Counseling and Wellness

Welcome to the Counseling and Wellness Center at Gettysburg College. 

The Counseling and Wellness Center at Gettysburg College supports students’ emotional growth and overall well-being through a wide range of services. We empower students to develop self-awareness, build essential life skills, and access resources that help them thrive—both in college and beyond. Through accessible mental health resources, individualized support, and campus-wide outreach programs, we encourage every student to set and maintain wellness goals as part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.

Our Approach To Care

We understand that the mental health and wellness needs of our students are varied and ever-changing. As a result, we offer students a wide variety of options for support. Our services help students identify and address their individual mental health and wellness needs utilizing the most effective strategies and current practices while prioritizing personal growth and autonomy.

We Believe:

• Students desire autonomy and are capable of managing their own health and wellbeing. We use a strengths-based approach to support student agency, growth and resilience that prioritizes the least intensive but most effective strategies.
• Students benefit from utilizing the vast services and supports available across campus. Not every difficulty requires therapy or mental health treatment. We help connect students to a wide range of supports, including self-help resources, natural support systems, peer led programs, affinity groups, religious spaces, medical services, and more.
• Students should have timely access to care. It takes courage to ask for help and when a student reaches out they put their trust in us. We honor that with prompt responses and by removing barriers to services wherever possible. 
• Different individuals require different services. We individualize our support plans in response to the unique and specific needs of each individual student.
• Providing the right support depends on monitoring outcomes. We work closely with our students to monitor progress. The type and intensity of support is adjusted as needed, based on the student’s changing needs.

Services offered

Education and Outreach

• Topic specific wellness and prevention psychoeducational programs
• Trainings for student groups and college staff/faculty
• Campus-wide awareness raising campaigns
• Looking to partner with us on a program? Click here for our Program Planning Request form

Direct Student Services

Counseling and Wellness Services offers free, confidential counseling and supportive services to currently enrolled students who are studying on campus during the academic year. These services include:

• Consultation and assessment
• Short term individual and group counseling (1-10 sessions, typically)
• Drop-Ins: 30 minute, solution-focused sessions for urgent/crisis issues
• Resource referrals
• Medication management (limited to current therapy clients for one year of service)
• Support for students who want to help a friend

Peer Educators PEEPS

Peers Educating and Encouraging Peers to Succeed (PEEPS) are trained peer educators that provide support to fellow students for academic stress, adjusting to college, homesickness, relationships, time management, sleep and general wellbeing.

Resources for Helping a Friend

Resources for Parents and Families

Ready for Help?

• For a Consultation (first time) Appointment:

Students who are new to Counseling and Wellness Services may self-schedule a first time Consultation Appointment through the Medicat Patient Portal. If there are no convenient appointment times available, please call (717) 337-6960 or email counseling@gettysburg.edu to schedule your Consultation. During your Consultation Appointment, you will share your current difficulties and the outcome you seek. Together, with the clinician, you will develop a plan that will best support your needs. Current students can access their Student Medicat Patient Portal here.

• For Urgent Concerns:

For an urgent or crisis situation, students should come to the Counseling and Wellness Center Drop-In Hours: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm M-F when classes are in session. These are 30 minute solution focused sessions that may include a mental health assessment when appropriate.

Students may also call Counseling and Wellness Services at 717-337-6960 to discuss the situation before coming to the center. 

• Emergencies After Business Hours and on Weekends:

Call Campus Safety at 717-337-6911 and ask the operator to contact the Counselor On Call or
Call Wellspan Mobile Crisis at 717-851-5578 or

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

• Current students can access their Student Medicat Patient Portal here.

The Counseling and Wellness Center is committed to creating an affirming environment for all students and supporting each student’s personal, social and emotional concerns. We value each student’s unique needs based on their individual experience and background, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and religious beliefs.

Hours of Operation: