
USF Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) provides
individual, couple and group counseling for students as well consultation and
outreach services to support students’ wellness and success. Detailed
information can be found throughout this website.
The
Scope of Our Services
CAPS invites students to schedule an initial
telephone consultation to speak with one of our counselors and discuss their
concerns. During this initial conversation, the counselor will assist students
in obtaining the appropriate services to address these concerns by recommending
services within CAPS or in the Bay Area community. Student concerns that can be
addressed within a brief model of therapy are usually referred to CAPS, while,
more comprehensive concerns or medication issues requiring longer term therapy are
best addressed in the community.
CAPS utilizes a short-term model of therapy for individual and couple sessions in order
to use its resources most effectively and assist students in addressing issues
common in a college setting.
Some of the issues that are commonly addressed in
short-term counseling at CAPS are:
- Personal
Issues: Stress and anxiety, depression, anger, loneliness, guilt, self-esteem,
grief and loss
- Relationship
Issues: Romantic relationship difficulties, sexual concerns, roommate conflicts,
difficulties with co-workers, issues with family or friends
- Developmental
Issues: Identity development, adjustment to college, life transitions, cultural
concerns
- Academic
Concerns: Performance anxiety, perfectionism, underachievement, motivation
- Other
Issues: Spiritual concerns, body image/food
preoccupation, healthy lifestyle choices, alcohol and drug use concerns, sexual
assault
Service
Limitations
Students whose mental health needs cannot be
accommodated within short-term counseling are referred to community resources.
Similarly, students who require a particular type of expertise that is not
available at CAPS, need to meet with a clinician more than once a week or are in
need of a psychotropic medication are also referred to community resources. Students may be referred out to the community after
the phone consultation or during the course of treatment at CAPS as factors
become apparent during or after the intake assessment. Some of the issues that
are commonly and more appropriately addressed by services in the community include:
Need
to see a therapist more than once a week;
for more than 8-10 counseling sessions
in longer-term therapy, and/or require comprehensive services due to :
- History
of multiple psychiatric hospitalizations
- Chronic
suicidality and/or self-injury behaviors; history of suicide attempts
- Indication
that short-term therapy may be detrimental or non-beneficial
- Evidence
or risk of progressive deterioration in mental or emotional functioning,
requiring intensive intervention
- Manifestations
of bipolar and/or psychotic symptoms without willingness to remain on
medication for stabilization of symptoms
- Inability
or unwillingness to provide the necessary information to thoroughly assess
symptoms.
- Students
who need specialized services not available through CAPS as indicated by:
- Presence
of significant drug and/or alcohol problems such as substance dependence,
primary substance abuse, and/or past failed treatments
- Presence
of significant or long-standing eating disorder with no period of remission, no
previous treatment, or that may pose a medical danger
- Request
for psychological evaluation for the purpose of employment clearance or other
nonacademic needs
- Services
to fulfill students’ court-mandated assessment or treatment requirements.
* * *
For services for Faculty and Staff contact CONCERN Employee Assistance Program (EAP) (800) 344-4222
Please note, CAPS clinical staff members are unable to provide
documentation for disability accommodations, release of Residence Hall contracts, or study abroad clearance. We
will be happy to assist individuals in finding an outside clinician for
completion of these assessments.