SVI Counseling Services
 Welcome to Seattle Vocational Institute's Counseling Services center. Students currently enrolled in classes get free short-term personal and educational counseling. The staff and service providers are strongly committed to affirming diversity in a broad sense, to treating all with dignity and respect, and to opposing discrimination, prejudice and oppression.
What is Personal Counseling?
Personal Counseling helps with problems in living through an interaction with a trained professional. Counseling is a process that allows you to express your feelings and identify patterns of thinking. It can alleviate anxiety, depression and anger. It can help develop communication skills for dealing with conflict and frustration. It can help you address pain from loss of a love one.
You can get counseling if you are struggling with issues including family conflict, divorce, substance abuse, depression, grief and loss, and anxiety about academic achievement. Counseling is confidential, professional and free.
What is Educational Counseling?
SVI Educational Advisors assist students with educational and occupational information and opportunities. Advisors are also available to guide students in selecting and planning effective programs of study through individual consultation and group course planning sessions.
To be eligible for counseling or educational advising services, you must be a current SVI student or staff member. The Center offers appointments with a professional counselor for free. Counseling will be short-term personal counseling (usually 3-5 sessions). Our on-site counselor has a Master Degree in Social Work (with emphasis in children, youth and families). Services include individual and group counseling, crisis intervention and community referral to other agencies to help students with mental health issues and in obtaining housing, health care, financial aid and legal advice. The Counselor also maintains contact with faculty concerning student issues and concerns.
Students also receive valuable assistance in areas such as improving study habits, stress management, time management and communication issues with faculty, staff and other students.
Counseling Newsletter
Seattle Vocational Institute's Counseling Services Center is extending our services by providing you with a newsletter in which you will find statistics, information and words of encouragement to help you succeed at SVI. You may download or read the latest newsletter here.
Your Privacy and Confidential Rights Policy
All information shared with a counselor is held in the strictest confidence unless:
- You contemplate injuring yourself or other people
- You committed or intend to commit a crime or harmful act
- You are thought to be involved in abuse of a dependent adult or child
- You find it necessary to file suit against a counselor
Location
The Counseling and Education Advising Center is located in Room 106 on the first floor of SVI.
Hours
The Counseling and Education Advising Center hours are:
Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Cosmetology students may be seen by appointment.
Making an Appointment
By phone
Appointments for students, staff or faculty can be made by calling the Center office at 206-934-3190. Please remember that we may be in session or otherwise unavailable. If there is an emergency that you would like to discuss, please contact Jean Carver at 206-934-4937 to schedule an appointment.
By email
You may also request an appointment by sending an email to: Vincent.Hayes@SeattleColleges.edu. If possible, please leave a short description of your concerns.
Student and Faculty Services
Crisis Counseling
Crisis Counseling is not long-term and is usually no more than 1 to 3 months. The focus is on single or recurrent problems that are overwhelming or traumatic.
Consultation
Meeting with faculty and administration regarding student conduct and inappropriate behavior in the classroom and at school.
Academic Issues and Career Counseling
Our academic advisors will meet with students to help them succeed in the classroom.
Disability Access Information
Seattle Vocational Institute is committed to the full access and inclusion of all qualified students in its programs. Our school facilitates reasonable accommodations for students with a qualifying disability or temporary medical condition while maintaining institutional standards.
Our office will:
- Assist students in obtaining appropriate documentation of a disability
- Develop an accommodation plan for students to ensure necessary and appropriate classroom accommodations
- Facilitate non-classroom accommodations
- Assist with problem-solving and facilitating connections with appropriate resources
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens at the first appointment?
SVI registered students are eligible for an initial consultation appointment. The consultation will generally be a screening process where the student will have about a 15-20 minute face-to-face with a counselor. During this interview the counselor will determine if the services requested are available through the Center or an outside community resource.
- What kinds of counseling do you do?
Psychological counseling. We see students for personal concerns such as stress, depression, or relationship issues.
- How many sessions do I get?
You and your counselor will discuss the duration of your counseling. There are many considerations affecting the duration of counseling, including the nature of your concern and the form of support that would be most useful for you.
- Do you do couple counseling?
Yes. At least one member of the couple must be a registered student.
- I got a Minor in Possession (Alcohol or Drugs). Can you help me with that?
We do not have the resources to see students for counseling who have received a DUI. Please call our office and we will give you some community resources for you to track.
- What can I expect when I come to your Center and meet with a counselor?
When you arrive, you may be asked to fill out a few confidential forms that request personal information, demographic information and a checklist of what you feel your concerns are.
- Who are the counselors? Are they students?
Our Director of Counseling has earned a Master Degree in Social Work with an emphasis on children, youth and families. The Counseling Director is an adjunct Practicum Instructor with the University of Washington School of Social Work. Students working towards their Master Degree or Bachelor's degree in Social Work can do their Practicum work under the direction of our Director.
- Do you prescribe medication?
No. The counseling center does not prescribe medication.
- How do I get help for a learning disability and/or ADHD?
If you have been diagnosed with a learning disability and/or ADHD, you may register at the Counseling Center to make an appointment
Community Resources for Students to Access
King County 24 hour Crisis Clinic, 206-461-3222
King County Sexual Assault Line, 888-99-VOICE (888-998-6423)
24 Hour Alcohol/Drug Helpline, 206-722-3700
Healthy Places - the largest consumer mental health site on the net.
www.healthyplace.com
Washington State 211 Information - www.resourcehouse.com/WIN211
Staff
 Counseling Center Director Vincent (Vince) Hayes, MSW
Vince has a B.A. in Sociology from Pacific University (Forest Grove, OR), and a Master Degree in Social Work from the University of Washington. His emphasis in graduate school was with children, youth and families. He also completed two years of Law School at the University of Washington. He has four years of experience in Career Planning and Student Placement in the Community College system, eight years working with "at-risk" students and their families, and over 22+ years of leadership and management experience with the federal government.
Most recently Vince taught "Behavioral Psychology" in the Allied Health Services area, and the Medical Assistant program at Seattle Vocational Institute. This recent teaching experience gives Mr. Hayes a unique and valuable insight into the lives and needs of students at SVI.
Vince's approach to counseling is primarily Cognitive-Behavioral in theory, which means that he believes the way we think affects the way we feel and behave. He is directive, solution-focused and emphasizes self-responsibility.
Further Information
Please call the Counseling Center at 206-934-3190 to make an appointment or for further information. Or send an email to: Vincent.Hayes@SeattleColleges.edu. |
