Services Offered

Click below for more info on services we provide at the PLU Counseling Center.

Eligibility for Services / Enrollment Parameters

  • All currently matriculated students residing in the United States who are enrolled in PLU courses are eligible to access services through the Counseling Center – at three access points: Campus-Based, Crisis Line, and Lute Telehealth.
    • Campus-Based:  All students enrolled for classes may access campus-based services with PLU counselors.  All initial campus-based sessions will be in-person.  Per Washington State licensing regulations, students currently located in Washington State and enrolled for classes may be eligible for virtual follow-up services with PLU counselors via Zoom.
    • Crisis Line:  All students currently located in the United States and enrolled for classes may access the Crisis Line at any time, via telephone (253-535-7075).
    • Lute Telehealth:  All students currently located in the United States and enrolled for classes may access Lute Telehealth services at any time.  Lute Telehealth provides easy access to mental health services online or by telephone via on-demand and scheduled appointments.  Students enrolled and located abroad may access the “Talk Now” portion of Lute Telehealth via a U.S.-based telephone or via internet using the PLU VPN.
  • New incoming students for Fall Semester:  Students are eligible for services as of their assigned early arrival/move to campus dates, once the following criteria are met:
    • the enrollment deposit has been made, and
    • they are registered for Fall classes
  • January Term (J-Term):  If a student is enrolled in the Fall Semester prior to J-Term or is enrolled in the Spring Semester following J-Term, they remain eligible for services.  If a student graduates in December, prior to J-Term, they are no longer eligible to access campus-based services, however, they may utilize Lute Telehealth until February 1st.
  • Summer:  If a continuing student is enrolled for the upcoming Fall Semester, they are eligible to access Counseling Center services.
    • Students who were enrolled the previous Spring Semester, but who are not enrolled for either Summer classes or for the upcoming Fall Semester are not eligible to access services through the Counseling Center.
    • Students enrolled in a PLUS Year are eligible for Counseling Center services during the summer.
  • Graduates:  Students who have graduated from the university are no longer eligible to access Campus-Based services.  Students who graduate in May are eligible for care with Lute Telehealth until August 1st.  Students who graduate in December are eligible for care with Lute Telehealth until February 1st.

Regardless of enrollment status, PLU students, graduates, faculty, staff, and administrators as well as local community members may use PLU’s college student-focused referral service, Thriving Campus.

Individual Therapy

In order to meet significant student demand for services and use resources most effectively, the PLU Counseling Center utilizes a brief, short-term therapy model for individual counseling.  This model is focused on helping students to resolve or effectively manage a specific problem or challenge, or to make a particular desired change.  Therapy is typically solution-oriented, and sessions are geared towards direct and active intervention to help students achieve specific goals.

Initial appointments are in-person, and are scheduled as soon as available.  Working together, the counselor and student determine the number, type (in-person or virtual), and frequency of sessions that are appropriate based on the nature of the student’s concerns, as well as available resources.  PLU students may have the opportunity to meet with a counselor for up to 6-8 sessions after their Initial Treatment Planning Session.  The possible limits to service are explained within the context of a discussion about each student’s presenting concerns.  For most students, sessions usually are scheduled every 2-3 weeks.  Students may have access to additional services, including workshops, depending on fit and availability, the nature of their concerns, and expectations for treatment.

Initial Treatment Planning Session

For the Initial Treatment Planning Session, timeliness (access to services) and screening for risk are primary considerations.  Initial appointments are scheduled as soon as available, include a brief clinical assessment, and (in partnership with the student), a determination about which programs/services are the best entry point for the student given their current needs.

Urgent / Same-Day Options

PLU Crisis Line (253-535-7075):  Students in need of urgent mental health support have access 24-hours a day to telephone-based support.  The Crisis Line provides a triage service to assess the nature of student’s presenting concerns and help students identify next steps to support their health and safety.

Lute Telehealth (www.plu.edu/lute-telehealth):  Lute Telehealth provides a broader range of options for the PLU student (e.g., access to care for students currently located out of state, broader diversity of counselor characteristics, and appointment availability).

  • TalkNow – On-demand, 24/7 immediate access to mental health professionals
  • Scheduled Counseling – video-based, counseling sessions through the academic year for up to 12 sessions

Monday – Friday

2:00-3:00pm

This service is offered for students seeking a brief consultation (not ongoing counseling sessions) with professional counselors.  Students may walk in without an appointment to consult with a staff member regarding any issue of concern.  These brief sessions can address any issue of concern, help students get a “sample” of how counseling works and if it’s right for them, or get a referral.

Service during the Walk-In Hour is on a first-come, first-served basis (2 people max).

Click here for more details about Walk-In Hours.

Referral Services

Some students may identify at the outset that a brief therapy or generalist clinician model is not the best fit for their current needs.  Other students may find after an Initial Treatment Planning Session that they would like more frequent, longer term, or more specialized services.  In such cases, our providers are happy to work with students to facilitate referrals and establishment of care with best-fit, community care.  For some students, Lute Telehealth will be an excellent fit for short term, more frequent meetings with a provider.

If you believe you may benefit from referral services, please review this document: PLU Counseling Center Referral Support.

New for 2021! – ThrivingCampus Community Referral List

We are partnering with ThrivingCampus to make it easier for you to find providers in your local community, in any state.   Access a list of mental health providers in your community who work with students.

Visit plu.thrivingcampus.com from your computer or mobile device.

  • Browse and filter providers based on your needs and preferences.
  • Get answers to common questions.
  • Reach out to community providers and connect with mental health care.

Our experienced team of licensed psychologists and mental health counselors provide consultation with those concerned about PLU students.  We are open to speaking with parents, friends, staff, and faculty about a range of issues, including:

  • strategies for helping a student connect with the Counseling Center or other on-campus support;
  • concerns about a particular student who might be experiencing emotional distress or struggling with mental health struggles;
  • concerns about the impact of an individual’s distressing behaviors on others;
  • referrals to community mental health providers and services.

Please understand that all information about our clients is completely confidential (we are unable to acknowledge if a student is a client within our office).  However, we may still be able to provide general information about how to understand, provide assistance, or get help for the person or situation you describe.  And confidentiality does not limit what you can tell us.

To speak to a counselor for a consultation on non-urgent issues, please call (253) 535-7206 during regular business hours (Mon-Fri, 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00pm to 5:00pm).  Our counselor on consult is available Mon-Fri, 9:00am to 10:00am, on a first-come, first-serve basis.  A message may be left outside of this designated time, and requests for consultation are returned within one business day.

If you need a consult on an urgent situation, please seek consultation from our PLU Crisis Line (253) 535-7075 for immediate support.

Psychiatric Medication Management

A psychiatric nurse practitioner is available to assist students with medication management.  Psychiatric care includes a one-time consultation, recommendations, and possible facilitated referral out to Health Center or community provider.  When psychiatric medication is recommended for a student, short-term treatment can be initiated with the goal of transferring to the Health Center or community provider once stabilized.  To facilitate coordination and continuity of care, students seeing PLU’s psychiatric nurse practitioner must also establish a relationship with a PLU counselor or psychologist.  In some cases, long-term treatment is indicated and a student is best served in the community.  Clinicians can assist the student to make an efficient transfer of care to community providers.

In the case of student discharge from psychiatric hospitalization, ongoing psychiatric services cannot be provided.  Students may, depending upon the availability of the PLU psychiatric nurse practitioner’s schedule, be able to access a one-time, urgent consultation.  Students will need, however, to seek immediate, ongoing care in the community.  PLU psychiatric services are only able to provide service up until the initial appointment with a community provider.