nature of the issue, you could be referred to a community provider, set up for short-term counseling with one of the staff counselors, referred to a group, referred to a medical provider or referred to another campus office in Student Affairs.

If you would like to explore medication assistance for a mental health condition—or your counselor or medical provider feels a psychiatric evaluation would be helpful—you can meet with our provider for an assessment. 

Sometimes, a more in-depth evaluation is needed than we can provide on campus. In those cases, we’ll connect you with trusted providers in the community. Please note: our providers do not prescribe stimulant medications and do not offer assessments for ADHD or autism.

Right now, all psychiatric appointments are offered through telehealth.

The Counseling Center’s staff often provide psycho-educational programs for different events or groups on campus. Programs can include workshops, classroom presentations, programs for residence life, student clubs or groups and staff and faculty training. Some past programs have included:

• Stress Management
• Body Image
• Communication
• Healthy Relationships  
• Mindfulness
• Sexuality

The Welty Health and Counseling Center at Whitman College works hard to see all students requesting service in a timely manner.

Individual counseling is primarily short-term focused. Depending on the nature of the student’s concern, we may refer a student to a service provider in the community that can more adequately meet their needs. These include, but are not limited to:

• ADHD Evaluations and/or Medication (new prescriptions or the continuation of a prior prescription)
• Testing for Learning Disabilities (Whitman doesn’t offer testing, however, the Academic Resource Center can help advise students on where to go and how to get the process started.)
• Intensive Treatment for Eating Disorders, Self-Injury or Serious Psychiatric Disorder
• Intensive Treatment for Substance Abuse