Counseling Center
Thank you for reaching out to the Counseling Center. During Summer Semester the capacity of our office decreases and we have limited office coverage which could delay our response to your requests. Thank you for your patience, we will send you a reply within 48 hours.
***If you are experiencing any mental health emergency, please contact the Huntsman Mental Health Institute Crisis Line at 801-273-TALK or utilize the SafeUT app to access a crisis line worker by phone or chat.***
Counseling Center Services are only available to students currently enrolled in Summer Courses, employment with the college alone does not meet criteria. Here are some off campus resource you can access over the Summer if needed:
24-hour Hotlines and Services
- HMHI Crisis Line: 801 587 3000
- HMHI Warm Line: 801-587-1055
- SafeUT App
- National Crisis TEXTLINE: Text “start” to 741741
- Rape Recovery Center Crisis line: 801-467-7273
Off Campus Free/Reduced Cost Counseling
- Educational Assessment and Student Support Clinic: 801-213-3542 (sliding scale 5-20 dollars per session)
- Rape Recovery Center(for sexual assault): 801-467-7282 (free)
- Jewish Family Services: 801-746-4334 (sliding fee scale starting @ 20 dollars per session)
- Utah Pride Center: For Individual and Group Therapy Support for LGBTQQIA+
Agencies Nearby Accepting a Variety of Insurances
- Utah Center for Post Traumatic Growth
- Multicultural Counseling Center (services in Spanish)
- Utah Center for Evidence Based Treatment
- Lighthouse Counseling Services
Online Teletherapy Resources and Therapist Directories
- Psychology Today (local directory of private practice therapists)
- Betterhelp (teletherapy site)
*Some of the agencies accept insurance if available but will offer a sliding scale in many cases for individuals without insurance coverage. **Others do not accept insurance and usually provide a sliding scale.
Crisis Intervention
During Business Hours
The center provides crisis counseling services daily during specified times during regular business hours.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a psychological crisis or emergency and need a crisis appointment, contact the office at CCfrontdesk@westminstercollege.edu or 801.832.2465.
After-Hours and Weekends
If you or someone you know is experiencing a psychological crisis or emergency, go to your nearest emergency room, use the SafeUT App, or call:
- 911
- 24-hour Crisis Line (Huntsman Mental Health Institute): 1.800.273.8255
- 24-hour Warm Line (non-life-threatening distress): 801.587.1055
- Rape Recover Center 24/7 Rape/Sexual Assault Crisis and Information Line: 801.467.7273
SafeUT App
The SafeUT Crisis Chat and Tip Line is a statewide service available to the Westminster community that provides real-time crisis intervention through live chat and a confidential tip program—right from your smartphone.
SafeUT can help anyone with emotional crises, bullying, relationship problems, mental health, or suicide-related issues. Licensed clinicians in the 24/7 CrisisLine call center respond to all incoming chats and calls by providing:
- Supportive or crisis counseling
- Suicide Prevention
- Referral Services
Staff and faculty are welcome to submit a tip if they have a concern about a student’s safety or mental health.
Contact the Counseling Center
Contact the Counseling Center with any questions or to schedule an appointment.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Location: Shaw Student Center, lower level L5–L7
Email: CCfrontdesk@westminstercollege.edu
Phone: 801.832.2465
About the Counseling Center
The Counseling Center firmly believes in the importance of attention to the “whole person” in the educational process. The center aims to assist students in clarifying and accomplishing personal and academic goals, offering:
- Brief counseling and referral services for individuals who may be experiencing psychological or emotional difficulties
- Programming focused on the developmental needs of college students to help them maximize the benefits of their academic environment and experiences
- Consultation with faculty, staff, and parents regarding mental health concerns of students
- Mental health resources from internal and external sources
All individual and group counseling services will be offered in person or virtually (through a telehealth platform) based on need and access. If you are sick with any sort of illness, make arrangements to meet with your counselor virtually and do not come to the center.
