Appointments and Eligibility

Students enrolled at the Lancaster location are eligible for a maximum of three individual counseling sessions per academic year for short-term problem resolution and/or referral to off-campus resources. To schedule an appointment with CAPS at Lancaster, please email CAPS-L@sju.edu or call 610-660-1090.

Appointments, which are recommended, can be scheduled on Hawk Hill by calling 610-660-1090 or visiting in person at A504 Merion Gardens. A first appointment typically can be scheduled within 2-3 days of an initial request. On weekdays, while school is in session, urgent concerns are usually accommodated through the utilization of our drop-in hours. During office hours and between drop-in times, a CAPS therapist will be available in cases of emergencies.

Full-time, degree-seeking, undergraduate and graduate students at SJU are eligible to receive ongoing individual and group counseling services. While there is not a specific limit on the number of counseling sessions a student can receive, we employ a goal-focused model with the average number of sessions being between 6-7. Due to demand, most appointments are scheduled for every two weeks. Students needing consistent, long-term counseling and/or specialized care are assisted with finding resources off-campus to best meet their needs. The following exceptions also apply:

• Part-time, degree-seeking students are eligible for up to 3 individual counseling sessions per academic year for short-term problem resolution and/or referral. The specific number and type of sessions will be discussed during your first meeting. 
• Summer eligibility: full-time students who are enrolled during the summer are eligible for services. In addition, full-time students who were enrolled in the previous spring semester AND are enrolled for the upcoming fall semester are eligible. Students must also reside in the local Pennsylvania area in order to receive services during the summer.
• Students who have graduated are not eligible for services. If they had previously been in therapy at CAPS, graduating students may request one consultation appointment immediately after graduation in order to help find off-campus resources. 
• Incoming undergraduate or graduate students who have not previously been enrolled at SJU are not eligible for services until the start of their academic year. Students who were previously undergraduates at SJU and will be starting a graduate program in semester after they graduate may be eligible.
• Students enrolled in an Online-only program who reside in the local area are subject to eligibility listed above for full-time and part-time students. Online-only students who reside outside of the local area can consult with CAPS staff for referral purposes.
• Students on a Leave of Absence or who have withdrawn from the University are ineligible for services.
• Students who are required/mandated to receive mental health treatment or assessment by a court of law or University department/office are ineligible for services and will be referred to a professional in the community.
• Employees of Saint Joseph's University are not eligible for counseling services but are welcome to consult with CAPS staff for the purposes of referral. Referrals are also available to faculty and staff through the Employee Assistance Program office at 866-799-2728.
• Students’ spouses/domestic partners who are not Saint Joseph’s students, parents of students, and dependent children of students are ineligible for CAPS services.

First-time appointments to CAPS will consist of a 30-minute initial interview with a CAPS professional therapist for the purpose of assessing the nature of your concerns and discussing a plan for counseling. If CAPS can best serve your needs, you will be scheduled for a full session with either a CAPS professional therapist or a trainee who is supervised by a licensed staff member. For students whose needs are best served by seeing a mental health professional in the community, CAPS will assist in making the referral.

Counseling appointments typically last 45 minutes, but students may also be scheduled for 30 minute appointments based on clinical need. Due to scheduling demands, latecomers will not be able to be seen for the full 45 minutes. Those students running more than 10 minutes late are advised to call first to make sure that the appointment has not been given to another student. Depending on your and your therapist's availability, you may be asked to reschedule.

Please note: Students should not pursue services at CAPS for the sole purpose of obtaining a letter of support. CAPS does not provide letters at first appointment. However, after a counseling relationship has been established over multiple sessions, with informed consent, we can document attendance and/or determine a diagnosis that may serve to qualify for services within the Office of Student Disability Services. Students seeking letters of support as an initial need are encouraged to seek letters from individuals directly involved in their care, such as past or present mental health providers or medical doctors.

CAPS experiences a heavy demand for services; if you find that you cannot attend your appointment, it is your responsibility to contact CAPS by phone or email as soon as possible to cancel or reschedule. This gives us an opportunity to use the time for another student. We request at least 24-hours notice whenever possible, though we understand that circumstances may not allow for advance notice. If you need to cancel after normal working hours, you may leave your message on voicemail (610-660-1090).

Students with three missed therapy/psychiatry appointments in a rolling three-month period may be ineligible for counseling services for the remainder of the current term. If the missed appointments occur towards the end of the semester, the student may be ineligible for services the following term. Appointments not canceled at least 24 hours in advance may be considered a missed appointment and included in this total, depending on clinician discretion. If you are determined to be ineligible for services, a therapist at CAPS will notify you of your status via email and can assist you with finding a referral in the community.