The Counseling Center at Highline College offers private and confidential counseling services to all registered students. The center provides free and professional sessions for personal, career, and educational therapeutic​​ aid virtually as well as in person, making it accessible to all.

The Counseling Center is dedicated to ensuring that all registered students receive culturally competent counseling services so that each student has the opportunity to  grow and reach their full potential. The counselors at Highline College are dedicated to help students reach their goals by giving them necessary tools to succeed in their everyday lives.

For students to reach their full potential academically, personally, and in their careers their emotional well-being needs to be addressed.

“There is an increase in students receiving counseling service due to an awareness of students’ mental health needs,” according to Daryllyn Harris-Waller, Faculty Counselor for Highline College with a master’s degree in social work. “Students are becoming more comfortable talking about their mental health problems. And students even recognize that their mental health is something they need to pay attention to.”

One anonymous student felt strong, motivated, and focused as they started the fall 2023 quarter. She is “learning how to have a healthy mindset and having tunnel vision on how to reach my goals as I look forward to the future.”

Another anonymous student mentioned that they experience good days and bad days. They stated that they are using caution as they move forward in life. At other times they have “felt trapped” and then times when they didn’t. They are weighing their opportunities as they accomplish goals they have set as well as using tools that will help them not fall back into old habits. 

“Getting counseling services is still a challenge for students and people in general because of the ideas surrounding counseling,” Harris-Waller said. “Some of the ideas in my family are ‘we don’t talk about these things’ and ‘only if you are really unwell do you go to counseling.'”

“People don’t realize that counseling is for everyone and that we are all on a spectrum of mental wellness,” said Harris-Waller.

Having increased feelings of anxiety? More sadness and depression? Sleeping more? Trying to figure out who you are? Grappling with who you are in a relationship and past experiences keeps coming up and getting the way? Counseling may benefit you because at any point in time people need a little extra support and help.

The Counseling Center’s purpose is to support and advocate for all students to reach their academic and personal goals through counseling services. Help is available for any and all registered students, with any level of emotional issue.

According to the American Counseling Association, ”Counseling is a collaborative effort between the counselor and client. Professional counselors help clients identify goals and potential solutions to problems which cause emotional turmoil; seek to improve communication and coping skills; strengthen self-esteem and promote behavior change and optimal mental health.”

Personal counseling can help you understand yourself better and help you resolve personal issues. Career counseling is a process that can help you understand yourself and the world of work in order to make career, educational, and life decisions. Educational counseling assists you in navigating the college system and in learning skills such as taking tests, reading textbooks, and note taking.

The Counseling Center operates Monday through Friday. The hours are: Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Tuesdays 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.; and Fridays 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

You can call the Counseling Center at 206-592-3353 or stop by the office on the upper level of Building 6 to schedule an appointment to see a counselor. Or check out the website where you can fill out a submission form at: counseling@highline.edu.

“We are here, we want students [clients], and we love the work. And we are all genuine, authentic and very skill clinicians. Come, come, come!” said Harris-Waller.