Getting Started

WINTER BREAK Monday, December 23rd to Friday, January 3rd - Virtual services only. PAWS will closed December 25th and January 1st.

If you would like to start services with PAWS, you will need to begin with a Same Day appointment. You must be registered for the current quarter to be eligible for services. 

Same Day appointments are offered on the following days:

  • Monday and Tuesday 11 am – 1:30 pm

  • Wednesday and Thursday 12 pm - 2:30 pm

To start services, please call our office on (253) 692-4522 or email uwtpaws@uw.edu between 9 am and 12 pm for a Same Day appointment. We are not scheduling these appointments in advance. We will need the following information:

  • Full name
  • Student ID number
  • Contact information – email and phone number
     

What to Expect

Same Day appointments are 30 minute sessions where you meet with a counselor and talk briefly about your concerns. Before this session, you will be required to fill in an online form, which will be emailed to you. It usually takes about 20 minutes to complete. 

During your Same Day appointment you will be scheduled with a counselor for regular sessions which typically last for 50 minutes. This maybe on a weekly or bi weekly basis depending on your counselor’s recommendations.

If you have had services with PAWS before, please contact us to schedule an appointment. You may be directed to Same Day services if it has been two quarters since you were last seen, or if your counselor is no longer with the team.

Finding a Private Space on Campus

If you need a private space to meet a PAWS provider for your Zoom session, you can also reserve a campus study space. There are some private rooms available, but all have windows. We advise that you go view the room before placing a reservation. You may also want to put a sign on the door to let others know it is occupied.

We recommend the following rooms:

MDS (MacDonald Smith) 102, 202, and 302

CP (Cherry Parks) 324 A, B, and C

Reserve Study Spaces
Your Rights, Responsibilities, and Role
  • Be an active participant. Take an active part in deciding how you want to use your time. Give feedback to your counselor and be honest with yourself and your counselor. If you do not feel a connection with the counselor you're assigned to, you may request a different counselor.
  • Keep appointments and be prompt. Your appointment time is reserved especially for you. If you find you need to cancel or change an appointment, please call AT LEAST 24 HOURS IN ADVANCE. If you find that you are going to be late to an appointment, please let PAWS know. PLEASE NOTE: While there currently is no additional fee for services, missed appointments, especially no-shows, will count toward your maximum allowable sessions. If you have 2 or more no-call/no-show appointments, your sessions may be terminated so other students can be served.
Confidentiality

Our staff has been trained with the latest HIPAA and FERPA guidelines. Communication with your counselor will be kept in confidence and will not, except under the circumstances explained below, be shared with anyone outside of Psychological & Wellness Services, unless you give written authorization. PAWS records are not part of your academic record, and no one on or off campus has access to Psychological & Wellness records except under extremely rare conditions which are included in the Exceptions to Confidentiality mandated or permitted by law, below.

Exceptions to Confidentiality:
  • If there is a risk of imminent danger to yourself or another person.
  • If there is reason to suspect that a minor or an elderly person is in danger of being abused or neglected we are legally required to report this to the Department of Social Services.
  • If a court of law or federal security entity orders the release of certain information about a client we are legally required to comply with this order.
  • Professional standards recommend confidential consultation within the agency to ensure quality care.
  • If you file a lawsuit or other legal action against UW Tacoma or its employees, agents or officers contesting your services at PAWS, information contained in your records could be released to UW Tacoma's attorneys if relevant to your lawsuit.