Psychotherapy/Counseling Services at UCR

If you are interested in seeking support from a Therapist, you can access FREE, Confidential services at UCR's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) office. 

Starting at CAPS is easy!  

Step 1: Initial Appointment:  Call 951-827-5531, option 2 or walk in to CAPS located in the Student Health and Counseling Center Building (next to Lot 21) to schedule a Phone Triage Appointment. This is a brief  (approximately 15 minute) appointment with a mental health clinician to help assess your particular needs and ensure that we can support those in crisis as soon as possible. These appointments are typically scheduled within 1-3 days of your request.  

The outcome of your phone triage appointment will vary based on your needs but will typically take a couple of paths...

a.   You will be scheduled for an in-person intake (typically within two weeks); or

b.   You will receive information or referrals based on your needs (including off-campus therapy, campus resources,  Livehealth online, etc.)

c.    Your needs are met.

Step 2:  Intake: If you are scheduled for an Intake appointment, you will come into the office for an in-person assessment.  We ask that you arrive 30 minutes early for your Intake appointment as you can expect to complete a questionnaire with some basic information about yourself and what brings you to CAPS, as well as consent for treatment forms and a brief survey (CCAPS- Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms). Your Intake Assessment with the therapist will allow the clinician to gather the background and information needed to determine an appropriate treatment plan for you. If your plan includes ongoing therapy at CAPS, your intake therapist may or may not be the clinician you are assigned to. Ongoing therapy appointments at CAPS will vary in duration between appointments but are typically every 2 to 4 weeks between sessions. CAPS offers Short Term Counseling and Psychotherapy, based on the need determined by the therapist and client. 

Step 3: Referrals:  Some clients choose to receive services off campus or online, while other clients may have treatment needs beyond UCR CAPS.   

Enrollment in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP), includes free Behavioral Health benefits (Psychotherapy and Psychiatry) for UCR students through Livehealth Online. While services at CAPS Do NOT require enrollment in UCSHIP, there are many benefits that you may want to take advantage of. 

Other clients may determine that their needs are not for therapy, and will be provided with referrals for other services on and off campus.

Clients will receive referrals based on their need. 

Psychiatric Services at UCR

If you are interested in medical management of Psychological concerns, you may want to consult with a Psychiatrist at UCR's Student Health Services. You can be referred to a SHS Psychiatry by your primary care physician at Student Health Services (SHS) or if you are in therapy at CAPS, your therapist can make a referral as well.