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Wellness

The GW Law Dean of Students Office works with students to cultivate a habit of maintaining wellness not only during law school, but as a life-long skill. Wellness is an ongoing, active process of promoting growth across several dimensions, including emotional, safety/physical, social, financial, spiritual, occupational, and intellectual well-being. Below you will find a list of resources and services available to law students across these areas. Semester-based CAPS workshops can be found on the CAPS website.

GW Law's Safety, Security, and Well-Being Toolkit, not only pulls together familiar resources, but adds some new services the law school has contracted to provide support to students and staff.  

Mental and Emotional Wellness

GW Resources

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at GW (202.994.5300) - Free for students
  • CAPS counselors provide a safe, non-judgmental and confidential environment for students to discuss concerns.
  • CAPS brief, individualized, stepped care model of counseling, strives to provide students with ample opportunities to:
    • develop greater insight and self-understanding
    • identify and solve problems
    • reduce emotional distress
    • improve cognitive, emotional, academic, and social functioning
    • explore and understand cultural and other identities
    • Provision of information, trainings, and tools to help students, staff, faculty, and family members. 
  • No appointments are needed!
  • To get connected with a CAPS clinician please call 202.994.5300 during our daily noon - 4 pm virtual walk-in hours
  • Counseling support is also available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling 202.994.5300

SilverCloud (Self Guided Mental Health)

  • SilverCloud is the leading virtual care platform for mental health, giving colleges & universities an efficient way to offer their students timely, on-demand, and clinically appropriate care.

Self Help Library Colonial Health Center

  • The Colonial Health Center's Self Help Library can provide students with information and education that can help resolve personal difficulties to acquire the skills, attitudes, and knowledge that will enable them to take full advantage of their experiences at GW.
GW Art Therapy Clinic
  • The GW Art Therapy Clinic is a training facility partnered with the GW Graduate Art Therapy Program providing confidential, quality art therapy services to children, teens and adults from the community. Our clinicians are students in their second and third year of the master’s program and are supervised by licensed, professional art therapists and mental health counselors.
Community Counseling Services Center (CCSC) 202.994.8645
  • The Graduate School of Education and Human Development maintains two centers providing Community Counseling Services that offer confidential, low-cost services to community members and students in the greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area. The centers are clinical training facilities for graduate-level students, working under faculty supervision. Both the Foggy Bottom and Alexandria centers offer confidential, low-cost services to community members and students in the greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area, including:
    • Individual counseling
    • Family and couples counseling
    • Child and adolescent counseling
    • Career assessment services
    • Consultation and referrals
  • The CCSC in Foggy Bottom is staffed by students working toward master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical mental health and master’s degrees in rehabilitation counseling, offering counseling sessions Monday through Thursday.
Meltzer Center 202.994.9072 (Fees are sliding scale, based on client’s ability to pay)
  • Located in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences building on GW’s Foggy Bottom Campus, the Meltzer Center: Psychological and Community-Based Services provides a wide variety of low-cost mental health services to adults, children, families and couples in the Washington, DC, area.
  • The Meltzer Center is a training clinic for students in the Clinical Psychology PhD program. Doctoral student clinicians are supervised by adjunct and full-time members of the clinical psychology faculty, all of whom are licensed clinical psychologists. The center’s therapists and supervisors represent a range of skills and interests, and whenever possible will be matched to meet a client’s needs.
The Center Clinic 202.994.4937 (Reduced fee on a sliding scale basis)
  • The Center Clinic is a community mental health center housed within the George Washington University’s Professional Psychology Program. The nonprofit clinic is staffed by clinical externs who are advanced doctoral students in the Professional Psychology Program. Externs are supervised by licensed, highly experienced professionals.
  • They provide short-term and long-term mental health services to patients in the Washington, DC, area who may not otherwise have access to needed care. They offer a variety of treatment options, with specialties in psychotherapy and comprehensive psychological evaluations.

