As an iSchool student, you have access to mental health support from a mental health professional who works directly with the Information School. The counselor can help you find referrals to short- and long-term therapy, provide support through a variety of mental health issues, both virtually and in-person, and give information about other resources. All concerns and topics are welcome and are responded to without judgment. Conversations with the counselor are confidential except for specific limitations around mandated reporting and safety. Issues students may raise can include anxiety, stress, relationships, worry, transition, homesickness, conflict, sadness, family problems, and overwhelm. 

The counselor also supports the iSchool by providing consultation and workshops to faculty and staff and making recommendations about the systems and procedures. 

The counselor receives consultation from the UW Counseling Center and not the iSchool, which helps increase confidentiality and allows for students to feel at ease that their personal information will not be reported to faculty/staff (unless consent is provided). 

Connect with Leigh, the iSchool Mental Health Counselor 

My name is Leigh Eisele [pronounced Lee Eyes-Lee] (she/her) and I am the iSchool's mental health counselor. I am a UW alumna and am a licensed clinical mental health therapist in both Washington state and Maryland. 

I am generally available five days a week, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. My schedule is subject to change over university breaks and summer quarter.

To learn more about me, check out my UW Counseling Center page. I look forward to supporting you!

Book an Informal Consultation with Leigh 

Students, faculty and staff can schedule an informal consultation. 

Students may use this space to gain perspective, learn about resources, or to better understand what counseling entails. Although confidential, this is not therapy. By booking this appointment, students are noting that they are aware that these consultations are not a substitute for therapy, counseling or psychiatric care. If you are a student looking for this type of mental health support, please let Leigh know and she will connect you to the appropriate resources.

Faculty and staff can schedule an informal consultation to discuss concerns related to student well-being, classroom dynamics, or their own stress and workload. These conversations provide guidance, resources and strategies for supporting students, managing challenging situations, and fostering a healthy learning environment. Consultations are not therapy, but a supportive space to ask questions, gain perspective, and connect with helpful tools and referrals.

Please note that Leigh's schedule is subject to change, especially during university breaks. If for some reason you do not see a time that works with your schedule, please email Leigh (leisele1@uw.edu) to check for additional options.

It is important to limit email communications to Leigh about logistics and scheduling to ensure that no personal information is exposed. Email platforms are not HIPAA compliant. 

Schedule and Location 

Students can meet with Leigh Mondays through Fridays with in-person availability typically on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. 

Leigh's office is located on the third floor of Mary Gates Hall in 370J. If for some reason the door is locked and closed, please wait outside until Leigh meets you to welcome you back to her office.  If you are waiting more than 10 minutes, please email Leigh (leisele1@uw.edu). Additionally, you can contact Leigh if you need support with mobility and access to this space for any reason and she will work to accommodate your needs. 

What is it like to speak with a mental health counselor? 

Some students have never spoken with a mental health counselor before. Reasons behind this may include varying cultural understandings of mental health, limited access, feelings of shame/embarrassment, belief counseling is reserved only for those with serious conditions, and/or fear of the unknown. In general, here is what you can expect when talking with a counselor: 

1. You can explore any thoughts, feelings and behaviors without judgment.
2. You can bring any topic to your counselor. It does not have to be about your iSchool experience.
3. Topics you discuss will stay confidential between you and your counselor except for some limitations, including mandated reporting, imminent safety concerns for yourself or others, and legal requirements due to court proceedings.
4. Sometimes speaking with a counselor may increase feelings of discomfort as you discuss difficult situations and emotions. This is OK.
5. Speaking with a counselor does not mean that something is “wrong with you." Counseling can be used for many reasons. Perhaps you just need a third-party person to support you through a challenging moment/situation or help you find resources to enhance your well-being.
6. You can provide feedback to your counselor. If something is not going right or you need something specific, you can speak openly about those concerns.
7. Feel free to ask questions about the counseling process at any time.

Additional Resources 

There are several options depending on the level of support that you may need. 

