Welcome to CAPS!

The staff at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) invites all undergraduate students to make an initial appointment to meet with a CAPS clinician to discuss any concerns. During this initial meeting, the clinician will collaborate with the student to develop a care plan that best meets the student's needs. Possible care plans may include brief counseling at CAPS, group therapy, or off-campus therapy referrals. 

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

Location: Wellness Commons, ground floor

Scope of Care

When appropriate, students are referred for 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 link below). We also provide limited psychiatry services for undergraduate students who are existing CAPS students. 

 

To schedule an appointment, call (931) 598-1325 or walk in during business hours. 

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:

  • Serious thoughts of suicide
  • Thoughts of harming someone else
  • Recent assault or abuse
  • Hallucinations
  • Recent death of a loved one or other significant loss
  • Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event
  • Other personal safety concerns

For immediate emergency care, call 911, call Campus Police at (931) 598-1111, or go immediately to the nearest hospital emergency room.

Student Portal

Use the student portal to find appointments, contact staff confidentially, and to fill out questionnaires. 

FAQs

To find out more about making appointments, cancelling appointments, paying for appointments, confidentiality, and what to do in a crisis, see our FAQ page. 

Additional Resources

Additional emergency resources:

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 9-8-8
  • Crisis Text Line: Text "HOME" to 741741
  • TN Centerstone Crisis Care Line: (800) 681-7444
  • Students of Color Crisis Text Line: Text "STEVE" to 741741
  • Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ+ Youth: (866) 488-7386
  • Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
  • My SSP for International Students: 1 (866) 743-7732

 

See below for a list of community mental health providers, sexual assault resources, and additional wellness resources. 

Master's Level Internship

Are you in a Master's program for counseling or social work and looking for an internship location? Find out more about opportunities at Sewanee's CAPS!

Meet the CAPS Team

Leigh Collins, MSW, LCSW
Director

With more than two decades of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Leigh is a skilled clinician, leader, facilitator, and writer. In addition to her experience as a social worker, she is a certified yoga instructor and biofeedback practitioner, with a strong commitment to holistic health and flourishing. Leigh received her MSW from Tulane University and has experience working with students in higher education, secondary schools, and outpatient clinical settings. 

 

Something about Leigh: "My daughter is a Sewanee student, and I fell in love with the Sewanee community through visiting her. In my free time, I can be found hiking with my dog or taking yoga classes in Sewanee, Monteagle, and Tracy City."

Elise Anderson, MSW, LCSW
Associate Director

A Saint-Andrew's-Sewanee School and Sewanee graduate, Elise returned to the Mountain in 2020 after completing a 2-year Post-Master's Clinical Fellowship at NC State University Counseling Center. Prior to her fellowship, Elise earned her master's degree in Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration from the University of Chicago. Elise is passionate about working with the college population, and specializes in mindfulness-based approaches such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Elise is committed to creating spaces that are strengths-based, anti-oppressive, and trauma-informed.

 

Something about Elise: "In my free time, you can probably find me cuddling my beloved 3-legged cat, Abbo, who I affectionately call 'Bobo.' I named him after one of my favorite spots on campus, Abbo's Alley."

Kevin Cummings, MSW, LMSW
Staff Clinician

Kevin joined CAPS as a full-time therapist in the summer of 2022 after four years in community mental health and two semesters as a CAPS contract clinician. Journalist-turned-therapist, Kevin worked for 16 years across five states in newspaper roles such as editor, publisher, and reporter. After deciding to leave journalism, he earned a master’s degree in social work from Middle Tennessee State University. His undergraduate degree concentrations are in psychology and sociology. Kevin is trained in Eye-Movement, Desensitization, and Reprocessing therapy (EMDR), and has significant interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as psychodrama, and mindfulness.
 
Something about Kevin: “Growing up in Georgia, I continue to be a big fan of all Atlanta sports teams. I am also co-founder of Sewanee Spoken Word, fancy myself a writer, and practice admiration for poetry and good stories.”

Molly Ellson, MSW
Staff Clinician

Molly's experience in sexual assault prevention, crisis intervention, and working in a psychiatric hospital setting inform her trauma-focused and strengths-based approach with students. Molly received her BSW from East Tennessee State University and her MSW from Fordham University. Her professional interests include trauma, addiction, depression, anxiety, autism, family dynamics, and international social work. 

 

Something about Molly: "In my free time, I enjoy cooking new recipes, being in nature, singing and listening to music, and learning about other cultures through my work with International Social Work Solutions (ISWS)."

Emily Ezell, MSSW, LMSW
Staff Clinician

Emily first joined the Wellness staff in 2019 as a contract therapist and became a full-time staff clinician in 2020. She uses a client-centered, strengths-based approach, and integrates a variety of therapy techniques based on each client's needs. Emily often draws from Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Theory, and her professional interests include anxiety, depression, self-esteem, ADHD, grief, and trauma. She has worked in school and community mental health settings in Franklin and Coffee counties prior to her work at the Wellness Center. Emily graduated from Sewanee with a BA in Religious Studies and from the University of Tennessee with a Masters of Science in Social Work. In between undergraduate and graduate school, Emily served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Panama. 

 

Something about Emily: "I brought back my dog from Panama, and I enjoy spending time on Sewanee trails with my dog, as well as learning new hobbies, like gardening and canning."

Anna Palmer
Office Coordinator

Anna is a 2017 graduate of Sewanee with an immense love of this community. She is currently working on her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to eventually get her LPC. 

 

Something about Anna: "When I am not snuggled up with my two dogs, Moose and Mavis, reading a book, I can be found hiking the trails in Sewanee or attempting to keep my many plants alive."