Let’s Talk: Drop-In Consultation

Let's Talk is a program that provides easy access to informal consultations with counselors from North Seattle College. It is not necessary to schedule an appointment.

This service is open to all North Seattle College students. Let’s Talk is the best fit for the following people:

• Students who have never been in counseling before, are not sure if it’s right for them and wonder what it’s like to talk with a counselor.
• Students who are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a counselor.
• Students who have a specific problem and would like to talk it through with someone.
• Students who are interested in learning more about what campus resources are available to them and how to access them.

• Students with an immediate or urgent concern.
• Students who already know they want regular counseling.
• Students seeking specialized services, such as psychiatry.

Let's Talk visits are typically 20-25 minutes, and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Sometimes there is a wait, and occasionally when it’s very busy, the counselor might not have enough time to see everyone. However, there are Let’s Talk hours every Monday-Thursday during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter, so you can try another day. During your session, the counselor will listen closely to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.

Students who access counseling at NSC schedule appointments to meet with a counselor, and sometimes participate in ongoing counseling through scheduled weekly or bi-weekly appointments.

In contrast, Let's Talk is not formal counseling and is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment. Rather, it is a convenient drop-in service where students can have an informal consultation with a counselor. 

Absolutely. The Let's Talk counselor will talk through your issue with you and help you determine the best way to get help. If you feel comfortable with the counselor, you can ask to schedule a counseling appointment with them.

Although Let's Talk counselors are professionals, Let's Talk is not a substitute for psychotherapy or formal counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment. Let's Talk counselors provide informal consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it's like to speak with a counselor. Your Let's Talk counselor can help you determine whether formal would be useful for you and, if appropriate, assist you in scheduling an appointment.

To increase visibility and access to this service, our Let's Talk table is located in The Grove. Though we try to keep conversations quiet and private, we cannot guarantee privacy in this setting. For conversations that we assess to be sensitive, we will discreetly relocate with the student to a private room in the student learning center. You may also request to move to a private space. 

Regardless of the location of your consultation, there are a few exceptions to confidentiality. Counselors may need to share information in an emergency, such as when there is an immediate threat of harm to yourself or others. Let's Talk visits are informal consultations and no record of your visits will be documented in any college or health record except in these rare emergency exception situations.

We don't want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a Let's Talk counselor.