Immediate 24/7 Support Options

• Husky Helpline: Call 206-616-7777 or chat by app (Apple App Store | Google Play). Provides free same-day, confidential mental health and crisis intervention support in multiple languages. Available to students both within and outside of Washington state
• Crisis Connections: Call 866-427-4747
• National Crisis Line: 800-273-8255 or text the word CONNECT to 741741
• Trans Lifeline (non-report peer support for trans people, by trans people): Call 877-565-8860
• The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ Youth): 866-488-7386
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
• UW Medicine hospitals and emergency rooms

UW Counseling Center

• Phone 206-543-1240; 401 Schmitz Hall
• Hours - M, W, Th, F: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; T: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Provides short-term counseling (averaging 4-6 sessions), groups, workshops and crisis services.
• Log on to the Student Portal to make an appointment.
• If you need immediate assistance during business hours for situations related to safety, harm, death of a loved one, and extreme psychological distress, you can meet with a counselor on duty at the center.
• Group therapy and workshops are available as well. Explore the available options.

SafeCampus

• Call 206-685-7233 or email safecampus@uw.edu
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. All calls are private, and you can remain anonymous.

Livewell Center

• Advocacy and health promotion
• Services include Survivor Support & Advocacy (Confidential Advocates), Student Care, Suicide Intervention Program, Alcohol & Other Drug Consults, Peer Health Education, Peer Wellness Coaching and more.

Let’s Talk

The Let's Talk program provides easy access to informal, brief, consultation sessions with mental health professionals from the University of Washington Counseling Center, including counselors who are embedded in schools, programs, and cultural spaces across our campus. It is free and there is no paperwork to complete.  

Speaking with a therapist during Let’s Talk can help you access support, gain perspective, explore resources and options, and discuss how therapy might be helpful.   

Let’s Talk sessions could be used to:  

• learn more about mental health resources and virtual therapy services,
• talk about stress and anxiety related to academics and/or relationship concerns,
• talk about challenges related to current events
• learn about healthy ways to cope with stress and other concerns
• get emotional support and identify ways to increase social connection
• Identify a future plan of action 

*Disclaimer*

Although Let’s Talk consultations are with mental health professionals, they are not therapy sessions and do not constitute mental health treatment.  Let’s Talk meetings are not part of the student’s mental health records. Let’s Talk is not for urgent concerns. If you are in crisis or need immediate support, please call the Counseling Center at 206-543-1240 or after hours, call Husky Helpline at 206-616-7777. 

Limits to Confidentiality

When there is an immediate threat of harm to you or others, Let’s Talk counselors are required by law to report this.  When a minor, elderly person or someone otherwise incapacitated is being abused, Let’s Talk consultants are also required by law to report this.

If your Let’s Talk counselor assesses that you could benefit from a higher level of care, they will provide you with resources at the University and surrounding community.   

Urgent concerns:

• For urgent concerns between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., please call 206-543-1240 and inform the Counseling Center front desk that you have an urgent concern and would like a same-day phone consultation with a therapist.  
• For after-hours support, please contact the Husky Helpline: 206-616-7777.

Background/History of Let's Talk

The Let’s Talk program at the University of Washington is based in part on the Let’s Talk program at Cornell University. We would personally like to thank Dr. Veronica Orozco at UC Berkeley for providing materials for our program to adapt 

Learn more about Let’s Talk at UW.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will my professor or advisor find out if I talk with the counselor?

No — unless you explicitly state you want them to! The counselor offers students a safe and confidential place to talk. As a mental health practitioner, the counselor follows HIPAA’s rules of confidentiality. No one will be informed if a student utilizes services or not. Also, content of your conversations will not be shared with anyone else except in instances of physical harm to yourself or someone else. You can read the full UW Counseling Center Informed Consent Policy here.

Q: How much does it cost?

All services are free! Informal consultation sessions are free of cost as they are just consultations. If you and the counselor decide that short-term therapy is appropriate for you, the Counseling Center will bill your insurance. However, all co-pays or non-covered services are paid for by the Student Services and Activities Fee. If you don’t have insurance or prefer not to bill it, services are still covered!

Q: I want to work with a counselor who shares some of my identities; is that an option?

Yes, you can go to any counselor at the UW Counseling Center for free – read the counselor profiles and schedule online here. Or you can look for a counselor outside of the UW system. However, this will either be billed to insurance or have an out-of-pocket cost.

Q: My friend is in crisis. What should I do?

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. You can also call or text the National Suicide Hotline at 9-8-8 or the Husky Helpline at 206-616-7777. After you are safe, you can reach out to the counselor, Husky Helpline or the UW Counseling Center for support processing your experience.

Q: I already have a therapist. Can I still access the counselor for support?

It is wonderful that you already have a therapist! This should be the person that you turn to for support. However, if you are having issues with your therapeutic experience outside of the UW system, please feel free to discuss these concerns with the counselor.