FAQs

Do I need an appointment to be seen by a counselor?

Generally, yes. Exceptions are made in the event of an emergency if counselors have time slots available. If you have an immediate health-related emergency outside of the Counseling Center’s regular business hours, please call 911 or Campus Safety at 425-466-9365. You may also contact the Crisis Clinic’s 24-hour crisis line at 988.

How do I make an appointment?

Do I need to be a student to see a counselor?

We will provide a onetime consultation for community members and refer to appropriate community resources. For subsequent appointments you must be enrolled as a current BC student.

What types of counseling services are available?

Counseling services are divided into three main areas: Educational, Career, and Personal counseling.

What does the initial session look like?

Bellevue College counselors provide free, short-term counseling services at the Center. Appointments are generally 50 minutes in length. It’s common to feel anxious during the first counseling session, but counselors are here to support you. Prior to your appointment, you will be asked to complete some brief paperwork in order to help us know how to best serve you. Typically, during your first meeting, your counselor will want to learn more about you and what concerns brought you to the Counseling Center. In subsequent sessions, your meetings will likely be more focused on helping you address your concerns. It’s important to understand that each BC counselor has their own unique style and approach, so sessions may look and feel different from person to person. You and your counselor will work together to determine if the Counseling Center’s services will meet your needs. If you are interested or require services that the Counseling Center does not provide, your counselor can help you find services or other resources in the community. Students typically work with the same counselor during their time at the Center.

How many times can I see a counselor?

Currently, you and your counselor will work together to determine if the Counseling Center’s services will meet your needs. If you are interested or require services that the Counseling Center does not provide, your counselor can help you find services or other resources in the community.

Do you offer couples counseling?

No.  However, counselors can provide couples with referrals to other therapists in the area who are better able to provide long term couples counseling.

What are your hours?

Our in-person and remote hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Mondays – Fridays. We have remote appointments available on Tuesdays from 5 -7 p.m. We are closed Fridays during the summer. Call 425-564-5747 to schedule your appointment or use the self-scheduling tool.

Where are you located?

We are located in the Student Success Center (U Building – U 201).

What kind of training do BC counselors have?

The counselors at BC are either master’s or doctoral prepared professionals. Many are Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Licensed Psychologists, or are currently working towards their license. They are excited to work with you and assist you with your personal, academic, and career concerns. If you would like to learn more about the individual training and experience of each counselor, check out their staff bios.

Can I choose my counselor?

You may read about the BC counseling staff before making your initial appointment. When you schedule an appointment with the front desk you may request this counselor or you may also make a specific request such as requesting a male or female counselor. Keep in mind that specific requests may limit availability. If you do not have a specific preference, you will be scheduled with the next available counselor.

I need help right away. What do I do?

If you have a situation where you are unable to wait for your next available appointment or if you have an immediate health-related emergency outside of the Counseling Center’s regular business hours, call 911 or Campus Safety at 425-564-2400. You may also contact the Crisis Clinic’s 24-hour crisis line at 988.

Are counseling services confidential?

Confidentiality is an important aspect of counseling. Most of the information that is shared with a counselor is confidential, unless you give written permission for the counselor to speak to someone.  In addition, based on legal and ethical requirements, there are some circumstances when confidentiality may be broken, such as when you or someone else is in imminent danger or if there is a possibility that a child or a vulnerable adult is being abused. Counselors may also consult with other BC Counseling Center counselors to help them identify the best way to support you. Consulting counselors are also required to maintain confidentiality about all information that is shared. During your first meeting, your counselor will review the Informed Consent agreement with you that explains confidentiality and other aspects of counseling in detail. You are always welcome to ask your counselor more about confidentiality.

Why did someone receive more counseling sessions than I did?

Each person who is seen at the BC Counseling Center has an individualized treatment plan. Due to our respect for client confidentiality, we cannot share the reasons why you may have been seen for fewer or more sessions than someone else. However, please know that we are doing our best to meet our students’ needs based upon their presenting concerns, resources, and fit within the limit of services we can provide. Regardless of the session amount, our center is designed to provide short-term services. If you would like to explore longer-term services, your counselor can also assist you with referrals to long-term services within the community.

How do I forward my BC email to my personal email account?

It is the expectation that you check your BC email account regularly. Read the following article for directions on how to forward your email.

Last Updated February 7, 2024