Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, counseling is confidential. In accordance with state and federal laws, as well as professional and ethical guidelines for mental health providers, we maintain confidential records of all client contacts. This means that no identifying information—written or otherwise—about your contact with CAPS will be disclosed to anyone outside CAPS without your written authorization. This includes academic departments, the registrar's office, student health services, and other campus entities. No one will know what you discuss (or even that you are visiting) unless you choose to inform them.
There are some legal exceptions to this confidentiality, which are rare but important for you to be aware of. If you are under the age of 18, please call for information about our confidentiality policy.
Counselors may need to disclose certain information in the following situations:
- When you express intent to harm yourself or someone else.
- When you report current abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult or child.
- As a result of a court order.
- When mental illness is used as a defense in a criminal or civil action.
All counseling services are available to students enrolled on the Corvallis campus. The cost is fully covered by student fees assessed with tuition.
If a student is not currently enrolled in classes, but were last term and will be next term, they may access any of our services with payment of the Health Service fee. The fee will be charged to their account after their first individual or group therapy appointment. There is no charge for consultations or urgent on-call clinic appointments.
Currently enrolled Ecampus students residing in Oregon may access any of our counseling services with payment of the Health Service fee. The fee will be charged to their account after their first individual or group therapy appointment (there is no charge for consultations or urgent on-call clinic appointments). Anytime Anywhere, however, is always available to Ecampus students for free.
Because each state has its own licensing boards and regulations, we can only provide services to students located in Oregon. However, we would be happy to provide guidance with finding a counselor in your area. Please schedule a phone consultation, and a triage specialist will work with you on finding support
Ecampus students not currently enrolled in classes, but who were last term and will be next term,may access any of our services with payment of the Health Service fee, as described above.
Students enrolled at the Cascades campus, Hatfield Marine Science Center, and Portland Center have free access to Anytime Anywhere, which offers mental health support anytime, from anywhere in the world.
The cost of our services is covered by the OSU health fee, which is automatically assessed each term for students enrolled in classes on the Corvallis campus. Ecampus students located in Oregon can opt into the health fee to access our services. For the current fee schedule, please visit OSU's tuition & fees webpage.
If you're referred to individual counseling during your phone consultation, we’ll add you to our scheduling list. From there, our staff will carefully match you with the most suitable appointment based on your availability and counselor preferences. You’ll receive an appointment offer by email—please try to respond within 24 hours so we can secure your spot.
The time it takes to pair you with an appointment can vary depending on your specific needs, availability, and preferences. Sometimes, we can schedule your first session right away, while other times, it may take a bit longer if your schedule or preferences limit available openings.
The number of counseling sessions a student attends depends on their individualized treatment plan. At CAPS, individual counseling is based on a short-term therapy model to address immediate concerns and provide access to all students in need. For students seeking long-term counseling, Thriving Campus offers a directory of off-campus providers available to OSU students.
Yes we do! Routine counseling appointments can be conducted via teletherapy or in person. Just let your counselor know what you prefer.
CAPS does not provide family counseling, and currently, we are not offering couples or relationship counseling. Students seeking these services can visit Thriving Campus to find off-campus counselors who specialize in family and couples therapy.
We don't provide prescriptions at CAPS, but no worries! If you'd like to discuss medication options, you can reach out to Student Health Services or your primary care provider.
We want you to have a positive experience! If you're in individual counseling and feel that your counselor isn't the right fit, we're here to help. We can assist with reassigning you to a different counselor. Just give us a call at 541-737-2131 during business hours or email us at [email protected].
We understand how important emotional support animals (ESAs) can be for your well-being. However, CAPS does not provide documentation for ESAs. If you need assistance with this, we recommend reaching out to your primary care provider or an off-campus licensed mental health professional who can help you with the necessary documentation.
Getting Help for Someone Else
If you're a student, employee, or anyone concerned about an OSU student, you can consult with a counselor for guidance. Please call us during our on-call hours at 541-737-2131. For urgent concerns, help is available 24/7. If you believe a student is in imminent danger of harming themselves or others, please call 911 immediately.
Additional options are available on our Crisis Resources webpage.
If the person you're worried about is an OSU student and they're open to visiting CAPS, you may accompany them to our office on the 5th floor of Snell Hall during business hours.
Outreach & Interview Requests
Yes! We are happy to provide presentations about our services and stress management workshops to student groups. Please visit our Request a Workshop, Partnership, or Media Interview webpage to submit your request. If you don't see what you're looking for, let us know your specific needs. We kindly ask for a minimum of two weeks' advance notice, if possible.
Unfortunately we do not have the capacity to assist with class assignments. However, we encourage you to visit our Resilience Toolbox which may contain useful information.
Interview requests for media stories may be submitted on our Request a Workshop, Partnership or Media Interview webpage.
We love that you're interested in learning more about CAPS. To protect our clients' confidentiality, we can't offer tours of our space. However, a great alternative is to request a presentation or workshop for your group. We'd be happy to share more about our services in that way.
Yes! We would be happy to provide you with a limited number of CAPS brochures, rack cards, or other materials. Submit a request and let us know what you would like.