Yes, counseling is confidential. In accordance with state and federal law as well as professional and ethical guidelines for mental health providers, we maintain confidential records of all contacts with clients. 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 gets to know what you talk about (or even that you are coming here) unless you want them to know. There are some legal exceptions to this confidentiality; they rarely apply but we want you to know about them. If you are under the age of 18, please call for information about our confidentiality policy.
Counselors may need to disclose certain information in four general situations:
Student Status:
Students enrolled in classes at the Corvallis campus and Ecampus students in Oregon who opt into the OSU health fee may use our services. If you are a Cascades Campus student, please contact the Cascades Campus Counseling Clinic for services.
Location:
Because each state has its own licensing boards and teletherapy regulations, we are only able to provide services to students who are are located in Oregon. Students outside Oregon can still schedule a consultation to receive guidance on finding a therapist in their area.
Faculty & Staff:
Faculty and staff may use the Mind Spa and attend drop-in mindfulness meditation groups. If you are an OSU employee seeking counseling, please contact the Beyond Benefits Employee Assistance Program.
The cost of our services is covered by the OSU health fee. This fee is automatically assessed each term for students enrolled in classes on the Corvallis campus. Ecampus students located in Oregon may opt into the health fee to use our services. Visit OSU's tuition & fees webpage to see the current fee schedule.
The number of counseling sessions a student attends depends on their individualized treatment plan. Due to the level of need, individual counseling at CAPS is based on a short-term therapy model. Students who need long-term counseling may visit ThrivingCampus to find off-campus providers who are available to see OSU students.
Yes we do! Routine counseling appointments can be conducted via teletherapy or in person. Just let your counselor know what you prefer.
Give us a call at 541-737-2131 during business hours or email caps@oregonstate.edu, preferably one or more business days before your appointment. There are centrally located spaces on campus that are designated for students who need a confidential space for teletherapy.
If you use a space outside of CAPS, you should bring your own device. If using a room at CAPS, clients may choose to use their own device or use a laptop provided by CAPS.
Yes! We offer several support groups and therapy groups during fall, winter, and spring term. Click here to see what's currently being offered.
CAPS does not provide family counseling, and at this time, we are not offering couples/relationship counseling. Students may visit ThrivingCampus to find off-campus counselors who provide these services.
No, but students who would like to consult about medication can contact Student Health Services or their primary care provider.
We want you to have a positive experience! If you are in individual counseling and feel that your counselor is not a good fit, we can assist with reassigning you to a different counselor. Give us a call at 541-737-2131 during business hours or email caps@oregonstate.edu.
Unfortunately CAPS does not provide documentation for emotional support animals (ESA).
Anyone who is concerned about an OSU student, or OSU students who are concerned about a friend, roommate, or loved one may contact CAPS for guidance. Please call 541-737-2131 or submit your concern online. For online submissions, CAPS will reach out to you within one business day. If your concern is urgent, please call us -- help is available 24/7. If you believe the person's safety is in imminent risk, please call 911.
Help is also available by calling or texting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If the person you are concerned about is an OSU student and they are amenable to visiting CAPS, you may also accompany them to our office on the 5th floor of Snell Hall during business hours.
Yes! Please visit our Request a Workshop, Collaboration or Interview webpage to submit a request. If you don't see what you are looking for, please let us know what your needs are. We ask for a minimum of two weeks advanced notice if possible.
We are happy to help when we can! If you are writing a media article and would like to interview one of our staff, please visit our Request a Workshop, Collaboration or Interview webpage to submit a request, providing one week lead time. Due to limited capacity, we are not able to assist with interviews for class assignments.
While we highly encourage the campus community to learn more about CAPS, we must maintain as much confidentiality as possible for our clients. For this reason, we unfortunately cannot accommodate tours of our space. A great alternative is to request a presentation or workshop for your group!
Our therapy lights are now available to check out from the Valley Library. Please visit the library's Loanable Equipment webpage to reserve a light.
If you are seeking assistance, but are not sure which of our services is right for you, click here for guidance. If you have other questions, you may call CAPS during business hours at 541-737-2131 or email us at caps@oregonstate.edu.