Appointments and Eligibility

For the fall 2021 semester, Counseling and Psychological Services will be conducting in-person and remote services. For the first brief appointment, the primary mode of service will be telehealth using our secure version of Zoom. However, students may request to meet in person. At the first meeting student and therapist will discuss future service options, including in-person, telehealth, or community referral.

Consistent with University guidelines and to maintain the health and safety of students and staff, masks are required to be worn in the office of Counseling and Psychological Services. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been recently exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, please call to discuss options for rescheduling or arranging telehealth sessions. For the most recent announcements from the University regarding COVID-19 protocols, please visit Hawk Hill Ahead.

To schedule an appointment or for further questions, please call us at 610-660-1090.

Appointments are usually necessary and can be scheduled by phone (610-660-1090) or in-person (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 call-in hours. During office hours and between call-in times, a CAPS counselor will be available in cases of emergencies.

Full-time undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to receive ongoing individual counseling. While there is not a specific limit on the number of counseling sessions a student can receive, a short-term model is typically employed with the average number of sessions equaling 6-7. Students needing consistent, long-term, counseling and/or specialized care are helped to find resources off-campus to best meet their needs.

• Part-time students are eligible for up to 3 individual counseling sessions per academic year (not including the initial session) for short-term problem resolution and/or referral.
• Online students who reside in the local area are subject to eligibility listed above for full-time and part-time students. Online students who reside outside of the local area can consult with CAPS staff for referral purposes. 
• 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.

When classes are in session, we offer Drop-In Counseling Hours for students with urgent concerns. Students may drop in or call in to arrange a virtual meeting with a professional counselor; no appointment is needed. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Drop-In Counseling Hours are:

• 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: LaFarge Residence Hall
• 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.: Merion Gardens A54

To arrange a virtual meeting, please call our offices during drop-in times.

In the event of an EMERGENCY after normal office hours, students should call 911, SJU PUBLIC SAFETY (610-660-1111), or access after-hours counselors (610-660-1090, option 2).

First-time appointments to CAPS will consist of an initial interview with a CAPS professional counselor 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 psychologist, a post-doctoral fellow or a doctoral-level trainee. Our doctoral-level trainees and post-doctoral fellows have previous counseling experience and are supervised by professional staff. For students whose needs are best served by seeing a mental health professional in the community, CAPS will assist in making the referral.

Full counseling appointments typically last 45 minutes. Due to scheduling demands, latecomers will not be able to be seen for the full 45 minutes. Those students running more than 15 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 counselor's availability, re-scheduling your appointment may be the best option.

For CANCELLATIONS, please notify CAPS as soon as possible, preferably 24 hours in advance. After normal working hours, you may leave your message on voicemail (610-660-1090).

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.