Services

The Bellevue College Counseling Center provides the following services:

Bellevue College Faculty Counselors provide an affirmative and confidential environment that allows students to explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with a professional counselor. We are committed to supporting all students reach their academic and personal goals and are committed to advocating for the holistic health of all BC students. We work with each student using cultural sensitivity and competence, and advocate for students to take empowered steps towards positive self-growth and academic success.

The BC  Faculty Counselors are Masters-level counselors, licensed mental health counselors, psychologists, and graduate trainees and our services are provided free of charge to all BC students. We do not offer counseling services for BC employees, but we can provide work-related consultations and referrals. Appointments are 50 minutes in length. At the first intake meeting we will provide an assessment of your needs. You and your counselor will collaboratively decide on the best course of action depending on your needs and the counselor’s professional judgment.

Some of the issues that students seek counseling for include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Grief and loss
  • Anger
  • Abuse (physical, emotional and psychological)
  • Cultural conflicts
  • Relationship issues
  • Life transitions
  • Handling a crisis
  • Self-Esteem

Referrals

Our counselors can recommend and refer you to community resources should your concerns require long term or specialized care. Please also check out the resource link on the navigation bar for additional information. If this is an immediate health-related emergency, please call 911 or Campus Safety at 425-466-9365.  If this is a mental-health crisis, call the 24-hour crisis line at 988.

What does a Career Counselor Do?

Choosing a career or academic pathway can be a challenging life decision and it is completely normal to not have a clear choice right away. We can support you in choosing a career or academic pathway by helping you:

  • Gain increased self-awareness
  • Explore your values, interests, and skills
  • Examine how personality, family, and cultural dynamics impact career choices
  • Better understand the world of work and academic pathways
  • Develop academic and career goals

We can also refer you to career assessment tools like the Strong Interest Inventory and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), as well as refer you to Career Planning Classes (HD 173 – Career Exploration) and workshops.

BC Faculty Counselors provide educational counseling to students seeking support in improving their academic success. It is our hope to empower you to reach your educational potential while also utilizing all that BC has to offer.

We can support you to achieve academic success by helping you:

  • Adjust to college life
  • Gain a clearer understanding of your academic plans and goals
  • Develop study strategies for reading textbooks and preparing for exams
  • Explore the barriers that may be impacting academic success
  • Develop time management skills
  • Improve motivation and decrease procrastination
  • Reduce test or performance anxiety

The BC Counseling Center offers drop-in/crisis services for students who identify as being in imminent harm to themselves or others. Faculty and staff may also use this service to consult with a counselor regarding a student of concern.

To see the Drop-In/Crisis counselor, come to our office in U 201. You may be asked to complete some paperwork (e.g., intake and informed consent) before your meeting with the counselor.

Drop-in services are first-come-first-served. This means you may have to wait if other students are using the service, or you may have to schedule an appointment.

Examples of reasons a student may see the “Drop-In/Crisis” counselor include:

  • If you are not feeling safe
  • If someone close to you has died recently
  • If you have a difficult decision to make in the next 2-3 days
  • If you have been sexually assaulted within the past 72 hours
  • If you have been experiencing a lot of stress for a long time and feel like you really must speak with someone today

Service Hours:

Availability: Monday – Friday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Location:

In-Person/On-Campus Only – U Building, Room 201

What is Group Counseling?

Group counseling is a form of therapy, which posits that people benefit from sharing their experiences with others in a safe and supportive group format. Typically, group counseling focuses on a particular issue such as anxiety, depression, identity development, etc. One of the main ideas behind group counseling is the belief that dealing with specific issues by yourself can be a challenge. Sharing your experiences with others in a safe and confidential setting with people facing similar issues can help normalize your experience and breakdown the sense that you are alone. Knowing that others have similar problems can help reinforce the idea that challenges are not singular to one person and that the sharing of common experiences can be comforting and empowering.

At Bellevue College we provide group counseling to students in a confidential setting facilitated by trained counselors. While the counselor facilitates the group, it is the contributions from other group members that are a valuable part of the group experience.

WHAT: A welcoming space for connection and expression through arts, crafts, discussions, and activities like walks and sharing videos. Everyone is welcome – come as you are!

