CAPS has moved to the new Student Health and Counseling Center!
Please check in at the second floor reception desk for all CAPS appointments and questions.
Call the CAPS front desk at 951-827-5531, option 2 for your in-person and virtual scheduling needs.
Making an Appointment is Easy!
(Please note: CAPS offers in-person and virtual services!)
There are several ways to schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with a professional mental health clinician at Counseling and Psychological Services:
- Call Counseling and Psychological Services at (951) 827-5531, option 2 and ask to make an appointment. The receptionist will assist you in finding the first available appointment that fits your schedule. Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thursdays 9.am. to 5p.m.
- Schedule an appointment in person at Counseling and Psychological Services, during normal business hours. Counseling and Psychological Services is located on the Second Floor of the Student Health & Counseling Center (SHCC) building near Lot 21. If your situation is urgent or you are experiencing a crisis, you may request to see the on-call clinician. Clients will be seen in order to their need/crisis level.
- After hours, you may speak to an on-call therapist 24/7 by phone by calling (951) 827-5531, option 1. Should you need to schedule a follow-up appointment, you will need to call or walk into Counseling and Psychological Services during normal business hours.
- LIVEHEALTH online. An alternative option for making an appointment to see a mental health professional using your smartphone, tablet or computer. No referral needed. For those with UCSHIP insurance, your Behavioral Health appointments are covered by your insurance plan and as of Fall 2019, there is no co-payment ($0) for any LiveHealth online Behavioral Health appointments when you are enrolled in UCSHIP! For LiveHealth online Medical Appointments, UCSHIP enrolled students co-payment is $25.
PLEASE NOTE: Appointments may be cancelled 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time. Appointments may be cancelled by phone by calling (951) 827-5531, opt. 2 or using the secure portal https://chconline.ucr.edu
Appointments cancelled less than 24 hours in advance, or missed/no-showed appointments will be charged a missed appointment fee (see CAPS missed/late cancelled appointment policy and appeal).
Starting the Process
All new clients wanting to begin treatment will start with a Phone Triage appointment. These appointments are typically scheduled within a couple of days with one of the staff clinicians. The purpose of this brief phone appointment is to ensure that we can quickly determine what services or support you need. The clinician will make recommendations for services both on and off campus based on that need. Should you need more immediate support, the clinician will arrange a priority appointment based on your situation. The Phone Triage clinician will schedule your Intake Appointment.
Arrive Early
For all appointments, please be sure to arrive in a timely manner. For your Intake Appointment, you will need to complete a questionnaire and review your privacy and informed consent documents. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled intake time so that you can start your appointment at the scheduled time. This information is an important part of your initial assessment by your CAPS clinician. If you do not allow adequate time to complete the forms, the time you have to speak with the clinician may be reduced or you may need to re-schedule your appointment.
For your ongoing therapy appointments, you will be completing a brief survey that takes from 5 to 15 minutes to complete. Please be sure to arrive with time to complete your survey prior to your appointment start time.
If you are more than 15 minutes late to a scheduled appointment, your appointment may need to be rescheduled (see CAPS missed/late cancelled appointment policy and appeal).
During Your Intake Appointment
You will meet with a clinician who will conduct a clinical assessment to help determine how we can best serve you. You will have the opportunity to discuss your personal concerns that prompted your appointment. The clinician will use that information, your questionnaire and the background and history you provide to help make recommendations for services offered at CAPS or other recommendations that may be helpful. The initial intake appointment is for information gathering rather than a therapy session.
After Your Intake Appointment
You and the intake clinician will decide what services will be most helpful to you, as well as determining your course of treatment. Some examples of services may include individual, couples, or group therapy at Counseling and Psychological Services; a referral to the UC Riverside Student Health Services; a referral for Psychiatric/medication evaluation; a referral to other campus and community resources; and/or a referral to work with an off-campus clinician/tele-behavioral health provider, based upon specific needs.
Should you and the clinician determine Counseling and Psychological Services to be the best place for you to continue treatment, you will then be assigned a clinician (who may or may not be the clinician with whom you completed your intake appointment).
Helpful Information
- Services Information Sheet (pdf)
This fact sheet contains information about Counseling and Psychological Services, its services and what you should expect.
- What to Expect from Counseling
Brief introduction describing the counseling process
- Current Groups Listing
Contains detailed description of typical and current groups offered at Counseling and Psychological Services, as well as information on how to join groups.
- Confidentiality
Explanation of Confidentiality and its limits.
- CAPS missed/late cancelled appointment policy and appeal This is a fact sheet contains information about Counseling and Psychological Services policy on missed, late cancelled, and no showed appointments and the Appeal Petition form that you will need to dispute late fees.
