- Where are you located? When are you open?
We are located in the Cowell Building (across from the tennis courts) and are open from Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm.
- How much do the sessions cost?
Nothing. All sessions are free of charge.
- How often can I meet with a counselor?
Typically, individuals meet with a counselor once a week for 45 minutes. However, the exact number and frequency of each session depends upon the nature of your concerns and the current demand for services from CAPS. Please consult with your psychologist to determine the length and nature of your treatment.
- How many sessions can I receive at the Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) center?
CAPS operates under a brief therapy model. Effective Fall 2004, all students are eligible for 10 individual and unlimited group psychotherapy sessions per academic year. For students interested in receiving services beyond the 10 session limit, please discuss your concerns with your psychologist.
- I am an SCU faculty and/or staff member. Can I use the services for personal counseling?
CAPS does not provide individual personal counseling to SCU faculty or staff members. All faculty and staff are encouraged to contact their health insurance carrier for mental health services. However, the center continues to offer consultations for student related issues.
- How do I schedule an appointment?
Individuals can call CAPS at 408-554-4172 during office hours, Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm or stop by the Cowell Center to make an appointment.
- How long do I have to wait in order to get an appointment?
Typically, individuals can obtain an appointment within a few days of the initial contact. In case of a psychological crisis or emergency, same day appointments are available. However, during peak times of the year (e.g., midterms, finals), individuals will have to schedule a 15 minute screening appointment and then be placed on a waiting list for the next available appointment..
- I met with one of the counselors and I don't feel comfortable with that person. Could I see someone else on staff?
Occasionally, individuals do not feel comfortable speaking with the counselor that has been assigned to them. In these instances, clients can request a change and meet with another member of the clinical staff. However, we encourage you to try and address these concerns with your assigned counselor before you make this change.
- Is what I say kept confidential?
Yes, all the information you reveal within individual or group counseling is confidential. No information can be released without your written consent, except as required by law in the following three cases:
If a client poses a danger to him or himself, or presents a threat to others.
If a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena for client records.
If there is a reasonable suspicion of child abuse of a dependent elder.
- I might have a learning disability and/or attention deficit disorder. Do you do any testing?
CAPS does not currently offer learning disability or ADD testing. Please contact Ann Ravenscroft, Disability Resource Coordinator, at 408-554-4111, for details on obtaining learning disability or ADD testing.
- Can I have sessions via email or communicate with my counselor via email?
Unfortunately, e-mail is not an appropriate medium for personal counseling. Therefore, we do not offer on-line counseling. If you are a SCU student seeking counseling or assistance with a problem, please visit our office (located in the Cowell Building) or call to make an appointment (554-4172) with one of our counselors. Office Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Alternatively you can call the Crisis Services telephone hotline at (408) 279-3312 or (800) 784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE). They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Can I communicate with my Counselor via email?
The CAPS staff welcomes your contact. However, we take your confidentiality very seriously and it is imperative that you understand the limitations of e-mail technology. Occasionally, you may receive emails regarding the scheduling or cancellation of appointments from your counselor. If we receive an email from our clients which contains clinical information, we cannot guarantee that your e-mail will remain confidential. While we do our best to keep your communications private, the university administration, like many other employers, reserves the right to monitor our e-mail usage and might therefore see the text of your message.
If you are in any way concerned about the contents of your e-mail being read by someone other than the person you are contacting, you should consider alternate ways of contacting us. When we respond to your e-mail, we will respond to the address from which it is sent. If you do not wish others who may have access to the e-mail account you are using to also have access to our response, please consider another means of communication. Again, email is not a secured medium thus, we cannot guarantee confidentiality. As a result, we would discourage students from using email as a means to communicate with your therapist.
In addition, email communication with the Counseling & Psychological Services or your personal counselor should NOT be used in a crisis or emergency situation. While we try to check our e-mail regularly, there may be times that your counselor is unavailable due to illness, vacation, meetings, or if there are problems with the network itself. This means that your message may not be received immediately. Also, emails are often not checked by staff after hours or on weekends.
Therefore, in the event of a crisis or emergency situation after normal business hours and/or during holidays and weekends, you should contact Campus Safety (554-4444) or 911 directly.
Additional helpful numbers should you experience a crisis include but are not limited to:
| Battered Women Hotline | 408-279-3312 |
| Suicide and Crisis Line | 408-279-3312 |
| Rape Crisis | 408-287-3000 |
| Parental Stress Hotline | 408-279-8228 |
| Victim/Witness Hotline | 408-295-2656 |
| National AIDS Hotline | 800-342-AIDS |
| 24 Hour AIDS/STD Hotline | 800-227-8922 |
| AIDS/STD Hotline (Spanish) | 800-344-7432 |
| AIDS/STD Death Hotline | 800-243-7889 |
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