There is no charge for meeting with a therapist at CAPS. However, there may be associated costs for recommended treatment outside of psychotherapy. This may include visits with our nurse practitioner regarding psychiatric medication, as well as charges related to outside referrals.
New Clients: New clients (or previous clients who wish to meet with a different therapist) can schedule a 30-minute triage counseling appointment online or by calling the front desk at (931) 598-1325. To schedule online, visit your patient portal. Click on the "Appointments" tab, then select "Schedule an Appointment."
Returning Clients: If you saw a CAPS therapist in previous years and wish to continue working with that same therapist, OR if you have already been seen this academic year, you do not need to schedule a triage appointment. Please call the front desk at (931) 598-1325 to schedule.
If you need to cancel your appointment, you must call or send a message in the Patient Portal in advance of your scheduled appointment. This allows another student to use the time. Please be aware that if you do not show for your appointment, you will be charged $25.00 for a missed CAPS appointment. If you miss an appointment and we have not heard from you, we will try to contact you either by phone or email.
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday), a counselor at the center will see you that same day. You can call (931) 598-1325 for a same-day appointment, or just walk in to our office in the Wellness Commons.
If you experience a mental health emergency outside of business hours, you can reach our 24-hour crisis line at (931) 598-1700.
For reference, mental health emergencies would include:
For immediate emergency care, call 911, call Campus Police at (931) 598-1111, or go immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room. The hospital on campus, Southern Tennessee Regional Health System-Sewanee, is located at 1260 University Ave. The non-emergency phone number for the hospital is (931) 598-5691.
In Tennessee, what we discuss in session is considered a privileged communication afforded the same status as an attorney-client communication. However, there are limits to the privilege of confidentiality. These situations include:
With these exceptions, unless you specifically sign a release of information authorizing us to talk to someone, all privileged communications here are kept private and confidential. Copies of the Wellness Commons Privacy Statement can be obtained at our front office and you will sign this form at your first appointment.
Information obtained by a psychologist, social worker, counselor, nurse, nurse practitioner, physician, or another member of your health care team will be documented in your electronic medical record and used to determine the course of treatment most appropriate. Information is shared within CAPS and UHS on a strict “need to know” basis. The CAPS and UHS staff works as an integrated team to provide the highest quality medical and behavioral healthcare.