A confidential support and psychoeducational group for students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or gender expansive, queer and/or questioning, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, or any other personally meaningful term. Topics of discussions will be student-driven and may vary. Possible topics may include: coming out, relationships, sexual orientation and gender identity development, intersecting identities (e.g. race, religion and ability), staying safe and healthy, as well as support for living within a heterosexist and sexist culture.

HOW: If you are interested in participating, join us during the scheduled meeting time (see below for more information).

WHEN: Tuesdays

TIME: 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.

LOCATION: In Person – Counseling Center Conference Room (U 201K)

FACILITATOR(S): Rebecca Barnett, M.A. mailto:rebecca.barnett@bellevuecollege.edu

WHAT: This is a psychoeducational group for students to learn and practice mindfulness techniques to help manage daily stress. Mindfulness is the awareness of the present moment and the open, non-judgmental, and accepting attitude toward our experience. Students will learn ways to practice mindfulness informally  (e.g., mindful eating, mindful walking) and formally (e.g., short sitting meditation) in our group. They will also have the chance to exchange their experiences of practice these techniques and help one another improving them.

HOW: If you are interested in participating in this group, you must meet with the group facilitator or any of the counselors before joining the group. Please schedule a pre-group meeting by calling (425) 564-5747 or emailing: mailto:counseling@bellevuecollege.edu

WHEN: TBA

TIME: TBA

LOCATION: Online

FACILITATORS: Yu-ting Su: yu-ting.su@bellevuecollege.edu

WHAT: Join us in a safe space for student who identify as women, to share and support each other’s growth. Out intention is to create deeper connections and a stronger sense of belonging in our community.

HOW: If you are interested in participating in this group, you must meet with the group facilitator or any of the counselors before joining the group. Please schedule a pre-group meeting by calling (425) 564-5747.

WHEN: TBA

TIME: TBA

LOCATION: To be announced after pre-group meeting.

FACILITATORS: Ana Bravo, MA: mailto:ana.bravo@bellevuecollege.edu

College can be stressful. At the BC Counseling Center, we recognize that students face a number of potential stressors during their college years, both on- and off-campus. Taking care of yourself, emotionally as well as physically, is a key component to a successful college experience. Sometimes unexpected circumstances, changes in your emotional or physical health, and family crises, for example, can negatively impact your ability to be successful. At times like these, we strongly encourage you to contact us for counseling services to support you through the crisis and help you get back on track emotionally and academically. The sooner you get help, the better the chances of preventing further problems such as failing grades, academic probation or dismissal, loss of financial aid, or loss of a student visa.

  • Please note that we are generally unable to provide letters of support as a standalone service and you may need to meet with a counselor more than once in order for the counselor to determine eligibility, so plan accordingly.

If you are experiencing a mental health concern, the Counseling Center may be able to write a letter of support as part of our treatment for the following:

  • Medical Reduced Course Load (International Students)
  • Medical Withdrawal and Refund (All Students)
  • Medical Documentation for Educational Accommodations – Disability Resource Center (All Students)
  • Loss/Cancellation of Financial Aid (Domestic Students)
  • Credit Restriction or Academic Dismissal (Domestic Students)

The Counseling Center is unable to write letters for the following:

  • Emotional Support Animals
  • Letters of Recommendation

If you are an enrolled student at BC, a counselor may be able to provide such a letter for you. See below to determine if a counselor is the best choice to assist you with a support letter:

  • If you have past experience working with an off-campus mental health provider or medical provider, then that person may be your best choice for a support letter, since they will already have knowledge about your situation prior to and leading up to your request for a medical withdrawal.
  • If you have a current of past experience working with a BC counselor, then that person may be able to assist you with a support letter.
  • If you have not had any experience working with a mental health professional, you can choose a private provider in the community or see a BC counselor about your interest in a support letter.
  • If the issue has been resolved and you have never met with a BC counselor, we will generally be unable to write a support letter since we had not worked together during the time of the issue.

