Wellness Center
Sushma Kher - LCSW
Director
The mission of the Harold Washington College Wellness Center is to provide mental health and psycho-social support services to students, faculty, and staff to further the individual’s and community’s holistic well-being and academic success.
If you are a currently enrolled student interested in learning more about Wellness Center services or would like to schedule an appointment to speak with a Wellness Center counselor, please email us at hwc-wellnesscenter@ccc.edu or call our office at 312-553-6072
Hours and Appointments
The Wellness Center Hours of Operation are:
- In Person:
- Monday 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Tuesday 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
- Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Virtually:
- Monday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Tuesday 1:m.00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
If you are a current Wellness Center client and have a scheduled appointment, please go to The Wellness Center at HWC’s Zoom Room at the time of your appointment or scan the QR code below.
Services
Get support at the Wellness Center with the robust services we offer!
Counseling
Current and enrolled students are eligible to receive FREE and confidential individual counseling (for up to 8 sessions during the academic year, and 5 during the summer term.) The Wellness Center offers a safe place to talk about what’s on your mind and to get support with an array of problems including but not limited to stress, anxiety, depression, time management, trauma and more.
Support groups
Support groups are ways for students to seek therapeutic support in a group modality which may include up to 8 other students. Similar to individual counseling, support groups are also both confidential and free. Our groups are offered on different topics relevant to college students such as stress and time management, balancing multiple roles, social anxiety, relationships, identity and more.
Psychological Testing
The Wellness Center offers psychological testing to assess for cognitive, intellectual and psychological functioning. Psychological Testing at the Wellness Center can also support students in identifying learning disabilities to aid in receiving academic accommodations at the college. Testing required pre-screening through the Wellness Center and ACCESS Center.
Case Management
The Wellness Center provides a variety of services, but we recognize can’t do everything. To bridge the gap of areas we are unable to support in our Wellness Center, our case management services helps students discover and navigate mental health services and other resources across campus and in their community at low-or-no cost. As an extension to case management, many students are unaware that they qualify for various public assistance programs such as SNAP, subsidized health insurance, Medicaid, and emergency housing. The Wellness Center can help students learn more about community resources as well as and how to apply for public assistance programs through collaborating with our community partners Near North Health and Greater Chicago Food Depository for bi-weekly enrollment events at the Wellness Center.
Fall 2025 SNAP/Link Enrollment Dates
- Thursday, August 28, 2025- 10a-3p (in-person)
- Thursday, September 11, 2025- 10a-3p (in-person)
- Thursday, September 25, 2025- 10a-3p (in-person)
- Thursday, October 9, 2025- 10a-3p ( in-person)
- Thursday, October 23, 2025- 10a-3p (virtual and in-person)
- Thursday, November 6, 2025-10a-3p (virtual and in-person)
- Thursday, November 20, 2025- 10a-3p (virtual and in-person)
- Thursday, December 4, 2025- 10a-3pm (virtual and in-person)
*Spots for SNAP/Link enrollment specialist from the Greater Chicago Food Depository are offered on a first come, first serve basis.
Fall 2025 Medical Benefits Enrollment Dates
Virtual Medical Benefit Enrollment Dates: (Please join the Wellness Zoom via the QR above)
- Thursday, September 4, 2025- 10a-1pm
- Thursday, October 2, 2025 10a-1pm
- Thursday, November 6, 2025 10a-1pm
- Thursday, December 4, 2025 10a-1pm
In-Person Medical Benefit Enrollment Dates: (Please visit the Wellness Center in Room 1041)
- Monday, August 25, 2025- 10a-1pm
- Monday, September 22, 2025- 10a-1pm
- Monday, October 27, 2025 10a-1pm
- Monday, November 24, 2025 10a-1pm
*Spots for Medical Benefits enrollment specialist from the Greater Chicago Food Depository are offered on a first come, first serve basis.
What to Expect and Policies:
What to expect from the Harold Washington College Wellness Center:
- To be greeted and served by Wellness Center staff in an eager and professional manner.
- Unless there is a crisis or report of harm to self of others is present the Wellness Center will typically offer next-day appointment as opposed to same-day appointments.
- The Wellness Center offers comprehensive mental health services however, we do not offer physical/medical health support. The Wellness Center does not provide:
- Immunizations/shots
- STI/STD testing
- Pregnancy Testing
- Administer medications
- The Wellness Center does offer:
- Condoms
- Minimal basic hygiene items (contingent of availability)
- Feminine hygiene items
- Band-aids/First-aid kit supplies (contingent on availability)
What to expect from counseling services:
- Short-term, counseling intended to provide mental health and psycho-social support
- To work with a Clinical Counselor to achieve short-term treatment goals through a menu of services, such as: one-on-one individual therapy/counseling, case management, support in accessing resources and community linkage
- In the Wellness Center’s short-term therapy approach, students are allowed up to 8 sessions (or 5 in the summer). After you have exhausted, 8 sessions, you may be connected to community resources should you have ongoing, longer-term needs
- Clients are required to meet with their clinical counselor at least twice each month, although the typical service delivery occurs weekly
Additionally, Harold Washington College Wellness Center has changed some of our policies. Here are our updated 2025-2026 policies:
- Clients must attend sessions weekly or at minimum twice each month (for up to 8 sessions)
- Clients should cancel their appointments at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled time unless cancellation is an emergency. If you do not cancel 24 hours prior, this cancellation would be counted as a ‘no call no show’ and will count toward your 8 session allowance.
- Notify counselor via email or phone call if you will be more than 10 minutes late. After 15 minutes, session is marked cancelled due to ‘no call no show’ and will count toward your 8 session allowance.
- Two consecutive ‘no call no show’ appointments will result in termination from services.
- No contact with client after 14 days (2 missed sessions) will result in termination from services.
- Should the client unenroll in classes at CCC, they must inform their counselor. Non-enrollment will result in discharge.
- Planned discharge will occur after the allotted 8 sessions.
Resources
Mental Health and Crisis Support
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry Hotline (24/7): 312-926-8100
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline (24/7): Call or Text 988
- UIC In-Touch Hotline (Su-F 6-10:30 PM): 312-996-5535
- NAMI Crisis Hotline: 217-525-1064 (M-F 8:30 AM–5 PM), 1-800-248-7475 (After hours)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233, Chat at thehotline.org
- TRIOLOGY First Response Alternative Crisis Team (FACT) (24/7): 1-800-FACT-400
- Trans Lifeline (24/7) 877-565-8860
Additional Key Resources
Medicaid Health Insurance Enrollment
Get Covered IL Health Insurance Enrollment
Mujeres Latinas en Acción Domestic Violence Services
Resilience (formerly Rape Victim Advocates)
Chicago Homeless Youth Resources Guide
Please visit The CCC Wellness Center for resources and additional information or contact our office for assistance with any of these or for additional resources.
Faculty and Staff
- Sushma Kher, LCSW – Wellness Center Clinical Director
- Janea Vinson, LMFT - Assistant Clinical Director
- Mackenzie Vigliotti, LCSW – Clinical Counselor
- Hannah Chojnacki, LCPC- Clinical Counselor
- April Wilburne, LCPC- TRIO-SSS Clinical Counselor
- Devyn Longstreet,LCPC- Clinical Case Manager
- Nazek Sankari, LSW, CADC- Clinical Case Manager
- Dolores Contreras, Coordinator
