College is challenging, and life doesn’t stop when classes start. It is never too early or too late to ask for help. BTC Counseling provides free, confidential personal counseling services to enrolled students. In addition to this short-term, solution-focused service, the BTC Counselor can also provide information on campus and community resources that may be of help to you.

If you are struggling, if something is getting in the way of you meeting your goals, or if you are experiencing things like stress, anxiety, strong emotions, challenging life transitions, loss, suicidal thoughts, or other personal challenges, please reach out and see how we can help.

NOTE: During the 2020-2021 academic year, all appointments are being offered remotely (by phone or video meeting through Zoom).

To make an appointment or find out the counselor’s next availability: 

Send us an email counseling@btc.edu
Contact the front desk of Admissions & Advising by calling 360.752.8345.
Drop-in to the Virtual Lobby T, W, Th 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

If you are experiencing a CRISIS, including thoughts of suicide, please contact a 24/7 free crisis resource:  

Local Care Crisis Line: Call 800.584.3578 or visit their website at www.imhurting.org for live chat.
National Crisis Text Line: Text CAMPUS to 741-741.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 800.273.8255
Additional resources are listed below.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of a life-threatening EMERGENCY, please call 911 or go to the emergency room closest to you.  

If you are experiencing or are at risk of a life-threatening EMERGENCY, please call 911 or go to the emergency room closest to you. In Bellingham, our 24/7 emergency room is located at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center (2901 Squalicum Parkway, Bellingham, WA 98225).

Here you may find helpful information and resources on some issues many students commonly experience. If you would like any more information on this or another issue, please contact the BTC Counselor. 

• Emotional Distress Resources

  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html (tips and info) 

  • Washington Listens: Call 1-833-681-0211 for free and anonymous non-clinical support to people in WA who feel sad, anxious, or stressed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hours: M-F 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m., Sa-Su 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

  • Emotional Support Line (Optum): Call 866.342.6892 

  • SAMHSA Disaster Distress Hotline: Call 800.985.5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66-746. 

  • Assistance with living needs and community resources (e.g., food, utility assistance, healthcare, housing, etc.): 

  • https://whatcomcovid.com/individuals-and-families/ 

  • https://www.whatcomabc.org/quality-of-life/COVID-19/ 

• Personal Crisis and Suicidal Thoughts

  • Local Care Crisis Line: Call 800.584.3578, or visit their website at www.imhurting.org for live chat. 

  • National Crisis Text Line: Text CAMPUS to 741-741 

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 800.273.8255

• Mental Health Resources for College Students

  • U Lifeline: Anonymous screening tools for depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse at https://screener.ulifeline.org/?_ga=2.250367183.87659148.1596739547-790366223.1596739547 Other helpful information can be found on their website at http://www.ulifeline.org/ 

  • Active Minds blog: https://www.activeminds.org/blog/ 

  • https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/index.htm 

  • https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Teens-Young-Adults/Managing-a-Mental-Health-Condition-in-College/ 

• Living with a Mental Illness (you or a loved one)

  • NAMI – Whatcom County: https://www.namiwhatcom.org/

  • WA Warm Line: Call 877.500.WARM (9276); M-F 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., S-Su 12:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.. WA Warm Line is a peer support help line for people living with emotional and mental health challenges. Calls are answered by specially-trained volunteers who have lived experience with mental health challenges. They have a deep understanding of what you are going through and are here to provide emotional support, comfort, and information. All calls are confidential.

  • BTC Accessibility Resources (if you have a diagnosis, you may be eligible for academic accommodations)

• Substance Use

  • SAMHSA (National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services): For information on treatment resources, call National Helpline 800.662.HELP (4357) (English and Spanish) or visit their website or online treatment locator (https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/). 

  • Alcoholics Anonymous (including online support groups): https://www.whatcomaa.org/schedule.html 

  • SMART Recovery (including online info and support groups): https://www.smartrecovery.org/ 

  • Narcotics Anonymous: https://nwscna.org/meetings 

  • Al-Anon (for family members and loved ones of people struggling with addiction): http://whatcomafg.org/ 

  • Whatcom Medication Disposal: https://whatcommedreturn.org/ 

• Domestic Violence

  • Local DVSAS (Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services): Call 877.715.1563 for or visit their website at https://www.dvsas.org (web use may be monitored. If you are concerned that visiting their website would put you in danger, call their 24/7 hotline). 

  • The National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 800.799.7233 or text LOVEIS to 22-522 

  • National Child Abuse Hotline: Call 800.4AChild (800.422.4453) or text 800.422.4453 

• Sexual Assault/Title IX

  • Local DVSAS (Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services): Call 877.715.1563 for or visit their website at https://www.dvsas.org (web use may be monitored. If you are concerned that visiting their website would put you in danger, call their 24/7 hotline). 

  • RAINN (Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network): Call 800.656.HOPE (4673) or live chat online at their website at https://www.rainn.org/. 

  • BTC Title IX: https://www.btc.edu/General/Publications/TitleIX/AssistanceForStudents.pdf 

• Gender and Sexual Identity (offered by and for members of the LGBTQIA+ community)

  • The Trevor Project (for LGBTQIA+ youth under age 25): Call 866.488.7386, text START to 678-678 or visit their website for live chat at https://www.thetrevorproject.org/. 

  • Trans Lifeline: Call 877.565.8860 (English and Spanish) or visit their website at https://www.translifeline.org/. 

  • Whatcom County PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of people who are LGBTQIA+): http://www.whatcompflag.org/ 

  • BTC GSA (Gay Straight Alliance): contact Student Life or ASBTC asbtc@btc.edu for more information 

• Food or Housing Insecurity

  • https://www.btc.edu/General/Publications/CommunityResourceBook.pdf 

  • Opportunity Council: https://www.oppco.org/ 

  • Whatcom County 211: Call 211 or visit their website at https://wa211.org/about-2-1-1/. 

  • BTC Food Pantry: Email asbtc@btc.edu for up-to-date information on availability. 

• Veterans Issues

  • National Veterans Crisis Line: Call 800.273.8255 and press option 1, text 838255, or live chat online at https://www.veteranscrisisline.net/get-help/hotline. 

  • BTC Veterans Support 

Personal Counseling Forms

General Information and Student Informed Consent (completed before or at the first BTC Counseling meeting)

Informed Consent to Participate in Distance Counseling (completed before or at first distance BTC Counseling meeting)