Our Services

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a safe and confidential setting where personal concerns can be openly explored and discussed with a staff therapist or doctoral level trainee (under supervision). A brief counseling focus typically meets the needs of most students and can be utilized flexibly on multiple occasions throughout one's college career. Those in need of long-term, ongoing counseling or specialized care are typically referred to providers in the local community after an initial assessment. Counseling services are voluntary, confidential and free-of-charge.

Individual counseling is usually scheduled by appointment. Our drop-in center hours typically can accommodate more urgent needs and emergencies. Most individual counseling sessions by appointment last 50 minutes or less and are scheduled for every two weeks due to demand.

Please see our appointments and eligibility page for more information about our counseling programs and what we provide to full-time students vs part-time students.

On average, over 700 Saint Joseph's students per year seek individual counseling for a wide variety of reasons including:

• to cope more effectively with stress and anxiety
• learn new coping skills
• increase self-confidence
• become more assertive
• overcome loneliness
• deal with problems involving drug or alcohol use/abuse
• develop more satisfying relationships
• change unhealthy eating habits
• overcome feelings of depression and/or anxiety
• deal with the loss/death of a loved one
• work through a decision
• gain insight into a conflict
• come to terms with a traumatic experience

Group counseling is an opportunity to talk with a small number of peers who have similar concerns within a safe, confidential setting. Groups are facilitated by one or two trained therapistss and typically meet weekly throughout the semester.

Groups are offered on a variety of topics including:

• Grief Support
• First Year Adjustment
• Procrastination/Motivation
• Managing Moods
• Anxiety/Stress Relief
• Survivors of Sexual Assault

For information about options for the current semester, please visit the Current Groups page.

When classes are in session, we offer Drop-In Counseling during specific hours for students with urgent concerns. Students may come in person or call (during drop-in hours) to arrange a meeting with a professional therapist or advanced trainee; no appointment is needed. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Drop-In Counseling Hours are offered every day during the Fall and Spring semesters in the following locations:

• 11 am - 12:30 pm: LaFarge Residence Hall (Hawk Hill)
• 3 pm - 4 pm: Merion Gardens A504 (Hawk Hill)
• Business Hours (when counselors are available): Whitecar Hall (University City)

Drop-In Hours are also available during the Fall and Spring semesters in the Center for Inclusion and Diversity on Hawk Hill, on Mondays from 2-3:30 pm. This drop-in is open to all students but with an emphasis on supporting individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, LGBTQIA+, first-generation college students, international students, and commuters.

Additionally, we will be offering Drop-In hours at Campus Ministry in Wolfington Hall on Wednesdays from 1-2:30 pm. This drop-in is open to all students, with an emphasis on supporting individuals with religious and spiritual concerns and those affiliated with Campus Ministry and other religious/spiritual groups and organizations specifically.

During the summer term and winter break, please call CAPS to discuss drop-in availability.

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

CAPS recognizes that there may be certain times of the semester in which students experience a higher level of difficulty due to additional stressors related to their academic, work, or personal lives. To help support these students, CAPS will offer Same Day Appointments during the final two weeks of each semester.

Same Day Appointments are confidential, solution-focused, 25-30 minute sessions where you will meet with a therapist to talk about a specific question or concern. You may have a particular topic that you would like to discuss, but are not interested in meeting for ongoing counseling. You may also schedule during this time if you are experiencing an immediate crisis that requires support and would like to create a plan to manage that crisis. At the end of this Same Day Appointment, you and your therapist will have discussed your presenting concerns and created a customized plan with next steps for pursuing your mental health and wellness goals, such as following up with CAPS in the future, connecting you with another resource on campus, or seeking an off-campus referral.

To speak with a therapist, you can call CAPS on the day you would like to be seen and our friendly office staff will assist you with scheduling a Same Day Appointment. Current and new clients are scheduled on a first come, first served basis.

PLEASE NOTE: As a general policy, CAPS does not provide excuses/notes for mental health concerns that may result in missed academic classes, exams, assignments, labs, or other work. We recommend that you speak with your academic advisor or professors directly.

Throughout the academic year, CAPS offers programs on specialized topics of interest to the university community. Come back soon to see future offerings, and follow us on Instagram for programming updates throughout the year.

The professional staff of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to provide educational programs in classrooms or residence halls for students, faculty and staff. Requests and suggestions for programming are always welcome. In addition, the therapists are available to consult with RAs, student leaders, faculty, and staff to help them develop programs tailored to the needs of their particular groups. A sampling of classroom lectures includes the following topics:

• Understanding Motivation and Procrastination
• Active Listening Skills
• Anxiety & Stress Management
• Sexual Assault Prevention
• Alcohol and Other Drug Awareness
• Grief and Bereavement
• Body Image

Many times Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) will offer an educational and/or interactive workshop of one to five sessions. Following are workshops which have been offered in the past:

• Coping Skills
• Defeating Procrastination and Exam Survival Skills
• Anger Management
• Communication Skills
• Sexual Assault Prevention
• Drug and Alcohol Awareness
• Healthy Relationships
• Stress Management

Students, faculty, staff and family members may wish to consult with the CAPS staff whenever there is a concern about a student or fellow employee. By phone or in person, therapists may provide information on referrals to other mental health services, on assisting a friend or family member who is in crisis, on determining if one can benefit from counseling, as well as on any other mental health issue. In such instances, the same principles of confidentiality apply.

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Training

The QPR gatekeeper training program teaches participants to effectively recognize and respond to emotionally distressed individuals who may be at risk for suicide. In an interactive format attendees will learn:

• How to identify warning signs of severe emotional distress and suicide
• The myths about suicide that can impede an effective response
• How to skillfully engage a distressed person and ask about suicide
• How to persuade a person to seek help and refer to appropriate resources

Gatekeeper trainings typically run for 75-90 minutes. Interested participants can register for a scheduled training. Student groups that request a training will be contacted to set up a mutually convenient time & date. Trainers include SJU professional staff from Counseling and Psychological Services and the Office of Student Support and Well-being.

Request a Training

Requests for Emotional Support Animals

Emotional Support Animals (sometimes called Assistance Animals or Therapy Animals) are often used as part of a medical treatment plan as therapy animals and are not considered service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As this is outside of our area of expertise, CAPS therapists cannot provide assessments regarding the need for emotional support animals.

Requests for Excuse from Class

As a general policy, CAPS does not provide excuses/notes for mental health concerns that may result in missed academic classes, exams, assignments, labs, or other work. We recommend that you speak with your academic advisor or professors directly. Students who require specific accommodations due to mental health concerns or general medical issues must be registered with the Office of Student Disability Services.

Interview Requests

Due to the nature of our services and the necessity of prioritizing our schedule to meet the mental health and wellness needs of SJU students, requests to meet with a CAPS staff member for class assignments or projects typically cannot be accommodated. Interview requests for news media should be directed to caps@sju.edu for consideration, but also cannot be guaranteed.

Have questions about therapy and what to expect at CAPS? Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page!