Eagle Care Counseling

Who is eligible for counseling?

Counseling Services are available for Traditional Undergraduates students.

Services are not available to faculty and staff, but we can provide off-campus referrals.

Is counseling confidential?

Students who come to see one of the counselors are assured of the strictest standards of confidentiality in accordance with the ethical standards of the counseling profession. In particular, everything discussed with your counselor remains confidential and is not shared with other University of Northwestern personnel or family members without expressed written permission by the counselee.

There are some limits to the confidentiality stated above, (e.g. any intent to injure oneself, or another person, or a relatively current situation of child abuse).

Is counseling free?

Our services are partially funded through the student health fee. As such, individual counseling is free for students who qualify for counseling services (see “Who is eligible for counseling?”). There is a modest fee for certain assessments, should they be employed due clinical necessity. There is a nominal fee for the pre-marital Prepare Enrich seminar.

Are the counselors Christians?

Yes. As professionally trained Christian mental health professionals, we are committed to providing the highest quality care through professional licensure in our respective disciplines (or active pursuit thereof) while remaining grounded in a biblical worldview. Students who pursue counseling at Northwestern can be confident that their faith, values, and spiritual beliefs will be understood, respected, and supported throughout the counseling process. Our goal is to integrate clinical excellence with Christian principles in a manner that promotes healing, growth, and holistic well-being.

Are you open during the summer?

We follow the day school calendar, so are closed during the summer months and during all the academic breaks, i.e. Christmas, Spring Break, Easter, and Quad Breaks.

What types of issues are talked about counseling?

A variety of issues may bring an individual to counseling; personal growth, low self-esteem, trying to figure out who they are, depressive symptoms, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, anxiety, excessive worrying, grief regarding a loss, relationship issues or conflicts with family or friends, eating disordered thoughts or behaviors, past abuse (physical, emotional, sexual), addictive behaviors, sexuality issues/concerns, anger management, and spiritual questions/concerns.

Guiding principles

1. Grounded in a faith-integrated approach, we seek to create confidential and safe relationships, whereby students:
   • feel seen and heard
   • increase their self-awareness to facilitate growth & healing
   • develop life skills that increase personal and interpersonal strengths
2. Guided by the Holy Spirit, we integrate the best of psychological theory and theological orthodoxy while engaging evidence-based practices.
3. Using sound clinical judgment and professional expertise, we partner with students to navigate their unique needs, values, and preferences. Through a collaborative process of discernment (assessment), goal setting, and decision-making, we foster mental well-being, personal growth, and resilience for lifelong success
4. Faith integration begins with recognizing that God is God and human beings are created in His image.
   • The formation of the practitioner into Christian maturity refers to their personal integration, or embodiment of spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing
   • This value helps guide clients through their experiences and wounding

Our process, therefore, is very much in keeping with God’s calling for us as members of His body:  to help fellow believers become mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Another way of saying this is that Eagle Care Counseling has the same ultimate goal as the university, namely, “ . . . to provide Christ-centered (counseling) equipping students to grow intellectually, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually, to serve effectively in their professions, and to give God-honoring leadership in the home, church, community, and world.”