Counseling Services
There are times when the stresses of personal, family, or social situations may impact your ability to function academically and/or personally. Counseling Services encourages students to feel empowered and comfortable in reaching out for help. As a team of qualified mental health professionals, Counseling Services staff incorporate a philosophy of wellness in which each person becomes more aware of who they are and makes choices toward positive change. No problem is too big or too small to reach out for help! Any Woodbury student is eligible for free counseling services. Confidentiality is strictly honored.
Description of Services
- Individual counseling sessions, including intake, assessment, treatment planning, case management and solution-focused, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
- Workshops and presentations on a variety of topics emphasizing health and wellness
- Support groups (organized around student interests/needs)
- Consultation with Woodbury faculty, staff, students, and parents concerned about the emotional or mental health of a specific student
- Referrals to psychiatric and specialized mental health, substance dependence, or other community services
Reasons* Students Seek Counseling:
- Time management
- Relationship help
- Family concerns
- Depression/anxiety
- Personal Identity
- Body image concerns
- Sexuality
- Sexual orientation
- Self-esteem issues
- Test anxiety
- Concerns about mental health of friends/family
- Drugs and/or alcohol
- Communication-related concerns
- COVID-19 related concerns
- Coping during the quarantine
- ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences)/trauma
- PTSD
- Self-harm, self-injurious behavior
- Suicide prevention
*This is not an exhaustive list!
When and How to Make a Counseling Referral
- You perceive that a student’s needs go beyond your help and expertise. You may begin to feel pressure, burden, and/or helplessness.
- Making a referral can be very challenging. You’ll learn quickly if a student is open or resistant.
- Educate about counseling as a personal-growth process (i.e., anyone at some point could use some extra support). Clarify that it is in addition to, not instead of, the relationship they have formed with you (they may feel that you don’t care and are trying to pass them on to someone else).
- A basis for trust often needs to be established before you can make a referral, and that may take a while.
- You may need to take an active role in arranging the referral (potentially including making the first contact with the Counseling Center or possibly accompanying the student to a first session).
- If the matter is serious, there may be times when you have to break a person’s confidence about their disclosure to you (i.e., if they are suicidal). You can talk to them about this or seek consultation on how to handle it.
- If you need support and would like to talk through a situation with one of our counselors, feel free to call the Counseling Center at 818.252.5237.
- Be aware of your limitations. If the situation is escalating and immediate help is needed, call/page Woodbury University professional staff at 818.252.5208, or 911 in a true emergency.
Contact Us
Location: Whitten Student Center- In Person and Virtual Appointments via RingCentral
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m.
Ruth Burgher-Gibore, MA, LMFT
Director, Counseling Services
Phone: 818.252.5237
Email: Ruth.Burgher-Gibore@woodbury.edu
Rhex Bartolome, MA, LMFT
Counselor, Counseling Services
Phone: 818.394.3356
Email: Rhex.Bartolome@woodbury.edu
Ryan Burtanog, MA, AMFT
Counseling Intern (San Diego Campus)
Phone: 619.235.2900 x424
Email: Ryan.Burtanog@woodbury.edu