Counseling and Psychological Services

Family and Friends

Family and Friends are in an important position to identify and help students who are in crisis or distress.  This may be particularly true for students who can not or will not turn to staff or faculty.  Many of these students have not sought counseling and may be unaware of the services available to them.  You may be the first to notice changes or hear about early signs of distress (during break when they return home or during phone conversations with them).  Students are apt to turn to you, especially if they perceive you as available and willing to listen, and not panic or trivialize their problems. Your expression of interest and concern may be a critical factor in saving your child's or friend's academic career or even his/her life.

We have some Tips for Family and Friends on our website but please check out the JED Foundation website for a wide variety of material and resources.

We know many families and friends have questions about our services and our work with students. Below is a list of some common questions we encounter. If you have other questions that we can assist you with, please call us at (831) 459-2628.

•     How do I refer students to CAPS?
•     I’m concerned about my student – what should I do?
•     What are confidentiality laws as they pertain to my student?

How do I refer students to CAPS?

Students can call our offices at (831) 459-2628 to make an appointment. The way to make a first time appointment is to call at (831) 459-2628 and you will be assisted by on eof the Front Office staff, at which time you will be given an appointment for a brief phone assessment by one of our staff. The CAPS Central Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m to 5:00 p.m. The other way to make an appointment with a specific CAPS staff member is to call that staff member directly - see CAPS Staff. It is the prerogative of the CPS staff member either to accept the referral directly or to redirect the request to the CAPS Central Office. If there is an emergency, they can be seen by our Crisis Counselor at our Central Office during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..

    I’m concerned about my student – what should I do?

We are available for consultation to friends or family members by phone. We invite concerned persons to call our office or visit our Web site to learn how to obtain counseling for the student of concern.  We are available for questions about how parents may assist their sons and daughters who may be struggling with a specific problem or if they are in need of specific services.  Moreover, we can assist friends and family with referrals to services somewhere else at the college or even outside of the college.

    What are confidentiality laws as they pertain to my student?

Due to state and federal laws, CAPS staff members cannot share information with others (including family members) about a student's visit to CAPS without written consent from the student. This is why we may not be able to provide specific information about your student if you call us for consultation. The only situations where we may legally breach confidentiality is if the student is gravely ill and may be in imminent harm to self or others. If you have questions regarding confidentiality, please contact our Central Offices at (831) 459-2628.