Students frequenting the Counseling Center had reason to celebrate when the $30 counseling fee was waived for next year, but the victory soured when Gov. Chris Gregoire, in an attempt to trim the budget, vetoed a portion of UW’s budget plan that would have added additional Ph.D. counselors to the center.

While the money barrier for students needing counseling is no longer a concern, the Counseling Center worries that a great increase in students demanding service will put a strain on the center’s staff.

“We do expect an increase in the demand for services,” said Ellen Taylor, the director of the Counseling Center.

Students such as freshman Sue Chang were surprised to hear that there was even a fee for counseling.

“I didn’t know there was fee,” she said. “I think it’s a good idea that the fee is waived. Personally, I wouldn’t go to get counseling if I had to pay $30.”

But now that the fee has been eliminated, it is difficult for both Taylor and Eric Godfrey, the UW’s vice provost for student life, to determine what the effects of the waiver will entail next year.

“There’s no way of knowing how much of an increase there will be,” Godfrey said. “But we’re prepared to deal with it.”

Jonathan Evans, the Student Activities Fee (SAF) chair, also felt optimistic about the Counseling Center’s ability to help students.

“I have a lot of faith in Ellen’s team,” he said. “It’s a good step in the right direction.”

Taylor was also confident in her staff and is not “losing any sleep” over the matter, she said. Though the Counseling Center is free, she wanted to remind students that it is to be used for short-term help.

“This [fee elimination] doesn’t mean students are entitled to counseling whenever they want,” she said. “We just don’t have the resources for that.”

This year, intake sessions and the first five counseling sessions are free, but students are charged $30 for additional sessions. The free sessions have been funded by the SAF committee for the past few years, but the $30 waiver for next year will now be funded via Student Life.

“We were able to reallocate sources in Student Life to eliminate this barrier,” Godfrey said.

In the event that students do keep returning for counseling, the Counseling Center will assist students in seeking help from outside resources.

“One of the nice things about living in Seattle is that there are so many resources,” she said. “And we’ll help students so that they’re not just taking a stab in the dark when looking for counselors.”

With the expected increase for demand, Godfrey and Evans also hoped for even greater collaboration between Hall Health and the Counseling Center. Evans believes there should be a mental health system that would “correlate Hall Health with the Counseling Center in the same location in closer proximity.”

“We want one portal to the service and deeper collaboration,” Godfrey said.

While the future of the Counseling Center and mental health on campus remains unclear, Godfrey stressed the significance of mental health care.

“Year after year, student care and campus safety will continue to be initiatives,” he said. “We want to ensure that students get help.”