Off-Campus Resources

  • DC Lawyers Assistance Program (DCLAP)
    • A free, confidential program for DC Bar members, judges, and District law students who are experiencing problems, such as addiction, mental health symptoms, or stress, which interfere with their personal or professional lives.
    • The LAP offers free and confidential clinical services on any issues that cause distress to DC Bar members, judges, and current DC law students. The problems may be related to work–life balance, career stress, relationships, grief/loss, depression, anxiety, substance use or more.
    • The services include:
      • Face-to-face clinical assessment, short-term counseling, and referral resources
      • Consultation with concerned others, such as employers, colleagues, or family members
      • Volunteer/peer mentor connection
      • Monitoring
    • To speak with a LAP counselor or schedule an intake appointment call 202.347.3131 or email [email protected].
  • ABA Law Student Mental Health Resources
  • DCLAP Substance Abuse Support
    • The Students in Recovery listserv, developed by the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs (CoLAP), provides a confidential e-mail vehicle for law students who want to get, or stay, clean and sober while in law school. This is a chance for students to connect with and ask questions of their law student peers throughout the US and share their experience, strength and hope. If you wish to be added to the listserv, interested law students should contact the D.C. Bar LAP, directly at [email protected]. (This service is confidential.)
  • Washington Area Intergroup Association of Alcoholics Anonymous
    • The online resource for Alcoholic's Anonymous in the nation's capital

Helpful Apps, Podcasts, and Websites

Resources for Grief and Trauma

The GW Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides confidential counseling to students related to a variety of issues. Students can read more about group grief sessions here. Below are other helpful resources for those dealing with grief:

  • American Foundation for Suicide Loss Prevention (AFSP) – provides resources to suicide loss survivors. 
  • DC Bar Lawyer’s Assistance Program – offers free and confidential assistance related to mental health to students currently enrolled at the six law schools in DC.
  • Hope for Grieving Families – has a great professional resources page related to resources for those dealing with grief.
  • Modern Loss – describes itself “a place to share the unspeakably taboo, unbelievably hilarious, and unexpectedly beautiful terrain of navigating your life after a death. Beginners welcome.”
  • Option B - an organization dedicated to helping people build resilience in the face of adversity—and giving them the tools to help their family, friends, and community build resilience too. Here, you can read and share personal stories, join groups for solidarity and support, and find information from experts.
  • Refuge In Grief – resources on how to manage grief or support a grieving friend. 
  • Wendt Center for Loss & Healing – based in Washington, DC, the Center provides online resources as well as counseling resources for those dealing with grief and trauma.

Articles

Helping a Friend

What to Look For

  • Confused thinking
  • Abuse of alcohol or drugs
  • Missing assignments
  • Increasing irritability
  • Dramatic changes to appearance, e.g., disheveled, significant weight loss or gain, poor hygiene
  • Short temper or frequently agitated
  • Excessive self-criticism
  • Suicidal thoughts or references to self-harm
  • Increased isolation

What You Can Do

  • Reach out and offer to talk or spend time together
  • Listen and be supportive
  • Offer to accompany your friend to Counseling and Psychological Services or call their 24/7 phone line: 202.994.5300
  • Access the CARE Network: a cross-departmental support system which recognizes that student concerns are often multi-faceted. Students are connected to resources through inter-departmental collaboration to provide them with appropriate and personalized outreach. Reports can be made anonymously.
Safety and Physical Wellness

Safety

Title IX Office 

  • The George Washington University is committed to maintaining a positive climate for study and work, in which individuals are judged solely on relevant factors, such as skill and performance, and can pursue their activities in an atmosphere that is free from discrimination, harassment, and violence. The Title IX Office supports the university’s commitment by fairly and equitably responding to reports of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. The Title IX Office also provides prevention and response educational programming for the GW community aiming to educate the community on how to create safe, respectful, and inclusive education and workplace environments.
Division of Safety and Security  
  • The mission of the Division of Safety and Security is to provide a safe and secure campus environment for all members of the university community. This mission is achieved through active participation of all university members and partnerships with local law enforcement and community partners. Sexual Assault & Intimate Violence (SAIV) Helpline 202.994.7222 
    • The SAIV Helpline is a confidential crisis helpline for GW students impacted by sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking.
Office of Advocacy and Support 
  • The Office of Advocacy & Support (OAS) is committed to building a culture of care that empathetically supports, empowers, and respects the autonomy of GW community members. OAS will be a leader in fostering a community that values and promotes healthy relationships through confidential support and prevention programming. OAS will be a resource for GW community members experiencing trauma or any other form of violence. Our team will partner with our community to cultivate a safer, healthier, and more informed campus and society.
  • We have recently relocated to 520 22nd St NW Washington DC 20052.

Physical Health

Colonial Health Center 202.994.5300 

  • The Colonial Health Center is open and operating to assist students who are seeking medical, psychiatric, counseling, and psychological services. Doctors and counselors are providing in-person treatment in the office Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm (ET) by pre-scheduled appointment only. Telehealth appointments are also being offered during regular business hours.

Fitness

Campus Recreation 202.994.1626  

  • Campus Recreation will provide sound programming for the university's diverse community in the areas of intramural and sport clubs, fitness and wellness instruction and informal recreational opportunities.

Law School Student Organizations 

Community and Social Wellness

Office of Military and Veteran Student Services or 202.994.9570 

  • The George Washington University's Military and Veteran Services is committed to providing our student veterans, dependents, and military personnel with excellence in service through timely and accurate benefit processing, high-quality customer service, and supportive community-building activities.
GW Law Diversity & Inclusion  
  • GW Law is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion among all students, faculty, and staff. We are proud of the diverse perspectives brought to the community by individuals from around the country and the world. We strive to be a community that acknowledges and celebrates our differences, welcomes challenging dialogues, and provides a space where unique individual and group values are shared and honored. Through our many student groups and committees, GW Law works together to create an atmosphere that accepts all perspectives and champions for increased knowledge and care for one another.

 

GW Law Affinity Groups

  • Asian/Pacific American Law Student Association (APALSA): national organization for Asian/Pacific American and other interested law students ([email protected]).
  • Atypical Student Society: ATYPS aims to provide a supportive community for atypical and neurodivergent students, and their neurotypical allies ([email protected]).
  • Black Law Student Association (BLSA): is a service organization aimed at promoting academic excellence, professional development, community service, and social unity among our members. GW BLSA is an official chapter of the National Black Law Students Association ([email protected]).
  • Christian Legal Society: The GW chapter of the Christian Legal Society (CLS) is an organization dedicated to fostering Christian fellowship for students at GW Law and demonstrating Christian values to the student body at large ([email protected]).
  • J. Reuben Clark Law Society is an international law society composed of LDS attorneys, law students, and others who seek to affirm the strength brought to law by a lawyer's personal religious convictions ( [email protected]).
  • Jewish Law Student Association (JLSA):  JLSA is a member of the National Law Students Network, which links Jewish law students throughout the nation and promotes Jewish awareness and education ([email protected]).
  • Lambda Law is an organization of students interested in gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) legal issues, employment concerns, and the fostering of tolerance and awareness on campus ([email protected]).
  • Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA): The Latin American Law Student Association (LALSA) provides support and educational services to Hispanic and other students at the law school, while fostering an appreciation for Hispanic language and culture ([email protected]).
  • Law Association for Women (LAW): Their mission is to promote greater awareness of gender inequities and other issues affecting women and femme-aligned individuals; to provide an accessible and empowering space for women, including but not limited to transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals who may identify with women’s experiences; and to help those students achieve their legal aspirations by creating opportunities for professional development and community ([email protected]).
  • Middle Eastern and North African Law Society (MENA): Middle Eastern and North African Law Society (MENA) is a student-led organization that aims to promote inclusivity, celebrate diversity, and create a supportive peer and alumni network for Middle Eastern and North African students and alumni ([email protected]).
  • Muslim Law Students Association (MLSA): The Muslim Law Students Association provides a religious, social, and career network for Muslim law students both within the Law School and in the larger Muslim legal community ([email protected]).
  • South Asian Law Student Association (SALSA):  The South Asian Law Students Association (SALSA) provides a social, academic, and career network for law students of South Asian heritage and encourages members to develop an understanding of how the law can be used as a vehicle for social transformation ([email protected]).
  • Veteran Law Student Association (VLSA): The George Washington University Law School's Veteran Law Students Association (VLSA) is dedicated to providing a community for current and former members of America's armed forces as well as their spouses, dependents, all those close to them, as well as those interested in issues which affect Veterans ([email protected]).
Financial Wellness
  • GW Law Financial Aid
  • Max by Access Lex
    • MAX provides quick and easy to understand lessons, in-person and online learning options, one-on-one financial coaching from Accredited Financial Counselors, and over $300,000 in scholarship incentives each year to keep you motivated! From paying for law school to investing for your retirement – and every step in between – let MAX be your guide!
  • Student Assistance Fund
Spiritual Wellness

Spirituality is the aspect of humanity that refers to the way individuals seek and express meaning and purpose, and the way they experience their connectedness to the moment, to self, to others, to nature, and to the significant or sacred.

GW Law Student Resources

Local Resources

National Resources

Intellectual and Academic Wellness
Occupational Wellness
  • AskJan - The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free, expert, and confidential guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment issues. 
Wellness Week

Fall 2022 Wellness Week

Safety 

  • Title IX Office 
    • The George Washington University is committed to maintaining a positive climate for study and work, in which individuals are judged solely on relevant factors, such as skill and performance, and can pursue their activities in an atmosphere that is free from discrimination, harassment, and violence. The Title IX Office supports the university’s commitment by fairly and equitably responding to reports of sexual harassment, sexual assault, domestic and dating violence, and stalking. The Title IX Office also provides prevention and response educational programming for the GW community aiming to educate the community on how to create safe, respectful, and inclusive education and workplace environments.
  • Division of Safety and Security  
    • The mission of the Division of Safety and Security is to provide a safe and secure campus environment for all members of the university community. This mission is achieved through active participation of all university members and partnerships with local law enforcement and community partners. 202-994-7222 
      • The Sexual Assault Response & Consultation (SARC) team is a 24/7 resource for any GW community member affected by sexual or gender-based harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, intimate partner violence or stalking.
      • SARC members work at GW and volunteer their time outside of work to help you address your situation and make decisions about a path forward.
      • SARC members receive special training on sexual and intimate partner violence, trauma, and community resources so that they can offer the most appropriate assistance to callers. 
  • Office of Advocacy and Support 
    • The Office of Advocacy & Support (OAS) is committed to building a culture of care that empathetically supports, empowers, and respects the autonomy of GW community members. OAS will be a leader in fostering a community that values and promotes healthy relationships through confidential support and prevention programming. OAS will be a resource for GW community members experiencing trauma or any other form of violence. Our team will partner with our community to cultivate a safer, healthier, and more informed campus and society.
    • We have recently relocated to 520 22nd St NW Washington DC 20052.

Physical Health 

  • Colonial Health Center 202.994.5300 

    • The Colonial Health Center is open and operating to assist students who are seeking medical, psychiatric, counseling, and psychological services. Doctors and counselors are providing in-person treatment in the office Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (ET) by pre-scheduled appointment only. Telehealth appointments are also being offered during regular business hours.

Fitness

  • Campus Recreation 202-994-1626  

    • Campus Recreation will provide sound programming for the university's diverse community in the areas of intramural and sport clubs, fitness and wellness instruction and informal recreational opportunities.

Law School Student Organizations 

Fall 2022 Wellness Week