Student Life provides free counseling services to all enrolled students at Heritage University. The counseling is confidential and culturally sensitive in providing support dealing with the variety of personal and academic issues that may arise. We care about you as an individual and we want to see you succeed and have a good experience with us. If we can be of any assistance in eliminating any barrier that prevents you from attending Heritage University, please contact us at your convenience.

Self-Help: Virtual Counseling Library

The Counseling Services team is a part of the Student Life department and is located in the Student Services building.

(509) 865-8547 Ruff-Delgado_j@heritage.edu

Please click below for more information:
• For Students
• For Parents, Faculty and Staff
• Resources

For Students

There are many situations that can cause emotional distress that may eventually interfere with your academic performance while attending Heritage University. Some concerns may be family, relationship problems, drug or alcohol abuse, a physical illness, emotional, physical or sexual abuse issues, depression, anxiety, concentration problems or eating problems. Other problems may not be as clear cut and you may just need to talk to someone who can help sort things out. It may be time to ask for assistance when:

• you start to isolate and feel alone.
• you feel trapped and can’t get out.
• you worry all the time.
• you are in a stressful relationship.
• you notice changes in your sleep, appetite or mood.
• life begins to affect your performance.
• you are down and hopeless.
• you feel hurt and it won’t go away.

Counseling works by helping you look at thoughts, feelings and actions that may be affecting your school performance. You can learn new and effective ways to deal with these situations. You and your counselor will work collaboratively to establish goals and an action plan to meet these goals, which will be behavioral and measurable. Your privacy is important and great lengths will be taken to secure your information. Your counselor will not disclose any information to others without your permission, except as required by law. Sometimes you may decide to sign a release of information for the purpose of coordinating your care with specific individuals. Your counseling records will be kept separate from all records kept by the University.

As a registered student at Heritage University you can receive free personal counseling sessions at Student Life from 8:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M most days Monday – Friday. However, some days we offer extended hours until 7:00 P.M. Please contact Joyce Ruff-Delgado, at 865-8547, to make an appointment to be seen. When you arrive for your first appointment, please check in with the receptionist. You will be asked to complete a brief background information sheet that will be used to help you sort out your problems. During your first contact, you and your counselor will explore what issues you would like to focus on together. If for some reason you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, please call at least 24 hours prior to your appointment or reschedule the appointment so that others can utilize that time slot.

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Information for Parents, Faculty and Staff

As a faculty member or parent, you have the most contact with and information about students, and most likely will be the ones to notice any changes in their mood or behavior. Identifying mental health concerns early is important for providing the best treatment for our students. The following are a few common warning signs that a student may needed assistance:

• A change in appearance, such as poor hygiene over a few days or weeks.
• Significant changes in weight loss or gain.
• A drop in academic performance.
• Mood changes (irritability, agitation or angry outbursts).
• Social isolation.
• Withdrawal from relationships with family or friends.
• A loss of interest in things that once gave them pleasure such as hobbies.
• Lack of participation in university activities or classes.
• Recent loss, including death of a loved one, relationship breakup, or parental divorce.
• Experience of trauma or crisis such as academic failure, violence, sexual abuse or rape.
• Frequent use of alcohol or any use of illicit drugs.
• Expressions of hopelessness or extreme sadness.
• Statements such as “I want to disappear”, or “It would be easier if I weren’t here/were dead.”
• Direct statements of suicidal ideation such as “I’ve had a thought or plan of hurting myself.”

If you are concerned about a student, whether that student is a person in class you teach, or your own child, you may wish to talk to the student about your concerns. Here are some suggestions to help you broach the subject:

• Find a private setting, away from the class or other family members to discuss your concerns.
• Be open and direct about your concerns.
• Give the student time to speak and listen without criticizing.
• Encourage the student to use counseling services.
• Provide reassurance that facing problems as a university student is normal.
• Reassure the student that seeking help is what healthy people do.
• Remember, students have a right to accept or refuse help.
• If you find yourself in a crisis situation, try to stay calm and check that the student isn’t in any harm from self or others.

When you are concerned about a student, encourage them to use the counseling services provided by Heritage University at no charge to them:

• Encourage or ask the student to schedule an initial appointment with Joyce Ruff-Delgado at 865-8547, or by coming to the Student Life office in person.
• Appointments are usually available within the same day.
• Often students appreciate a parent or faculty member helping them to make an appointment with the student present (e.g., in your office). Call the Student Life office at ext. 2050 to schedule an appointment. We will need to speak with the student directly in this case.
• You may walk the student over to the Student Life office.
• If an emergency situation occurs, please call Joyce Ruff-Delgado at x.2050 about the crisis situation.
• After hours, anyone can call the Open Line, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 575-4200 or 1-800-572-8122 statewide

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Resources

• Wellness House - 575-6686, 210 S. 11th Ave. Suite 40, Yakima - Services include: Chronic pain, Hepatitis C support group, Caring family, caring friends, Bereavement Support, Fibromyalgia support, Guided meditation, Newly diagnosed, the first year, Healing touch.
• Central Washington Comprehensive Mental Health (CWCMH) -575-4084, 402 S. 4th Ave. Yakima. Offices in Yakima, Ellensburg, Cle Elum, Sunnyside, White Salmon and Goldendale. Services offered include: Community support, Consultation and education, counseling, crisis services, elderly services, EAP, psychiatric services, volunteer services, open-line, sexual assault, chemical dependency, developmental disabilities services and residential services including foster care.
• Yakima Valley Farm Workers (YVFWC) - 602 E. Nob Hill Blvd. Yakima, WA . Offices in Yakima, Toppenish and Grandview. Services include: Children and family, brief services, children’s hospitalization and crisis response, children’s day treatment, El centro De Amistad, Children’s casemangement as well as medical and dental services.
• Catholic Family and Child Services - 5301 Tieton Dr. Suite C, Yakima, WA. Offices in Yakima, Grandview and Toppenish. Services include: Counseling, child care, Child nutrition program and volunteer services.
• Enterprise for Progress in the Community (EPIC) - 608 Superior Ln, Yakima, WA. Services include: Headstart, Epic place, youth services, Epic’s Attic.
• AJ Consultants 248-0133
• Academy for the Healing Arts 966-6974
• Alliance Counseling 452-8313
• Center for Counseling and Psychotherapy 966-7246
• Northwest Associates 575-4313
• Barth Clinic 457-5653
• Consultants Dedicated to Holistic Wellness 248-0133
• Northwest Family Therapy Institute, Inc. 575-5523
• Christian Counseling Center 454-8885
• Consejo Counseling 854-2800
• Cornerstone Counseling Center 452-5300
• Crest Counseling Services 469-4996
• Hub for Incident Prevention 454-8885
• Lourdes Counseling Services 457-5600
• Lutheran Counseling Services 575-0161
• Memorial Hospital 575-8307
• Northwest Behavioral Modification Clinic 457-8554
• Northwest Family Therapy Institute Inc. 575-5523
• Personal Parenting & Assessment Services, Inc. 575-1760
• Rainbow Counseling & Consulting 452-7606
• Youth and Family Support Center 452-7606

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