Counseling, Health & Wellness Services

Counseling Center changes - EFFECTIVE MARCH 20, 2020, Updated June 29, 2020

Due to recent concerns about COVID-19 in Washington State, we are initiating measures of social distancing following health guidelines set by the Center for Disease Control and utilizing precautionary measures for health-related workplaces consistent with recommendations from the public health authority.  We are limiting in-person contact as much as possible to help prevent contagion while still providing necessary support for students.

What this means:

1) The PLU Counseling Center staff and counselors are working remotely, until further notice.  Availability of regular Center functions and/or responses may be limited.

Unfortunately, the Counseling Center is unable to see new clients at this time.  We continue to monitor state mandated laws on social distancing and its impacts on our services, especially as we near Fall semester.  Until then, please see Note below for options. 

2) The PLU Counseling Center is on summer hours and will be closed the month of July – counselors and staff will not be available during this time.  Please utilize Lute Telehealth for mental health assistance during office closures or contact the PLU Crisis Line for more urgent mental health needs (253-535-7075).

3) Counselors have transitioned to phone-only appointments with established clients.  Services by PLU counselors will be available via telephone for students remaining in the State of Washington, per Washington State licensing regulations.

Previously established clients should email their counselor directly to schedule a 30-minute phone session.  Counselor availability may be limited or shifting as we strive to ensure our administrators and staff are all caring well for themselves at this time.

For Scheduled Appointments:

• The counselor will reach out to the client via telephone at the scheduled time.
  • As we are working remotely, the phone number calling you may not be a recognizable number or may say “number unavailable”, etc.  Please answer any calls at the time of your appointment.
• Telephone sessions will be limited to 30 minutes.
• You will need to complete the Phone-Only Telehealth Informed Consent form and return it to your counselor via email.  You need only do this once. 
  
• Please contact your counselor via email as soon as possible if you need to cancel your appointment or have moved out-of-state.

4) All Walk-In Hours are cancelled until further notice.  Please consider using Lute Telehealth as a resource.

NOTE:  If you have returned to an out-of-state home, wish to set up a first-time appointment, or are having scheduling difficulty due to limited availability, please use our Lute Telehealth services to be connected to a new counselor or to seek consultation.

All students enrolled for the current semester may access Lute Telehealth services at any time (24/7/365).  Lute Telehealth provides easy access to mental health services online or by telephone via on-demand and scheduled appointments.  We encourage you to connect with this service as it fits for you.  Listen to yourself and reach out when you need to – this includes if you are unable to reach your ongoing counselor in the interval that might work best for you.

We understand this is a challenging time and appreciate your understanding as we implement interim emergency workplace operations.