Welcome parents! This section will provide information and resources for parents, friends, and family of UCSD students to increase their understanding of common psychological issues that may be experienced by you and your daughter/son.  For parents of students in their first year at UCSD, you can download a handout on ways to help you and your student's transition to college by clicking here!

The Help Your Daughter/Son page provides details on many questions that you may have regarding your daughter/son's well-being while at UCSD. We also have a link to a handbook we provide the UCSD community on how to Assist an Emotionally Distressed Student. Finally, this section provides helpful campus links and self-help resources.

Counseling and Psychological Services focuses on assisting students with the typical developmental problems of undergraduate and graduate students that respond to short-term counseling. If a student requires long term care or has a chronic mental health condition, then CAPS will help the student find suitable care in the off- campus professional community. Funding is provided by the health insurance coverage that is required of every enrolled UCSD student.

Our Services:

Individual Counseling:

CAPS provides short-term individual counseling for registered UCSD students. If your student comes for counseling, they will be assessed in the first meeting, and a treatment plan will be discussed with him or her. This plan may include individual counseling and/or a group at CAPS. For some students, long-term therapy may be recommended. For these students, we offer referral services to psychologists and psychiatrists in the San Diego community. If your student has SHIP insurance alone, the student can be referred by us to an outside provider. This involves completing official referral paperwork that is submitted to the insurance company. If you have other coverage, students must abide by the referral process for that insurer.  If your student is double-covered (e.g., SHIP and another insurance plan), the non-SHIP insurance plan will be the primary insurance for referrals.

Group Counseling:

CAPS is proud to offer over 20 unique groups, workshops, and forums each quarter. Groups range from traditional psychotherapy groups, to psychoeducational workshops, and drop-in forums. Recent groups have included the Building Social Confidence Group, Stress Management Workshop, and the Asian American Community Forum. Unlike individual counseling, students can come to as many group sessions as needed.

Referrals to Outside Providers:

CAPS provides referral services for students who are referred to outside providers. Reasons for referrals to outside providers include: need for treatment at a rate that would exceed our short-term service model, or a referral to a specialist for particular conditions. For students with SHIP insurance only, CAPS and Student Health Service administers the paperwork required for referrals. For students without SHIP or are double-covered with another insurance plan, they must comply with referral procedures required by the non-SHIP insurer. CAPS staff will assist in matching the student with a provider who can best meet their treatment goals. If you have any questions about our referral process, please contact our Central Office at (858) 534-3755.

Consultation to Families :

CAPS provides consultation to families who have questions or concerns about a student. We will provide as much assistance as possible. Due to confidentiality laws, however, we may not be able to provide information about your student if she or he is utilizing our services. For more information about confidentiality limitations, click here. Please call our Central Office to speak with one of our psychologists at (858) 534-3755..

Outreach & Consultation:

A core aspect of CAPS is our outreach and consultation efforts to the campus community. Our services are “decentralized” to provide more access for students, faculty, and staff to our staff of professionals. We provide outreach presentations weekly, and provide ongoing consultation to the undergraduate colleges, OGS, the SOM, campus community centers, and the Center for Student Involvement. For more about our outreach and consultation mission, click here.

 

Contact CAPS:

Consultations:

CAPS staff is available to provide consultation to your questions regarding mental health matters, campus resources, and community referrals. In addition, if you have concerns about your student, you can contact our offices for assistance. Due to confidentiality laws, we may not be able to provide specific information about your student if s/he is utilizing our services. During normal business hours, you can call our Central Offices at (858) 534-3755. Your call will be forwarded to a psychologist on staff.

Referrals to CAPS:

If you would like to refer your student to CAPS, please have him or her contact our offices at (858) 534-3755 to make an appointment. If the matter is urgent and your student must be seen immediately, she or he can come to our Urgent Care services at our Central Offices at Galbraith Hall 190.

Emergencies:

If you have an urgent matter or an emergency regarding your student during normal business ours (Monday through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm), please call our offices immediately at (858) 534-3755. If you or your student has an urgent matter outside normal business hours, please call our emergency number at (858) 534-HELP.

College Psychologists:

CAPS  has psychologists located at each of the undergraduate colleges. If your student residing at an Undergraduate College and you have concerns about him/her, please first contact either the Resident Dean, Student Affairs Dean, or Academic Affairs Dean. They will refer the student to one of the college psychologists, or in emergency cases, to the Urgent Care psychologist. For contact information at the Colleges, click here.

 

Resources to help you and your daughter/son in dealing with tragic events: