About Us

Mission

The Counseling, Health & Wellness Center is a welcoming and accepting environment that strives to empower William Paterson University students to make informed decisions about their physical and emotional well-being in order to promote lifelong health.

Through primary health care, personal counseling, health education, prevention services and co-curricular educational opportunities, the Center assists students in achieving success in their academic experience and life goals.

Location

Located at Overlook South, 1st Floor. (Between Matelson and White Hall)

Hours

Fall and Spring Semesters:
Monday- Friday: 8:30am to 4:30pm

Summer:
Monday- Thursday: 8:00am to 5:15pm

Accessibility 

Our facility is certified ADA compliant and fully accessible to meet our students’ diverse needs. Please contact us directly if you identify a specific accommodation to meet your needs. In efforts to continually improve our quality of care, we collaborate with the Accessibility Resource Center to address barriers to care.  

We offer both in-person and telehealth services to meet our students at their comfort level. 

Staff Biographies

The Counseling, Health & Wellness Center is staffed with licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors, a substance use specialist, supervised graduate students, a nurse practitioner, registered nurses, and a consulting physician together with an excellent administrative staff.

    • Jill Guzman, DNP, CPNP - Director
    • Daisy Rodriguez, MSW, LCSW, DRCC - Associate Director
    • Nicole Palagano, LPC, NCC, ACS - Assistant Director
    • Elizabeth Battiston, MA, LPC, LCADC, NCC, ACS - AOD Coordinator & Counselor
    • Avery Browne, D.O. - Physician
    • Lisa DeOliveria (she/her) - Education Program Assistant II
    • Jessica Ebegbulem, MA, LPC, ACS - Multicultural Specialist & Counselor
    • Rose Green, MA - Office Manager
    • Stephanie Hernandez, MSW, LCSW - Counselor, Part-time
    • Susan Lee, RN - Nurse
    • Kristen M. Pena, MSW, LCSW - Counselor
    • Caneel Schipper, M.Ed, LAC, NCC - Counselor, Part-time
    • Fazia Weaver, APNC - Nurse Practitioner

Notice of Privacy Practice

As required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, this notice describes how mental health/counseling & health information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.

HIPAA is a federal law that provides privacy protections and patient rights with regard to the use and disclosure of your protected health information (PHI) for the purpose of treatment, payment, and health care operations. HIPAA requires that we provide you with a notice of privacy practices for use and disclosure of PHI for treatment, payment and health care operations.

It also requires that we obtain your signature acknowledging that we have provided you with this information.

We value the trust you have placed in our Counseling, Health and Wellness Center (CHWC) to provide counseling and health care for you. Just as you have placed your trust in us to provide quality care, we give you our commitment to treat all of the information you give us responsibly.

Please note that the Counseling, Health and Wellness Center is one department that provides both Health and Mental Health Services. As such, limited PHI is shared between Counseling and Health staff to facilitate and coordinate patient treatment as needed. This information includes appointments, providers, diagnoses, medications, and other treatment information deemed necessary to ensure responsible continuity and coordination of care. Access to your PHI will be limited to those who are authorized to view it. Patient records, including all PHI, are maintained on a secure electronic medical records system that is fully compliant with the requirements of HIPAA.

  • Uses and Disclosures for Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations
  • Uses and Disclosures Requiring Authorization
  • Uses and Disclosures with Neither Consent nor Authorization
  • Patient's Rights
  • Other Obligations of the CHWC
  • Questions and Complaints
  • Effective Date, Restrictions and Changes to Privacy Policy

FAQ's

  • What are the hours of the Counseling, Health & Wellness Center?
  • Who can utilize the Counseling, Health & Wellness Center?
  • Is there a charge for Counseling, Health & Wellness services?
  • What kinds of health services are offered?
  • Who are the staff members that provide health services?
  • If I have a chronic medical condition and would like to discuss my treatment plan or have medical concerns is there someone I can talk to?
  • What kinds of counseling services are offered?
  • Who are staff members that provide counseling services?
  • Is there a limit to the number of counseling sessions I can have?
  • If I was receiving psychological services before attending WPU, can I transfer my care to the Counseling, Health & Wellness Center?
  • Is the information shared kept confidential?
  • What do I do if I have a medical emergency on campus?
  • Does the Counseling Center provide emergency services?
  • Is there a required health form that I must submit?
  • Does WPU require any immunizations for attendance?
  • If I have specific questions about the immunization requirements whom can I contact?
  • Does it matter what type of insurance coverage I have?
  • What does the Wellness Coordinator provide?
  • Can I have someone from the Counseling, Health & Wellness Center come to speak at my class or group meeting about the services provided by the Center or about a medical or psychological topic?