The staff at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) works to promote the mental health and wellbeing of our students and our community. Students are invited to make an appointment to meet with a CAPS clinician to discuss any mental health concerns.
DONATE TODAY
Interested in supporting student wellness at Sewanee? Contribute to the Wellness Commons general fund to be a part of initiatives like:
Hours and Contact Information
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed for lunch daily from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Phone: (931) 598-1325
Email: caps@sewanee.edu
Fax: (931) 598-1261
Location: 604 University Ave., Sewanee, TN 37383
Wellness Commons, ground floor
How to Schedule a CAPS Appointment
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 as you cannot schedule follow-up appointments on the portal.
Emergency Counseling Services
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, Highpoint Health - Sewanee with Ascension Saint Thomas, is located at 1260 University Ave. The non-emergency phone number for the hospital is (931) 598-5691.
The CAPS Model of Service Delivery: Holistic Stepped Care
The stepped care model is a framework designed to provide students with tailored mental health support while optimizing resources and accessibility. It operates by matching the intensity of care to students’ levels of need. The model includes low-intensity services, such as self-help tools and outreach programs that are designed to meet the needs of the unique campus population. For students requiring more assistance, higher levels of care, such as individual therapy, group counseling, and medication management are available. By streamlining services and focusing on right-sizing care, our holistic approach to the stepped care model fosters a responsive and sustainable mental health system for our campus.
Individual Therapy: When appropriate, students may participate in brief, goal-oriented mental health counseling with a CAPS clinician. Although we don't impose a session limit, students are often able to meet their counseling goals within 4 or 5 sessions. Sessions typically take place every other week and last 45-50 minutes. Students are welcome to return to CAPS as needed throughout their time at Sewanee. Students needing longer-term or more intensive (i.e. weekly) therapy are typically provided with referral information for off-campus therapists (see Community Mental Health Provider section below).
Group Therapy: We offer Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) groups each semester. These are skills-based groups that help students learn how to communicate effectively and manage strong emotions. We also offer other groups as needed, and we frequently partner with a chaplain to offer a grief group.
Special Offerings: As part of our stepped care model, we have created a variety of programs ranging from more intensive individual therapy to creative and research-informed alternatives to traditional talk therapy.
Knowing how to recognize signs of distress, how to respond, and how to access resources will equip faculty and staff with the tools to support a student who needs help. Our staff has created this Purple Folder as a resource for employees to help students in distress.
Our Core Values
We are Inclusive.
We believe strongly in the value of all people. We welcome students of all cultures, all races, all sexual orientations, all gender identities, and all spiritual beliefs. We are firmly committed to ensuring that our center is a safe space for ALL.
We are Strengths-focused.
We believe that all people have the capacity to grow and to change. We understand that each of our students has abilities, assets, and resources which they can tap into to assist with their problems and goals. We also see the social environment of Sewanee as a place rich with resources and opportunities, and we help students connect with these resources to increase psychological well-being.
We are Student-centered.
We recognize that our students are the experts in their own lives, and we are committed to collaborative models of mental health care. We strive to recognize, accept, and address the full spectrum of our students' individual and collective lives and mental health needs.
Access your Patient Portal to manage appointments, contact staff confidentially, and fill out questionnaires and forms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To find out more about making appointments, cancelling appointments, managing a crisis, and confidentiality, see our FAQ page.
Additional Resources
Additional emergency resources:
See below for a list of community mental health providers, sexual assault resources, and additional wellness resources.
Graduate Level Internship
Are you in a graduate program for counseling or social work and looking for an internship location? Find out more about opportunities at Sewanee's CAPS!
Follow us on social media to stay up to date on the Wellness Commons!
