Students who need mental health care can get it at Highline. 

Research shows that mental health is an issue for many college students, with more than a third citing anxiety and/or depression as concerns. Problems have only been made worse by the pandemic. 

Highline offers resources for students struggling with their mental health. Counselors are available to students as well as a variety of workshops are aimed at helping folks on campus, including students.

Dr. Gloria Koepping from the Counseling Center offered words of encouragement for students facing challenges.  

“If you’re struggling, it’s OK to ask for help,” she said. 

There is nothing wrong with asking for help; it’s perfectly normal, Dr. Koepping said. Some families discourage therapy or talking to others about one’s problems, but the counseling center is a non-committal safe place for students.

“We can still honor the values of culture and family by coming we’re not gonna make you dump your view of the world, but help expand your view, to help you see there’s more than one way to look at a problem,” she said. 

Dr. Koepping urges students to drop by the center for two main reasons: first because the counselors want people to reach their maximum potential, and second because it’s free for students. When you graduate, therapy will cost a lot, so the counselors urge you to use this resource while it’s free. 

If a student is struggling with which career path to follow, the center helps them evaluate their options and factor in their hobbies, interests, and what their family wants. 

“The counseling centers just want people to succeed and get the most out of life,” Dr. Koepping said. 

The center has four full-time counselors and a master’s level counselor intern, all of diverse backgrounds. The center offers individual, personal, and career counseling for students.

The center urges students who have stress, anxiety, depression, or any issue to come see them. You can make an appointment by calling 206-592-3353 or via e-mail at email@counseling.highline.edu.  An appointment is guaranteed.

On Tuesday evenings they offer a half-hour meditation, mindfulness, and relaxation sessions on Zoom. Each week is hosted by different counselors, so it’s different each week with different approaches. If you’re subscribed you can receive invites to their weekly Zoom session. 

The center also offers different workshops throughout the quarters, such as body wellness, coping with COVID, and working with mental illness. You can go to https://counseling.highline.edu to see their upcoming workshops.