Acknowledging, understanding, and actively taking steps to address the emotions and mental health challenges the pandemic may be producing is an important step in coping with any potential psychological impacts. Major changes in your daily schedule and social interactions (like working or taking classes from home) can feel isolating and may increase feelings of distress. The Counseling Center has provided some updates to services as well as some resources you may find useful during this time.
The Counseling Center strives to practice all therapeutic services with respect and mindfulness to a student’s multiple identities. Counseling Center staff recognize that students experience violence, discrimination, bias, and exclusion related to their identity. These experiences can impact mental health and need to be seen and validated within the counseling process. Staff engage in ongoing training and consultation to increase competency working with the needs of specific groups. We also welcome feedback to improve services to ensure all students feel safe accessing them.
If you have feedback, email the Counseling Center director, Erin Gibson (egibson@westminstercollege.edu, or anonymously email the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (dei@westminstercollege.edu).
Counseling Center Staff
The Counseling Center staff members maintain their professional mental health licensure in the state of Utah or receive direct clinical supervision by a licensed staff member. All Counseling Center staff are experienced professionals equipped to work with students with a wide range of needs. Staff approach all clients from a trauma-informed lens respectful of intersecting identities. Counseling Center staff utilize the following therapeutic modalities:
- EMDR therapy
- Internal family systems
- CBT
- Somatic informed
- ACT
- Motivational interviewing
- Feminist multicultural
Staff and Counselors

Erin Gibson
Director of Counseling

Molly Butterworth
Counselor

Christian Fritze
Counselor
Clinical Trainees
Counseling Services
Common mental health concerns students manage include depression, anxiety, stress, relationship issues, and academic concerns. Referral services are available for faculty and staff.
All inquiries, discussions, and services are confidential. Knowledge that you are receiving counseling services, as well as the specific content of your counseling and assessment, is confidential.
Adherence to Ethical Guidelines
The Westminster Counseling Center adheres to the ethical guidelines of the American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, American Counseling Association, and Utah state and local laws. GRAMA and FERPA govern Counseling Center records, and we generally seek to be compliant with HIPAA standards. The center maintains clinical records in a confidential computerized client management system. The center retains a hard copy of some records maintained in secure and locked files.
No one outside of the Counseling Center may have access to counseling information without your prior, express, written permission except for the following, required by law:
- A counselor reports suspected or known abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children or disabled adults
- Cases of imminent danger to self or others to secure your safety or that of others
- A valid subpoena or court order is issued
- Your counselor may consult with other providers within the Westminster Counseling Center about your situation to provide the best care possible, or for training purposes
Individual Counseling
Group Counseling
Advocacy Letters
Substance Abuse Prevention and Education
Victim-Survivor Advocate
Self-Help and Prevention Resources
The Counseling Center is an excellent resource for counseling-specific needs, but additional external resources are available to help you explore various topics surrounding self-help, prevention information, and coping during a pandemic. These external resources provide supplementary information; however, the Counseling Center is not responsible for any content on other websites.
- College Drinking, Changing the Culture: learn myths and facts about alcohol, access a BAC calculator, and explore discussion of consequences of drinking.
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America: learn detailed information about anxiety and depression, including symptoms, access online videos and brochures, and read others' success stories.
- “What is depression?” (National Institute of Mental Health): learn what depression is, signs and symptoms of depression, types of depression, and treatment options.
It’s completely expected and appropriate to experience fear during situations like the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also important to know how to manage overwhelming anxiety and keep perspective as the situation unfolds.
The following are resources and tips provided by the Jed Foundation:
- “Talking to Kids About a Coronavirus Crisis” (Child Mind Institute): a resource on how to talk to young people about COVID-19.
- “Supporting #RealCollege Students During COVID-19” (Hope Center): an outline of resources for supporting college students during this crisis.
- “Preparing for COVID-19” (American College Health Association): a guide to help college health staff and campus administrators address COVID-19 on campus.
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) database (WHO): a webpage sharing information on travel, media resources, and research on COVID-19.
- “7 science-based strategies to cope with coronavirus anxiety” (Jelena Kecmanovic): outlines 7 ways to strategize and cope with COVID-19 anxiety.
