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Center. The individual assessment, a diagnostic interview conducted at the initial point of contact,
helps determine which service is the optimal treatment for each student. Students can access care
through the CAPS walk-in clinic that operates from 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m., Monday–Friday. This clinic
runs on a first-come, first-served basis, and students can plan on one and a half to two hours for
the individual assessment. Redfern Health Center is open for operation on weekdays, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
(8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. during summer and semester breaks), except on Wednesdays when Redfern
opens at 9 a.m. (9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. during summer and semester breaks). However, many groups are
scheduled after 5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. during summer and semester breaks) to accommodate students’
needs. Given that leaving home and entering a new educational environment can be a time of
transition, paying attention to your student’s mental health is important. Responding to this time
of change with some anxiety and low mood is very normal. Most students rise up to the challenge
and, with your support and encouragement, can regain their balance. However, sometimes these
issues can worsen and may require more attention.
CAPS offers a wide array of services along a continuum of intensity for various psychological
issues. On the low end of the continuum, a single session may serve a student well. In other
instances, a student’s needs may be best served by the various online treatments where a student
can access care anytime, anywhere with interactive modules through Therapist Assisted Online
(TAO). These treatments are particularly useful for students with hectic schedules but who are
still able to complete one module per week. These students can then connect online, weekly, for
a brief videoconferencing session with their counselor to check on how they are doing and review
their progress. Currently, CAPS offers online treatments for depression, anxiety, interpersonal
relationships and communication, as well as alcohol/drug use and recovery skills. In addition,
online psychological resources are available through the Mindfulness Library in TAO.
Some students prefer face-to-face instruction, and CAPS offers tranquility workshops several times
during the week. Tranquility workshops are a four-week series of one-hour workshops, specifically
designed to teach helpful skills in addressing the ordinary issues of depression and stress/anxiety.
In each workshop session, the students are introduced to adaptive skills and leave the session with
plans to practice these skills and apply them to the challenges the college experience offers them.
CAPS offers a vast number of therapy groups. This approach capitalizes on the fact many of the
issues college students contend with occur in a social setting, making group therapy ideal. Therapy
groups are either time-limited or run throughout the semester. Common groups address issues of
depression, anxiety, trauma survivors, relationships and drug/alcohol use. The most intense form of
therapy CAPS offers is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT requires two and a half hours per
week in learning skills classes and individual sessions. Couples and individual counseling are also
offered as determined by the individual assessment of the student.
As much as therapeutically possible, CAPS involves the parents as we collaborate to enhance
the mental health of the student. However, know that CAPS honors each students’ right to
confidentiality and others are only involved with the student’s consent. Given that some mental
PARENT TESTIMONIAL
“We have been very impressed
with the response time of
the campus representatives.
While walking back from a
football game to our daughter’s
residence hall in Lightsey,
my wife noticed a few overhead
bulbs out along the walkway
and emailed the campus police.
A representative immediately
responded and action was
taken to replace the light —
very happy about that!”
Dan Barton
Pittsgrove, N.J.