Patient Eligibility
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln students
Hours of Service
Monday through Friday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
We are located inside the University Health Center, Suite 223. To schedule an appointment, call 402.472.7450 or stop by.
After-hours assistance is available for urgent concerns by calling 402.472.7450 and following the prompts.
CAPS will be closed during the university's closedown December 23, 2019 through January 1, 2020. For assistance during this time, please call 402.472.7450 and follow the prompts.
Services Covered By Student Fees
- Most counseling services are completely covered by student fees. This includes individual counseling, support groups, therapy groups, etc.
Making Your First Appointment
When you call, please identify whether you've been seen at CAPS before. If you are unable to keep a scheduled appointment, please call to cancel. If you are more than 10 minutes late for your appointment, we may need to reschedule your appointment for a later day and/or time.
If you need to speak with a counselor about an immediate crisis or urgent need, call and request a SAME DAY ACCESS APPOINTMENT. Thus service is available for new and returning clients.
First Appointment at CAPS
If this is your first time at Counseling and Psychological Services, the first step will be a 15 to 20 minute appointment with a counselor to best assess your needs. If you are only interested in a one-time appointment, we can set up a 60-minute consultation appointment.
Appointment Descriptions
Same Day Access Appointment
These same-day appointments provide an opportunity to speak with a counselor about an immediate crisis, get support, and develop a plan to help manage your crisis. You decide whether or not your experience is a crisis. Examples include feeling suicidal, experiencing a recent trauma, or the recent death of a loved one. If you are unsure you can remain safe to attend your appointment, call 911 or visit the hospital emergency room.
You will be required to fill out some forms providing background information to help you and your counselor address your concern. Please arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment to allow time for the paperwork.
Initial Assessment Appointment
These appointments are for all students who have not been seen previously at CAPS. During the appointment, your counselor will work with you to determine your needs and the best next steps for services. We offer a variety of services at CAPS as well as resources on campus or in the Lincoln community.
You will be required to fill out forms providing background information to help you and your counselor address your concern. Please arrive 20 minutes before your appointment to allow time for paperwork.
Consultation Appointment
These appointments are one-time appointments for when you have a question or concern you would like to discuss with a counselor but do not want to meet for ongoing counseling. This appointment is solely focused on coping with your immediate need for yourself or for concern of someone else.
You will be required to fill out forms providing background information to help you and your counselor address your concern. Please arrive 20 minutes before your appointment to allow time for paperwork.
60-Minute Intake Appointment
These appointments are scheduled after routine counseling is determined as a recommendation during an initial assessment appointment. As a reminder, CAPS works within a short-term counseling framework. During the intake appointment, you and your counselor will determine your goals and develop a treatment plan that best fits your needs. If, at any time during your work with your counselor, you need long-term weekly appointments, your counselor will talk with you about CAPS Group Programs as an option. If other agencies can better meet your needs, your counselor will connect you with our Care Manager to provide you with resource information and/or appropriate referrals.
You will be required to fill out forms providing background information to help you and your counselor address your concern. Please arrive 20 minutes before your appointment to allow time for paperwork.
If you are not in crisis and would prefer to first work with a peer, you can book a Well-being Peer Coaching appointment online or contact Big Red Resilience and Well-being at 402.472.8770.
Confidentiality
The therapeutic relationship and what is discussed by a therapist and client are considered private and protected under the law. We adhere to professional, legal, and ethical guidelines established by the State of Nebraska and the American Psychological Association. Information about any aspect of your counseling relationship, including your appointments and records, will not be disclosed to anyone outside of the Counseling Center’s professional staff without your written permission. Please note that clinical records are completely separate from educational records and cannot be accessed by parents, faculty, staff, administrators or others without your written permission or court order.
However, Nebraska law establishes that in order to protect the client and/or the public, disclosures without the permission of the client may apply under the following circumstances:
- You are considered at immediate risk for harming yourself
- You are considered at immediate risk for harming others
- Previous or current child abuse
- Abuse of elderly persons or persons with disabilities
- A court order