- “5 Tips for Managing Stress” (JED Foundation): a resource created by self-care experts sharing ways to get adequate sleep, eat well, and engage in exercise, among other tips for practicing good self-care.
- Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders: get detailed information about eating disorders as well as treatment options.
- National Eating Disorders Association: get easy access to help and support, as well as information and a variety of ways to get involved.
- Univeristy of Georgia Health Center: get tips for managing stress as a college student.
- Headspace offers meditations you can listen to at any time.
- QuietKit offers beginner guided meditations for free.
- The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion has several free guided meditations and exercises.
- Life Values Inventory: a free values clarification and personal development program
- ULifeline: take a quick mental health test from a self-evaluator, which identifies common mental health issues; learn more about mental health issues and the warning signs of emotional distress and suicide; and access emergency contact information and on and off-campus resources.
- Wholehearted Inventory: learn about how you present yourself to the world and notice the areas of strength to live your desired life.
Taking Care of Your Body
Engage in Routine Exercise
You don’t need a gym to get exercise. Some easy ways to get exercise include:
- Free yoga videos on YouTube and other websites
- Going outside and getting fresh air by walking, running, riding your bike, or hiking (while being sure to follow social distancing guidelines)
Get Good Sleep
- Consider investing in a white noise machine or exploring free white noise apps for your electronic devices.
- Go to bed and get up at the same time each day.
Nutrition
- Take time to cook healthy food that you enjoy and increase your water intake.
- Be mindful of increased drug and alcohol consumption being used to cope with stress and boredom.
Build a Routine
Try to maintain consistency in your life as if you were going to work and/or school like you normally would. Some things that may help with this include:
- Writing out your schedule on a board or paper and displaying it prominently
- Going to bed at the same time each night and setting an alarm to get up at the same time each morning, trying to follow the usual routine you did while learning or working on campus
- Creating a diversified list of activities and schedule intentional down time to reflect
- Taking breaks from screens to refrain from being online all day
Address Fears and Doubts
- Practice letting go of the things you cannot change.
- Accept your emotions and reach out to trusted people for support.
- Take a break from social media and the news about COVID-19.
Reflect and Engage in Resiliency Activities
- "Coping With Mental Health During COVID-19 Pandemic” (Amanda McNab): article featuring pointers from Amanda McNab, LSCW, a clinical staff development educator at University of Utah Health and Crisis and Diversion Services.
- Greater Good:
- The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley has curated many articles to help you during this time.
- The Greater Good Science Center’s YouTube channel, expressive writing exercise, and self-compassion practice are available to explore.
Sometimes it can be difficult for friends and family to know what to do when a loved one is experiencing difficulties with mental health. Fortunately, there are a variety of resources that can provide information and support to those who want to help.
Friends and Family
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides a helpful outline of what friends and family can do to assist their loved one, including:
- Ways to offer support
- How to talk about mental health
- What to do if you are asked for help
- Ways to get immediate assistance for your loved one
Parents and Caregivers
Other information is available for those who are the guardians of someone experiencing difficulties with mental illness, including:
- What to look for
- What to do
- How to talk about mental health
- How to support your child
- How to get help for your child
- Self-Injury Outreach and Support, a nonprofit outreach initiative: read personal stories, information about coping and recovery, and support for loved ones.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.8255
- Seattle University's Counseling and Psychological Services: information about suicide prevention, myths, warning signs, and additional resources
- American Association of Suicidology
- Out of the Darkness Walks: information about the annual walk to raise awareness and funds that allows the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss
- “If You Are Thinking About Suicide, Read This First”: from Metanoia, a community service by the nonprofit Psych Central Community Connection
Find a Therapist
If you are local and would like to access a therapist in the community, you can find therapists through Psychology Today.
You can also find therapists through the LGBTQ-Affirmative Psychotherapist Guild of Utah's free online directory.
Teletherapy
If you are under self-quarantine or self-isolation due to COVID-19 or are located outside the state of Utah and you would like access to online counseling services, you can access teletherapy sessions (services that do cost money per session) through the following online providers: