Counseling Center
Mission Statement
We believe that the university experience should be challenging, not overwhelming, and universities have a duty to support students as they are being challenged. To this end, the WKU Counseling Center is committed to promoting the academic mission of the university by providing a variety of psychological services to students that will augment recruitment, retention, and graduation by strengthening students’ capacity to tolerate distress, form healthy relationships, and seek healthy expressions of their ideals and values. The Counseling Center also advances the university’s mission by providing educational programming, training, and consultation to the students, faculty, staff, and constituents of WKU.
How to schedule an appointment:
The Counseling Center typically works on an appointment basis and is open from Monday – Friday from 8:00am-4:30pm (CST). The best way to schedule an appointment is to call our office at (270) 745-3159 or stop by Potter Hall 409 and we can work to coordinate schedules and set up an appointment. (NOTE: We DO NOT schedule appointments through Outlook calendar and only with students).
Our motto is “College should be challenging, not overwhelming”. Most students will need some kind of help while they are “doing” college. It is normal to seek help. Students come to the Counseling Center for the following reasons:
- Need to learn new information or skills to solve a specific problem.
- Need a safe place to explore confusing or painful memories or experiences.
- Some students need both.
Some students need a couple of sessions where they can talk “out loud” and figure out what is bothering/concerning them. Some students may need one session to get some suggestions so they can go try out new skills on their own.
Students’ first meeting with the Counseling Center is with a counselor, virtually, via Zoom. You and the counselor will determine what you need and the best way to provide counseling. We call this a Client Consultation appointment. It is typically a brief, 15- to 30-minute meeting. All paperwork needs to be completed prior to scheduling your appointment. Note: you may be requested to complete an additional consultation appointment if it’s been longer than 8 weeks since your previous consultation appointment. If you are an established client, you might be asked to complete a consultation appointment if it’s been more than a semester since you’ve met with a counselor, or you request to see a different counselor. An established client is a student who has completed a consultation and an initial intake appointment.
During the Client Consultation appointment, the following may be discussed:
- The counselor might give you some information or suggestions to try and then you may come back if you need more help.
- The counselor might suggest you make another appointment to begin talking about your problem, exploring the confusing and upsetting thoughts and feelings you are having. You might keep seeing the same counselor or you might be set up with another counselor on staff. You can find a listing of our staff on the “contact” tab above, then Staff listing, in the drop-down box.
If you choose to move forward in the counseling process, you may schedule another session. It may be in-person or via Zoom, depending on what you and the clinician determine works best for you. This session is called the Intake session where more information is gathered, and a counseling plan is developed. At this point, you will begin the counseling process.
STEPS TO MAKING AN APPOINTMENT
PRIOR TO MAKING an appointment, we MUST have consent and all applicable paperwork on file.
- If you are interested in making a CLIENT CONSULTATION appointment, you will complete the CLIENT CONSULTATION paperwork, provided to you by our staff (either emailed to you after calling the office or completing it in the office).
- Similarly, if you are interested in scheduling an INITIAL INTAKE (the appointment scheduled after the initial client consult appt.), you will complete the INITIAL INTAKE paperwork, again,provided to you by our staff (either emailed to you after calling the office or completing it in the office).
After completing paperwork applicable to your appointment, you will THEN call 270-745-3159 or stop by 409 Potter Hall to schedule the initial intake appointment.
ANY student using our services is required to complete the necessary forms with each new semester. Please note: clients returning from one semester to another, need to complete Follow Up paperwork each semester. Staff will provide you with a link to complete this paperwork when you call to schedule.
Thanks for having the maturity and courage to get help at our center. We are all in this together.
Updated 1/22/2025
The Counseling Center is open throughout the calendar year and closed during holidays and other specified dates found in the WKU Academic Calendar.
The Counseling Center is located in Potter Hall, Room 409
Address:
1906 College Heights Blvd #11024
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101-1024
Phone: 270-745-3159
Fax: 270-745-6976
Email: counseling.center@wku.edu
Information
Complaints of sexual misconduct/assault, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking harassment