What is Behavioral Health Counseling? | Hawaii Pacific University

Counseling and Behavioral Health

The Counseling and Behavioral Health Services (CBHS) department provides FREE and CONFIDENTIAL counseling services to current registered HPU students.

The CBHS staff provides the following counseling services

  • Individual
  • Couples
  • Group
  • Grief & Loss
  • Crisis Intervention
  • Consultation Services for students, parents, faculty & staff
  • Referral Services
  • Outreach Services

To schedule an appointment or for more information, please contact the Behavioral Health office at the following:

Main Contact Number: (808) 687-7076

Email Address: counseling@hpu.edu

Office Location: Waterfront Plaza, Building 6, Room 402

*We are unable to take appointments online or through email.  All appointments must be scheduled by calling the number listed above or in person at the Waterfront Plaza (Building 6, Room 402).

If you're experiencing an emergency or crisis and we are unavailable during business hours, or if it is after business hours or the weekend, please call the Mobile Crisis Hotline at (808) 832-3100, or call 911, or go to the nearest Hospital Emergency Room for assistance.

Universities have seen an increase in mental health issues associated with COVID-19:

  • This is because we tend to fear the unknown.
  • People with preexisting anxiety may worry excessively about the virus.
  • Some may be isolated from family and their home for an extended period of time, creating despair.
  • Travels plans and trips to go home are postponed/canceled, resulting in sadness and disappointment.
  • Family and friends may not be able to travel to attend commencement, and other celebratory events, leading to frustration and letdown.
  • Some may become sad, depressed, stressed, overwhelmed, isolated, miss classes, grades suffer and decline as a result of ongoing information regarding COVID-19.
  • Excessive worry about self, exposure to illness, and family and friends back home.
  • Racial targeting and harassment of others, including international students, resulting in increased tension and anxiety on campus.

Some mental health recommendations:

  • To cope, stay informed. However, limit media exposure by sticking to one or two trusted sources of information vs. spending entire day and night reading about the virus.
  • Stay away from alarmist materials.
  • Reduce time on social media.
  • Socialize with friends.
  • Don’t isolate
  • Stay in your normal routine (as permitted by updates).
  • Be respectful of others; in some situations, personal or public reactions have been sensationalized and some have felt discriminated and/or harassed due to race, ethnicity, and/or country of origin. Exercising HPU’s tenets of Aloha, Pono, and Kuleana will go far and be a source of support for our campus community during this difficult time.

Stay healthy with simple steps and habits:  

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, if soap and water are not readily available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or elbow; throw tissues in trash.
  • Maintain a distance and avoid contact with people who are coughing, sneezing, and/or are sick.
  • When you are sick, stay home and seek medical attention if symptoms persist.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces on a regular basis.

Website links to credible news sources regarding COVID-19:

Help is Available--HPU Counseling and Behavioral Health Services:

  • In addition to concerns for our physical wellbeing, COVID-19 has also created psychological and emotional distress in all of us, e.g., for ourselves, loved ones, friends, and those who are close to us. The HPU Counseling and Behavioral Health Center has trained and licensed psychologists and therapists available to help and support you. Please call 808-687-7076 for an appointment.

HPU Counseling & Behavioral Health Services has a number of mental health referral resources in the community including:

  • Psychologists
  • Psychiatrists
  • Therapists
  • Community Mental Health Centers
  • Pastoral Counseling Services

Other Support Services

  • Pastoral Counseling Services are offered by HPU by contacting Pastor Kawika Haglund. For an appointment, please call  808-687-7031.