As a member of the University community, you have ongoing and direct contact with students. This places you in a position to identify students who are struggling with personal and/or academic concerns. How involved you want to be in the student's problems will likely depend on how you see your role in the University, your training, your experience, and your personality. These guidelines, your knowledge of the services available, and your awareness of your personal attributes can help you become more comfortable with determining when and how you wish to intervene with students.
All students will experience some level of stress. Some will face life events that are more challenging such as
Others will face severe difficulty with
How students respond to these challenges and how these challenges impact their academic functioning will vary greatly based on their coping abilities and personal situations.
Sumbit a CARE Team Referral
Sometimes offering to accompany a student over to CAPS will greatly reduce the student's anxiety about going to see a counselor. If you do agree to accompany the student, ask the student if he or she would like you to remain in the waiting room until he or she is seen by the intake counselor. If the student does not want you to walk over with him or her, or if you decide this is not an option for you, it is often helpful to provide the student with a brief description of the walk-in/intake procedure or to offer to call ahead and let CAPS know the student is coming.
Unless the student is at risk for harm to self or others, counseling remains a voluntary option for students. Despite every effort on your part to facilitate a referral, the student may choose not to follow through on your suggestion that he or she seek counseling. If you find yourself in this situation, continue to express your belief that counseling could be beneficial, and keep your offer of help available to the student. Document the process for your personal files should you need to verify in the future your assistance to this student. If a student is at risk for harm to self or others, please report this information to Counseling and Psychological Services (206) 296-6090 or Public Safety (206) 296-5990 as soon as possible. If the student is with you, tell the student that you will arrange for him or her to be seen as soon as possible by a counselor. If the student leaves with the intent to disregard your referral, you should call Counseling and Psychological Services and Public Safety.
If you have a concern about a student, feel free to call Counseling and Psychological Services and ask to consult with one of the staff members. Staff counselors will be glad to discuss specific options for you and the student. This does not obligate you or the student and often helps to answer your questions and concerns.
Once a student has been referred to he or she is in a confidential relationship. Often students will come back to you and let you know about their experience. If appropriate, a representative from CAPS may contact you to follow up or to gain additional information.
A referral to CAPS does not the mean the student necessarily will be removed from class or school, face university conduct sanctions or remain in treatment. Should you feel additional actions are necessary as a result of the student's conduct, you should contact the Office of Student Development, Public Safety or your academic dean.
Counseling and Psychological Services is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to Noon and 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. The office is closed from Noon - 1 p.m. Urgent hours are Monday - Friday from 10am-11am and 3pm-4pm. If you need to reach a counselor after hours, contact Public Safety 206.296.5990 and explain that you need to speak to a counselor. Public Safety will contact the person on call you will be contacted by the counselor.
What will happen after my CARE Team referral is submitted?
What type of follow up should I expect?
