We offer a variety of services to meet your needs
Your first session is called a triage appointment. In this brief, 25-minute session, the triage specialist will conduct an assessment to get a broad idea of what’s bringing you in. The goal is for you to collaborate together on what kinds of services, either at CAPS or elsewhere, will be the most helpful for you. A triage appointment might feel more like a ‘game-planning’ session than a traditional ‘therapy’ appointment. Learn more about What to Expect at CAPS.
Crisis Intervention
If you find yourself with a non-emergency, same day need, please come to CAPS for crisis intervention to access immediate emotional support anytime during business hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. After business hours, contact our HelpLine at 979-845-2700.
Group Counseling
Group counseling offers unique benefits in which individual counseling cannot provide. It is a microcosm of one’s own interpersonal world, and can serve as a social laboratory to experiment with more helpful patterns of engaging with ourselves and each other. Many students find that group helps them feel a greater sense of connection with others and normalizes their struggles.
Workshops
Workshops are opportunities to increase different coping skills and wellness habits aimed at improving your mental health and wellbeing. Any student can attend the workshops offered regardless of whether they are receiving other services at CAPS. Some workshops are one-time events while others are brief 2- or 3-week series requiring prior enrollment.
Individual Counseling
CAPS provides short-term, goal-oriented individual counseling. You and your counselor will work together at the onset of counseling to determine the appropriate number of counseling sessions and treatment plan based on your needs. On average, students are seen for three to four 45-minute sessions. Sessions typically occur every two to three weeks, but may be scheduled on a weekly basis depending on your needs and the counselor’s availability.
Career Counseling
Career counseling is offered to assist students in identifying the steps in their career development and exploration. Counselors help students manage the concerns and stress associated with making career decisions, address personal issues that may contribute to decision-making difficulties, and utilize career assessment and resources more effectively.
Couple Counseling
Couple counseling is a good option for students who are experiencing conflicts within a committed relationship. Couple counseling provides an opportunity for couples to better understand each other and to learn more effective ways of communicating and nurturing the relationship. Both members of the couple must be enrolled TAMU students to access services.
Addiction Concerns
CAPS provides support for students who are reassessing their use of alcohol, drugs, and/or other activities in which they are finding difficulty disengaging and are causing distress (e.g. excessive internet, gaming, and pornography usage). Addiction services include the use of individualized assessments to help students learn more about their substance usage and/or addictive behaviors and the impact on their life.
Eating Concerns
Texas A&M offers a multidisciplinary treatment team to serve students seeking treatment for eating disorders or concerns. In the event the student’s condition requires more intensive or long-term care, as determined by the Eating Disorder Interdisciplinary Team (EDIT), the student will be provided with a referral for care outside the TAMU setting.
Learning Disability & ADHD Screening
For students who think they may be struggling with a learning disability or ADHD, CAPS provides a screening service to help determine if a formal evaluation (conducted by an outside provider) is indicated. The screening process consists of a clinical interview, the completion of several assessments, and an interpretation/recommendation session with a counselor. The screening does not result in any type of diagnosis.
Psychiatric Services
CAPS is primarily a counseling service. At times, counseling alone is not sufficient in meeting students’ needs. When students are engaged in therapy and need additional intervention for improvement, counselors may refer students to one of our psychiatric providers for an assessment for medication management.
Referral Services
When students need services that CAPS is unable to provide (e.g., long-term therapy, certain specializations), we assist students in getting connected with providers in the community who will better meet their needs. Our Case Referral Coordinator (CRC) is available to meet with students to discuss referral options tailored to their particular needs and assist with the transfer of care.
Consultation
CAPS counselors are available to consult with staff/faculty, family, and friends who may be concerned about a student. Consultations may occur in-person at the CAPS office or over the phone. During consultations, CAPS counselors maintain the confidentiality of students who are clients to the fullest extent of the law.