Counseling Service
For Students
Our Counseling staff sees about 15% of Lewis & Clark students (20% of undergraduate students in residence) each academic year.
We can help with relationship problems, including love relationships, friendships, roommate issues, family concerns, homesickness, feeling isolated or lonely, and working with faculty. We can help with anxiety, worry and stress management, self-esteem, grief and loss, depression and suicidal thinking, and sleep problems. We routinely help with cross-cultural issues, sexuality and sexual identity, substance abuse issues, eating problems and body image, gender identity, and sexual assault and harassment.
Think you might have a problem or need to talk with a counselor, but you’re not sure?
We now offer a link to a confidential and anonymous online screening program. You can see whether you might be experiencing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, bipolar disorder, or an eating disorder. You can also see whether you might have a problem with alcohol. To learn more and take an assessment.
We offer primarily short-term individual, couples, and group therapy. Our staff consists of licensed mental health clinicians and doctoral practicum clinicians who are supervised by our licensed staff.
Will it be confidential?
We take confidentiality seriously and follow APA (American Psychological Association) ethical guidelines on confidentiality. All our clinical services are confidential, with a few exceptions permitted or required by law. Every student who comes into the Counseling Service receives a copy of the exceptions to confiden-tiality before the first meeting with a counselor. In fact, you can check out all the confidentiality rules and exceptions on our confidentiality page.
How do I make an appointment?
We give students in crisis first priority for services. Students who experience suicidal thoughts or thoughts of wanting to harm someone else should contact us right away. For more information about accessing crisis support.
Counseling services are free of charge for currently enrolled undergraduate, law, and graduate students. There are modest fees for consultations with our psychiatry staff, but we can provide you with a receipt that you may be able to submit to your health insurance plan. Please be aware that we do assess a fee when a student makes an appointment but no-shows without canceling.
There are two ways students can access the Counseling Service: Walk-in Consultations and Scheduled Assessments.
Walk-in Consultations are designed to be single-session, 20-30-minute meetings with a therapist to consult about a problem. Students are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-in times will be available:
- Tuesdays 2-3:30pm in lower Odell (bring student ID to swipe in)
- Thursdays 2-3:30pm in lower Templeton (right next door to the Health Service)
If you are concerned about the welfare of someone else, a walk-in consultation can often provide the support and referrals you need.
Scheduled Assessments are more comprehensive, pre-scheduled 45-minute assessments with a therapist that often result in a referral to ongoing psychological care, either on- or off-campus. Call 503-768-7160 to schedule an assessment, or you can stop by the Templeton Counseling Service (next to the Health Service) to schedule your appointment. Students in crisis (e.g., recent suicidal thoughts or trauma) should be sure to let staff know of their crisis, and they will be scheduled into an assessment as soon as possible.
We invite you to call or stop by for more information about our services.
Phone: 503-768-7160; Fax: 503-768-7115
Concerned about a friend?
If you are concerned about a member of our community who is having problems, we offer confidential consultation about how you can help.
What services do you have for students with ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is often referred to as ADD or ADHD. Symptoms can include difficulty concentrating or focusing, being easily distracted, and impulsivity. The disorder may be inexperienced either with or without symptoms of hyperactivity.
Both counseling and medical interventions have been shown to be helpful with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Some students also benefit from receiving academic accommodations for ADHD, such as extended testing time or a reduced-distraction testing environment. At Lewis & Clark, the Student Support Service office coordinates requests for academic accommodations for ADHD, while the Counseling Service provides limited assessment and treatment resources, as well as referrals to community providers.
If you are interested in talking with a counselor about whether you have potential ADHD, and about potential counseling interventions, contact the Counseling Service at 503-768-7160.
Because we have only a limited number of psychiatry appointments each week in the Counseling Service, we are not able to meet the needs of all students who might want to be assessed and treated with medication for potential ADHD. At the outset of each semester, we set aside a certain number of appointments to evaluate students for ADHD. When those appointments are full, we refer students who need ADHD assessment to off-campus providers. More information about medication assessment and treatment for ADHD at the Counseling Service.
Student Life Briefing Book. This annual document provides a snapshot of our accomplishments, assessment of learning outcomes and user data, and an overview of our signature programs.
Anonymous online screening for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders.
Half of Us-Based on the finding that half of all college students reported feeling so depressed that they couldn’t function, this website by mtvU and The Jed Foundation shows video stories of students and high-profile artists in order to increase awareness about mental health issues on campus and connects students to the appropriate resources to get help.
Ulifeline-is an anonymous, confidential, online resource center, where college students can be comfortable searching for the information they need and want regarding mental health and suicide prevention.
Alcohol & Drug Support-Health Promotion and Wellness Site
Health 101-Health promotion by students for students
Learning Disabilities & ADHD Resources