Highline’s new mental counselor wants students to know there are counseling resources on campus for help.

Throughout high school, counselor Erin Hooyboer found it a challenge in deciding what she wanted to do as a career, but after finishing her degree she found her purpose, she said.

“When I graduated high school, I didn’t feel like I had a lot of direction for my future. I wasn’t sure what I wanted, what was possible, or what resources were available to me. I didn’t meet with an academic advisor [for] the entire two years of my associate degree! (Hint: don’t be like me. Find your support people, we are here for you!),” she said. “I then finished my bachelor’s degree in English without a strong sense of what I wanted to do next, much less how I would get there.”

Along with trying to find her career path, counselor Hooyboer also said she struggled with her mental health and discovering herself.

“I was still figuring out my queer identity and coping with untreated ADHD,” she said. 

On top of trying to find herself and dealing with mental health problems, counselor Hooyboer also said she was balancing school and carrying the weight of multiple jobs as money was necessary.

“And then there was the question of how I was going to pay rent in the meantime! I have worked two or more jobs for most of my life… I’ve tried a lot of different things — memorably, a job emptying suction jars at an oral surgery clinic, where I learned that healthcare wasn’t the right fit for me,” she said. “I spent five years exploring different things before deciding to go to graduate school to become a mental health counselor.” 

Counselor Hooyboer said she wants to create a space within the counseling resources at Highline where students can come to these assets in confidence in finding someone they can talk to and get the help they may need.

“I am so excited to develop relationships and community at Highline. There are so many cool programs and passionate people making connections across campus and out into the wider world,” she said. “Trust is central to my role as a counselor, and trust is built through relationships. It’s important to me to find ways to be as visible as possible so that students know who counselors are, what we do, and that counseling is free and confidential.”

As a mental health counselor, Hooyboer said she is also trying to get involved in those resources that Highline has to offer for students, such as workshops.

“So far, I’ve gotten to do some classroom visits and workshops and have more planned for this quarter, including one called “Tips for Finding a Therapist” where we’ll talk about navigating access to mental health care,” she said. 

The session “Tips for Finding a Therapist:  A Conversation with Faculty Counselor Erin Hooyboer & OC Recreation’s Jaymie Cox-Garcia” will be held via Zoom Monday, Feb. 6, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. To register follow the link: https://forms.gle/6LKceQ5ZUrFEcZBc8 

The culture and continuously changing community at Highline is what makes her experience here feel whole, she said. 

“I love learning, so working in an educational environment is a dream for me. Highline is an incredibly diverse community that feels lit up with people who are excited about learning and growing alongside each other,” she said. “It’s a bit like a family sometimes, in that there are disagreements and conflict but also laughter and a sense that we are in this together.”

Bridging those connections together is the most essential goal for Hooyboer as a mental health counselor as it gives her an insight on students’ values, she said. 

“Meeting with students and supporting them in their goals — whether they know what those are yet or not — is such an honor. Counselors are lucky in that we get to do many different things on campus, but connecting with students is always my favorite,” she said.

Counselor Hooyboer discusses her training to become a mental health counselor and what she plans to teach for the spring quarter.

“I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington State, meaning I’ve completed graduate level training and ongoing continuing education to provide mental health support,” she said. “My practice is rooted in principles of social justice and non judgment, and I specialize in LGBTQIAA+ identity. I will be teaching Career 110: Career Planning and Self-Evaluation this spring quarter.”

She also shows her determination in helping people by being a part of the mental health resources that support those in need, she said. 

“I also serve on the CARE team, which is a coordinating hub of a network of existing resources, focused on prevention and early intervention in campus community situations involving members experiencing distress,” she said.

Outside of being a mental health counselor at Highline, Hooyboer said she finds comfort in books and her cats.

“Reading, visiting bookstores and libraries, and talking with other book nerds about what we’re reading, all of which pairs well with my other favorite pastime of hanging out with our cats Victor and Bo,” she said.