What to Expect When You Contact CAPS

Where to find us

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is located on the second floor of the Edgewater Hall, in Room 245.

What to expect when you call or come to Counseling and Psychological Services to arrange an appointment

When you arrive or call CAPS, you will first talk with the receptionist. The receptionist will not ask you why you are requesting to see a counselor. The receptionist will work to find the first available appointment that matches your schedule. If you are in need of immediate help, please tell the receptionist and you will be seen as soon as possible.

What to expect when you come for your first (intake) appointment

After you check in with the receptionist, you will fill out several forms. These forms ask questions such as your name, address, academic standing, as well as other demographic information. The forms will also ask questions about symptoms that you may or may not be experiencing. A counselor will then come to greet you and take you to his or her office.

This appointment is called an “intake” and is typically used to gather information about you and what brought you in to see us. The intake counselor will use this information, as well as the information you completed on the forms, to better understand who you are and how we can best help you. The intake counselor’s primary job is to get information from you in order to determine which counselors at CAPS are best suited to work with you or, in some cases, whether your needs would be better met by a clinician or agency outside of CAPS.

It is common to feel a little nervous and self-conscious during your intake appointment. In fact, it may be helpful to share these feelings with the intake counselor. Counseling services are confidential. That means that we are mandated by law to not release any information that you share with us to anyone else. There are a few exceptions. If we believe that you are an imminent risk of harming yourself or someone else, we must take action to protect you or that other person. If we suspect that a child, elderly, or disabled person is being abused, we must report that to the appropriate authorities. Finally, we must comply should a judge issue a court order for our records. If you have any questions about confidentiality, you will have the opportunity to ask the counselor at the time of your intake.

After your intake, the receptionist will contact you to schedule your first counseling appointment with your assigned counselor. Typically, you will meet with your counselor for a 50-minute session each week. Your appointment will generally be at the same time each week and will begin on the hour and end 10 minutes before the hour. At the end of your appointment, your counselor will schedule you for your next appointment or escort you to the receptionist to schedule the appointment.