What to Expect

CAPS' Service Model

CAPS’ primary function is to support students’ mental health needs in order to meet their academic goals within a time window framed by service eligibility, class schedules, student obligations, CAPS resources as well as our Scope of Practice document. As such, CAPS services are short-term and goal-oriented and align with the TAMU academic semester calendar. Our average session number is 3 to 4. When classes are in session, we provide a range of mental health services. Once final exams begin, our counselors are available for urgent, crisis-related services and will resume all services the first day of the following semester. Our website also has a number of self-help resources and recorded workshops covering a range of mental health concerns.

Making an appointment

To begin the process of making an appointment, log into the Student Portal. There you will be directed to some registration paperwork, and after that is completed, you will have the option of scheduling an initial phone consultation. You will receive an email confirming your appointment within one business day. If you have trouble logging in or cannot find an appointment at your preferred time, call CAPS at 979-845-4427 or email caps@caps.tamu.edu to request help. Routinely, initial appointments may take up to 10 business days to be scheduled. At extremely busy times of the semester, the wait time may be longer. Check out resources to utilize while you wait.

Appointments are available between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. Limited evening services are sometimes available for ongoing appointments in the fall and spring semesters.

The first appointment

Your first appointment will be a consultation that occurs over the phone. The counselor will likely call you from a number with no caller ID, so it is important you ensure your device is able to receive such calls. During this appointment, the counselor will verify your current address and emergency contacts, discuss the privacy of your current location, and inquire about any questions you might have about the required paperwork. For this appointment, it is important that you be in a quiet, private place that is free of distractions and that you refrain from multitasking, such as driving, during the time of your appointment. You may be asked to reschedule your appointment if you are unable to participate in a private, distraction-free space. The counselor will gather information about your concerns and discuss treatment options that will be most helpful for you. Options may include ongoing individual telehealth, group telehealth, self-help and self-guided resources, and/or other resources located within your local community.

Getting the most benefit from counseling

Personal commitment to your own growth and change is crucial to success in counseling. You can enhance your development by being open and taking risks, such as disclosing information that is difficult to talk about, and by actively participating in sessions. You can continue the counseling process between sessions by thinking about what you have talked about and experienced during sessions, focusing on the changes you want to make, and working on specific goals discussed with your counselor.

Eligibility

To receive services at CAPS, students must be currently enrolled at Texas A&M University and have paid the University Advancement Fee for the semester in which they are seeking services. During the summer, Texas A&M students who are not currently enrolled in courses can still utilize CAPS services if they were enrolled in the Spring, are enrolled in the Fall, and pay a $25 bridge charge. If you meet this criteria, please fill out our Summer Services Request Form. If you have additional questions about eligibility or accessing the student portal, please give us a call.

*If you are a new incoming student, you will be able to register for our services on the first day of class. In the meantime, explore our self-help resources.

Cancelling or missing appointments

Keeping appointments and being on time is part of the personal commitment to counseling you must make. If an illness or a rare emergency causes you to be unable to keep your appointment, you must contact us and cancel the appointment as far in advance as possible so that we can offer your time slot to another Aggie. Since it is not usually beneficial to engage in shortened sessions, your appointment may be rescheduled if you are late.

PLEASE NOTE

A no-show/late cancellation charge of $25 will be added to your student account if you fail to notify us 24 hours in advance that you will not be attending your scheduled appointment. There will be a $50 charge for no-show/late cancellation for all psychiatric appointments. You may notify us through the student portal, email (caps@caps.tamu.edu), telephone (979-845-4427), or in person on the 4th floor of the Student Services Building.