University of Washington
Counseling Center
401 Schmitz Hall, Box 355830
Seattle, WA  98195-5830
(206) 543-1240 -- FAX (206) 616-6910

Mission Statement

The Counseling Center, acting in support of the academic and student development missions of the University of Washington and the Division of Student Affairs, is committed to the triad of service, training, and research.  Therefore, we are steadfast in our goal of meeting the needs of a variety of people, including students of diverse racial, ethnic and national backgrounds, sexual/affectional orientations, gender identities, physical and mental abilities, languages, ages, religious/spiritual beliefs and socioeconomic backgrounds.  The Counseling Center applies the skills of education, counseling, and psychology with the highest degree of professional competence and commitment to facilitate the academic, career, and personal development of students, and to intervene in psychological crises at the University.  In order to accomplish this mission, the Center provides a full range of psychological and counseling services, including:  personal counseling, career counseling, crisis intervention, outreach programming, academic skills enhancement, and career and personality testing.

The Counseling Center staff also contributes to the training of students from a variety of academic institutions, to provide counseling services here and elsewhere.

Lastly, the Counseling Center engages in applied research and evaluation activities that focus on counseling processes and outcomes, and on the evaluation and development of Counseling Center services and programs.

Clientele Served

Students representing a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds are seen at the Center.  Many of the students present with a variety of symptoms and syndromes including affective disorders, relationship problems, eating disorders, substance abuse, and some with more long-standing psychological disturbances.  Additionally, many students seeking services at the Counseling Center present with developmental problems typical of a college student population.

The University and Surrounding Environment

The University of Washington opened in 1861, on a ten acre tract of hilly wilderness that is now in the heart of downtown Seattle.  In 1895, classes began at the present campus, beside Lake Washington, Portage Bay, and Lake Union.  Today the campus includes many beautiful buildings and gardens, and the institution enjoys an international reputation for its research, graduate programs, and medical school.  Autumn 2003 enrollment exceeded 42,900, of whom more than one quarter were graduate and professional students.  Many of these students commute to the University daily and represent a culturally and ethnically diverse student population.

Surrounded by national parks, forests, and mountains, the greater Seattle area offers its two million residents the cultural and economic diversity of a major city amidst abundant recreation opportunities, and a mild climate in which to enjoy it all. For more information on the Seattle area visit:

© 2004 UW Counseling Center