Division of Student Affairs

Counseling Center

1201 "L" Avenue

Phone: 541-962-3392
/Counseling/

What is counseling?

Counseling is the process of talking with a trained professional to assist you with sorting out emotional and social difficulties.  This may include educational and/or career goals.  It may take the form of individual or group sessions.  This process can help you become more aware of yourself and personal options available to you for effective problem solving and decision-making.

The Counseling Process

The counseling process involves a cooperative interaction between you and your counselor.  Early in this process you and your counselor will need to make a number of decisions regarding your counseling plan.  Among these decisions are the mode of counseling (individual/group) frequency and number of sessions, and setting counseling goals.  To meet the needs of as many students as possible, most clients are seen in a brief therapy format, i.e., from one to ten sessions.  Counseling is concluded at the point when clients have the capacity to work through problems on their own without undue difficulty.  If long-term counseling is required, a referral to the professional community may be made.

Counseling Effectiveness

Your scheduled sessions with a counselor may be the first steps you take to bring about the positive changes in your life.  Both you and your counselor are responsible for an effective experience.  Your active participation in the counseling process is critical in reaching your personal goals and self-understanding.  If this is your first experience with counseling, you are encouraged to discuss this with you counselor.

Confidentiality

For counseling to be most effective, clients are expected to be open and honest about themselves and their problems.  In return the professional staff assures confidentiality.  With the exception of a clear danger to oneself or others, or certain very selective court subpoenas, no person or institution outside of the Counseling Center will have access to client information without the client’s expressed written permission.  Within the Center, however, information about clients may be shared for the purpose of training and/or consultation. 

CONCERNS with your Counselor or the Center

A trusting relationship is a key ingredient of successful counseling.  Conflicts and tensions are sometimes a part of the therapeutic process.  If you experience this, you are encouraged to bring it up with your counselor.  When such issues cannot be resolved through discussion, the counselor’s responsibility is to facilitate an appropriate transfer to another counselor or service.  As a client you always have the right to raise a concern about your treatment with the Counselor, the Center Director, or the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Evaluation

In order to provide more effective services, you will be requested to evaluate your counseling.  You will be asked to complete a questionnaire regarding your counseling experience.  We appreciate your feedback and find it valuable in updating and improving our services.

Scheduling Appointments

Your initial intake will take approximately 20 minutes, and can be done during our drop-in hours, M, W 9:30 – 11:30 AM & T, Th 1:30 – 3:30 PM.  541-962-3524

A Counselor is always available at these times.  After your initial intake, regular scheduled sessions are arranged between you and your assigned counselor.  Special arrangements may be made if these drop-in hours don’t meet your needs.

Your Counseling Appointments

We will attempt to see all clients as soon as possible.  In order for us to provide timely services to as many students as possible, we would appreciate your keeping your appointment once it is made, or rescheduling it well in advance.  If you miss two consecutive sessions without contacting us, it will be assumed that you wish to stop the process, and your appointment time will be made available to other students.  When you decide to discontinue counseling, we encourage you to discuss your plans with your counselor.

For after hours or weekend emergency situations, you can call one of the following, depending on the kind of assistance you need:

Appointments and information can be obtained by coming in or calling the Center.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our office, between 8am-5pm Pacific time, for further assistance.