Scheduled Services

Many CAPS services require a scheduled appointment. If you are not already connected with one of our counselors this academic year, get started by calling our office at (831) 459-2628 or stopping by during business hours to request an initial appointment. Or, if you are already working with a CAPS counselor, you can ask them about other services we provide. Click on the links or call CAPS during business hours at (831) 459-2628 to learn more!

• Brief Individual Counseling: CAPS provides one-on-one counseling/therapy to registered UCSC students on a limited basis, typically up to a handful of sessions per academic year. These services help address personal, academic, social, and mild to moderate mental health problems by providing support, teaching coping skills, helping set and meet goals for change, and increasing self-knowledge and awareness. For longstanding or moderate to severe issues, open-ended therapy off campus or other services may be recommended, and CAPS can help provide referral information and tips.
• Couples and Family Counseling: Romantic partners and families (as long as one is a UCSC student) can receive brief couples counseling, depending on counselor availability, typically up to a handful of sessions per academic year. Couples counseling can help partners identify and address issues, set goals, improve communication, identify values, and raise insight. Family counseling can address various issues that affect one or more family members. For longstanding or moderate to severe problems in a relationship or family, open-ended therapy off campus and/or individual therapy for each partner/family member may be recommended, and CAPS can help provide referral information and tips.
• Groups: Groups are a great way to get support, perspectives, and feedback from a counselor and from other students. For most of our groups, you'll sign up at the beginning of a quarter and attend weekly for the quarter. Groups typically form during the first week or two of each quarter and are then closed to new members for the remainder of that quarter.
• Help Connecting with Resources: CAPS counselors and case managers can tell you about on-campus and off-campus resources and help you connect with them. If you are not already working with a specific CAPS staff person, call our office at (831) 459-2628 or stop by during business hours to request an initial appointment.
• Initial Assessment Appointments: If you have not received services at CAPS this academic year, the best way to get started is to call us at (831) 459-2628 or stop by during business hours to schedule an initial appointment. These appointments are usually available within 5 to 7 business days, but during times of heavy demand, you may need to call or stop by again if all the upcoming appointments for the week are already filled (as we do not book them further in advance). During your initial assessment, the counselor will talk to you about the reasons you are seeking help and get some background information that will help them work with you to make a plan with you for next steps. The counselor may recommend services at CAPS, services or resources elsewhere on campus, and/or off-campus services, depending on your needs and the availability of CAPS services.
• Psychiatry (Medication) Services: Students needing to be evaluated for medications for mental health conditions or who need prescriptions for such medications can request an appointment at CAPS; psychiatry services are often limited and based on availability. Note that CAPS typically cannot refill medications prescribed by a non-CAPS provider or provide emergency/same-day prescriptions. In some cases, psychiatry services off campus may be recommended, and CAPS can help provide referral information and tips.
• Workshop Series: CAPS often offers educational workshop series that build your knowledge and coping tools. Currently, we offer a popular series on coping with anxiety and stress.