Student FAQ

What Is Counseling?
Counseling typically involves meeting with a clinician on a one-to-one basis. During counseling, you will work together with your clinician to addrss problems in your life by setting goals and making positive changes. In addition to individual therapy, counseling can also involve couples and groups when it is helpful.

While the number of sessions depends on the nature and extent of the problem, students usually engage in 6-8 sessions of counseling or less. At CAPS, sessions typically last for 50 minutes and occur once a week at a regularly scheduled time.

How Do I Make An Appointment?
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CAPS is closed during certain school holidays and during the summer.

To make an appointment, you can call (860)768-4482 or come to GSU Room 313 to schedule an appointment with the office manager. Following a brief intake session to assess your needs, you will be referred for individual counseling, group counseling, a psychological evaluation, or other appropriate services.

What Should I Expect?
Your first appointment at CAPS will be your intake appointment. Students are required to arrive 15 minutes early to complete some initial paperwork. During your intake appointment, you will meet with a CAPS clinician to discuss your reasons for coming to counseling.

If you are going to be continuing services at CAPS, you will receive a phone call within one week of your intake. At this time, you also will be assigned a regular appointment time and a clinician to work with.

Sometimes students require services that CAPS can not offer. If this is the case, you will be provided with referrals to community services that will better meet your needs.

How Much Does It Cost?
Services are available to full-time undergraduate students at no additional cost. Part-time undergraduate and graduate students may utilize CAPS services for a nominal fee (students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credits). Please see The Source or call the Bursar's Office (860-768-4999) for the current fee. If you are referred for off-campus services, you will need to use your health insurance or pay for treatment out-of-pocket.

Are Therapy Sessions Confidential?
Under federal and state law, all information is confidential. This means that once you have contacted our office, CAPS is not permitted to disclose any information, including whether you are coming to counseling, without your written consent. Any records at CAPS are kept confidential and are not part of your academic or medical record.

The only exception to this rule is if you are in immediate danger of causing harm to yourself or someone else. CAPS reserves the right to use clinical judgment in determining if any student is in immediate danger.