Counseling, Health & WellnessCounseling, Health, and Wellness Services (CHWS), provides an integrated approach to helping students remain healthy and to maintaining emotional and physical well-being. Students may seek medical evaluation and treatment for a variety of acute and some chronic problems. Services range from immunizations and allergy injections to treatment for upper-respiratory and gastrointestinal ailments, gynecological conditions, and minor injuries. With each visit, we emphasize and educate students about self-care and the appropriate use of health services. Issues having physical as well as psychological components—such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders—are often treated jointly by our medical/counseling team. Most medical services are provided without charge; however, medicines, medical supplies, in-clinic and outside laboratory tests, and X-rays are charged to the patient. Fees may be charged to a student’s account. Students may seek medical advice by phone or can schedule an appointment. Students should call as early in the day as possible because appointment times fill quickly. When no appointment times are available, and for more chronic medical issues, students are routinely referred to health care providers or medical clinics in the community. Outside costs, including referral and transportation (often via taxi service) to community providers and emergency care, are the student’s responsibility. Counseling at CHWS is free and strictly confidential. We support students by listening to them, diagnosing their emotional health needs, and assessing whether brief psychotherapy at CHWS would be the best care or whether longer-term, more intensive or more specialized mental health treatment in the community would be best. Where a referral is deemed best, assistance is provided with making the connection to another provider. Where therapy at CHWS is deemed best, we offer individual, couples, and group psychotherapy appointments as well as brief walk-in or crisis sessions every weekday, 1:00-3:00. Common counseling issues include anxiety, depression, sexual trauma, relationship or family issues, sexual/cultural/spiritual identity, disordered eating or body image, substance abuse, bereavement, and life transitions. Because we are an integrated service, our Psychology Staff has the opportunity to refer students to a CHWS medical provider for a medication evaluation. Our part-time psychiatrist also has limited availability to assist with diagnosis and medication. These appointments are made by referral from a counseling appointment. In order to preserve our healthcare provider role with students, CHWS staff cannot initiate contact with students on behalf of a parent or require a student to come in for counseling, but we are happy to work with those concerned on how to recommend counseling and how to access care. Students who come for counseling generally like it and want to continue, so appointments fill. To reduce the wait for counseling, there is an advantage to seeking help early on! We are eager to help. CHWS also provides a variety of information on various topics, including self-care for colds and flu, contraception and family planning, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, anxiety management, substance abuse, relationships, acquaintance rape, and others. Within the limits of professional confidentiality, staff is available for consultation. Please see page 9 of this guide for the university’s confidentiality statement. Mandatory Health Insurance - Filing ClaimsCounseling, Health, and Wellness Services staff (and Athletic Trainers for intercollegiate athletes) provide the referral and claim forms for students to utilize the EIIA insurance plan. Students referred by CHWS staff for off-campus health care (medical or mental health) are provided documentation required to process claims through either their primary insurer or through EIIA. To use the EIIA coverage, students should be seen in CHWS prior to seeking treatment off campus when possible. For after-hours or urgent care needs, students may contact CHWS for the EIIA claims documentation after the care has been provided off campus. After-Hours ResourcesFor after-hours consultation and referral for medical or psychological emergencies, enrolled Puget Sound students may call our 24-hour consulting nurse service at 253.403.7778, or Security Services, 253.879.3311. Information from after-hours calls made to a consulting nurse is relayed to the Counseling, Health, and Wellness staff for follow-up. Local health care resources:Allenmore Hospital
S. 19th and Union, 253.459.6200 Group Health Cooperative Medical Center of Tacoma
209 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 253.596.3300
You must have Group Health or Kaiser Permanente insurance to use this clinic. St. Joseph Medical Center
1717 S. J St., 253.627.4101 Tacoma General Hospital
315 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 253.403.1000 Westgate Multicare Urgent Care Center
5702 N. 26th St., 253.403.7130 | 