Please Note:

  • Plan accordingly when meeting with a BC counselor since it can take several sessions for the counselor to determine if you meet the criteria for a support letter.
    • You may be required to complete several self-assessments.
  • Meeting with a BC counselor does not guarantee that you will qualify for a letter of support.
  • Obtaining a support letter from a BC counselor is not a guarantee that your request will be granted by the office requesting the letter. 

The Bellevue College Counseling Center offers the following support services for staff and faculty:

Meet with a Faculty Counselor for support on:

  • Recognizing signs / symptoms of mental health distress / crisis
  • How to talk to a student about their mental health concerns
  • How to refer a student to the Counseling Center
  • Other related topics

Invite a Faculty Counselor to present to your class or other student group.

  • Presentation topics may include the following:
    • Counseling Center Services
    • Stress Management
    • Academic Success Strategies (e.g. Test Anxiety, Study Skills, etc.)
    • Mindfulness / Meditation
  • Schedule a student presentation online via the Workshop Request

Invite a Faculty Counselor to present a workshop for staff / faculty professional development.

  • Presentation topics may include the following:
    • Counseling Center Services and how to make referrals
    • Recognizing and Responding to Students in Distress (Suicide Prevention and Intervention)
    • Ask us about other topics!
  • Schedule a staff / faculty workshop / presentation online via the Workshop Request

We all experience stress, anxiety, sadness, and other struggles in our lives. Make use of the following resources to support your mental health.

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (24/7 support available)
    • EAP website:
    • Phone: (877) 313-4455
    • 24/7 crisis counseling and referrals:
      • When you call and hear the phone system greeting, select option ‘2’ and inform the staff member that you need in-the-moment support.
        • For in-the-moment support, call EAP at 877-313-4455.
    • Services cover all household adults
  • Your insurance provider
  • Your primary care physician
  • Multicultural Counselors Washington State database
  • The Psychology Today Find a Therapist search

What is “Let’s Talk”?

“Let’s Talk” is a drop-in service for a short (20-minutes or less) one-on-one, informal, and confidential consultation with a Bellevue College (BC) counselor.

This is a first-come-first-served service and there is no need for an appointment or paperwork. However, there might be a wait as the previous meeting wraps up. If we are busy, you may not be seen during this time. The last person will be seen 15 minutes before the end of the hour.

You can use this service to speak with a counselor about any concerns, including stress, anxiety, the current political climate, relationship or other personal issues, study strategies, etc. In addition, counselors can also share more information about counseling services and BC resources.

Note:

If you are in crisis or significant distress, contact the Crisis Line at 988. “Let’s Talk” is a brief, informal consultation and is not appropriate to address crisis situations.

“Let’s Talk” Schedule:

Wednesdays & Thursdays 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. join us online.

“Let’s Talk” may be beneficial for:

-Students who are not interested in short-term counseling but would like the perspective from a consultation with a professional.

-Students who have a specific problem and would like to briefly discuss the issue.

-Students who have a concern about a friend and want some guidance and support about how to address the issue.

-Faculty or staff who want to consult with a professional about an individual of concern.

If you would like to schedule a counseling appointment, feel free to call 425.564.5747 or use our self-scheduling tool.

“Let’s Talk” and Confidentiality:

“Let’s Talk” meetings are informal confidential consultations. However, Washington State law may require the therapist to disclose some or all of the information under certain limited circumstances. If you have concerns about disclosure, ask the “Let’s Talk” counselor for a more complete explanation of disclosure requirements.

While the Counseling Center tries to accommodate most requests for services, there are some that we cannot provide due to ethical concerns, lack of expertise, etc.

These services include:

  • Mandated Counseling 
  • Counseling for Staff or Faculty 
  • Court Ordered Treatment  
  • Sex Offender Treatment  
  • Psychiatric/Medication Assessment and Evaluation  
  • Alcohol or Other Drug Assessment and Evaluation  
  • Eating Disorders 
  • Couples Counseling 
  • Family Counseling  
  • Conflict Mediation 
  • Evaluation for Use of Emotional Support Animals  
  • Crisis Negotiation
  • Legal Advice
  • Evaluation, Treatment, and Support for Legal/Forensic Proceedings
  • Psychological/Crisis Debriefing
  • Letters of Recommendation

Contact the Counseling Center if you have any questions.

Last Updated January 24, 2025