About the Department
CAPS staff, September 2021
Location
Our Central Office is located in the Cowell Student Health Center building in the East Wing on the second floor, above the pharmacy. CAPS counseling staff are situated in various locations on campus, including the colleges and Family Student Housing. Please see the CAPS Staff page for information regarding our staff.
Overview of Services
CAPS provides UCSC students with a wide range of mental health and wellness services. We also provide preventative outreach and consultation services to the UCSC community. Counseling services are available for any registered UCSC student and are confidential. There is no out-of-pocket fee for CAPS services, and you don't need UC SHIP or CruzCare to be seen at CAPS.
CAPS services include groups, workshops, brief individual therapy, Let's Talk drop-in consultations, crisis intervention, referrals, brief couples or family counseling (depending on counselor availability), educational outreach (e.g., through workshops, our newsletter, and social media), and consultation for non-clients (e.g., staff, faculty, family members). CAPS also includes Psychiatry Services (psychotropic medication services), volunteer programs for UCSC students (Peer Education Program and Student Advisory Board), and training for masters- and doctoral-level psychology interns and residents.
The most commonly used service at CAPS is an initial consultation, where we get information about what you need and your history and then make recommendations for next steps.
Who We Are
CAPS is staffed by clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, registered nurses, doctoral interns, and postdoctoral fellows. While all of our staff are familiar with issues affecting university students and are trained in and motivated to provide services from a place of multicultural humility, some of our staff have special focus areas and additional training around addressing particular issues and working with specific student populations. (See our "Meet Our Staff" page for more information.)
CAPS staff holding words of gratitude, September 2020
When to Contact CAPS
UCSC students contact CAPS for a variety of reasons, including stress; depression; anxiety; academic problems; problems with friends, roommates, or romantic partners; family issues; life transitions; eating and body image concerns; grief and loss; substance use concerns; issues related to oppression, discrimination, or harassment; personal identity issues; recovery from trauma; suicidal thoughts; and adjusting to the complex demands of university life. We are here to assist with any personal and mental health concerns that affect the well-being and education of UCSC students.
Family, friends, faculty, and staff members (including Resident Advisors) who are concerned about a UCSC student are welcome to call CAPS during business hours for consultation.
Hours and Contact Information
- Appointments are generally held between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
- After-hours crisis services are available to UCSC students and those concerned about a UCSC student in crisis on evenings, weekends, and holidays by calling (831) 459-2628 and follow menu prompts
- Consultation regarding the mental health of a UCSC student or mental health and other resources on or off campus is available by phone between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday to Friday
Phone: (831) 459-2628
Fax: (831) 459-5116
Location: Cowell Student Health Center, East Wing, 2nd floor
If you are a patient of CAPS and need to reach your clinician, have questions about your treatment, or have an emergency, please DO NOT use email. There is no guarantee of privacy when sending email. Of equal importance, there may be a delay before the message is read. Calling or using secure messaging through Health e-Messenger is the best way to reach someone at CAPS.
