Personal counseling can help you understand yourself better and even help you resolve personal issues. Counselors are patient and professionally trained to assist you with in finding solutions and staying on your desired path.

Educational counseling assists you in navigating the college system and in learning skills such as taking tests, reading textbooks, and note-taking. A counselor can help you adjust to the unique and sometimes overwhelming culture of college.

Career counseling is a process that can help you understand yourself and the world of work in order to make career, educational, and life decisions. Meeting individually with a counselor is helpful for when you may be stuck deciding between two or more career paths. Counseling is also helpful when students need to talk about ways to navigate societal barriers to their careers, to realistically look at their abilities and limitations, and to consider how family and culture may impact their career and life dreams.

You don’t have to know what you need when you come in and see us. We’re here to help you even if you just need a place to talk that’s confidential and supportive.

The best way to reach us is by emailing counseling@highline.edu or by filling out the form on our Contact Us page.

You can also stop by our office on the upper level of Building 6.

Students can typically see a counselor within 1-2 weeks.

Any student registered for classes at Highline College are eligible to meet with our counselors. Prospective students and members of the community may be seen for consultation and referral to community resources, depending on availability.

The first session is a time for you to get to know your counselor and how they work. It is also a time for your counselor to get to know you and any particular issues you’d like to discuss. Different counselors have different styles; for a description and picture of our counselors, see About the Counseling Team. A counseling session is typically 45-50 minutes in length with follow-up sessions scheduled as needed.

Examples of what students talk about with our counselors:

• Adapting to a new culture or environment
• Depression and sadness
• Anxiety
• Sexual orientation and/or gender identity
• Relationships
• Time management and organization
• Test anxiety
• Study skills
• Learning disabilities
• Getting connected to resources in the community and campus
• Crisis intervention
• Career decision-making
• Choosing a major/course of study

And lots more!

Yes, counseling is confidential. Counselors cannot disclose any information about a student unless they are given written consent from the student.

In your first meeting, your counselor will explain some of the legal exceptions to this rule. For example, if someone poses a threat of harm to themselves or others, we may need to disclose information to protect you or other people.

Counseling is free for all registered students of Highline College. We do not charge for our counseling services.

You are expected to be on time for your appointments and to fill out our intake paperwork. If you are unable to make your appointment, please try to contact us at least 24-hours before your appointment time so other students can access our services.

You are expected to participate fully in the counseling relationship and process; counseling is only effective if both the counselor and student are equally committed to the same goals.