To become established with Counseling and Psychology students may schedule their first appointment as an Initial Consultation. Students may schedule online via MyHealthSpace, call CAP at 803-777-5223 or drop by in-person. Appointments can be scheduled as virtual telehealth sessions or in-person sessions.

You will need to have ZOOM downloaded on your personal computer. Students will “log in” from their MyHealthSpace account. Go to APPOINTMENTS, then click JOIN, from here you may receive a popup box/message that says, waiting for the host, who is “your provider” to join the session. Students MUST be in the state of South Carolina during virtual appointments. *If you are unable to connect to your virtual session for any reason, please call CAPS at 803-777-5223. Of note, if your initial CAP appointment is virtual, please be sure to complete the CAP consent form PRIOR to your appointment time.

To schedule, reschedule, or cancel any CAPS appointments, please call 803-777-5223 or login to MyHealthSpace. Students can schedule with their counselor after their session, upon checking out or call CAPS at 803-777-5223 at a later time.

CAPS is located on the fourth floor of the Center for Health and Well-Being, on campus. The address is 1401 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208. We also have counselors located in embedded locations across campus.  To view our embedded locations, visit Our Services.

Counseling Services are included in your Student Health Fee.  If you have not paid the student health fee, you may be charged a fee for services.  If you have questions about fees, you can send a message directly to “Financial Services” in your MyHealthSpace. 

CAPS offers individual counseling, group counseling, couples counseling, workshops, TAO coaching, community support and consultation, , and referrals.

We can provide you with a visit validation that confirms the date and time of your appointment with CAPS. However, it is ultimately at the discretion of your professors whether they will accept this validation as an excuse for missing class, assignments, or tests.  We oes not have the authority to grant excused absences. We encourage students to speak directly to their professors regarding absences or contact the Office of Student Advocacy for assistance communicating with faculty. Students should complete the Student Advocacy Report Form to request an excused absence. For more information about excused absences, visit the Office of Student Advocacy.

Yes, you have the option to change providers if you feel that your current provider is not a good fit. We recommend that you talk directly to your current provider about your desire to change providers.  If you are unable to have this conversation with your current provider, you can contact CAPS directly and a change of provider request will be submitted on your behalf, and you will receive a call to assist you in finding a provider that better suits your needs.

Individual therapy sessions are around 45 minutes. TAO coach sessions are about 30 minutes. Group sessions range from 60- 90 mins.

Individual therapy sessions are around 45 minutes. TAO coach sessions are about 30 minutes. Group sessions range from 60- 90 mins.

Most people who consider counseling are experiencing uncomfortable or distressing feelings, such as sadness, anxiety, uncertainty, or anger. People often go to counseling when their typical way of dealing with problems is no longer working. It might be the case that talking with friends or family is not helpful, or perhaps the problem is about friends or family. It can often be helpful to speak to someone who is unbiased and not involved in your life to get support.

Someone who is an appropriate candidate for counseling at CAP has an identified problem that is impacting their day-to-day functioning, including their ability to function as a successful student at USC, and is seeking shorter-term, solution-focused support.

If we determine that your needs can be best met with more specialized or more frequent services elsewhere we have case managment services to support you.  You can also utilize the Thriving Campus website to explore local resources.  

Any person (e.g., parent/caregiver, family member, friend, etc.) who has access to your MyHealthSpace account will have access to your CAPS records. We recommend only sharing your username and password with parents/caregivers or other trusted individuals if you are comfortable with them having access to your CAPS health information.

It is recommended that you arrive to all appointments 15 minutes early to complete any required paperwork.  You can access surveys or forms in your MyHealthSpace account. Your appointment may be rescheduled if you arrive late.  

Students can typically schedule a first appointment within one to two weeks.  Follow-up appointment times may vary.

Yes, but there are limitations to confidentiality that include if you are an imminent harm to self or others or if you share any information about abuse or neglect within a vulnerable group. 

CAPS does not provide the evaluation required to provide letters for emotional support animals. If you would like to learn more, please visit the web page for Accommodating Animals on Campus by the Student Disability Resource Center.

CAP offers both individual and group counseling. Please meet with a provider for a brief, initial consultation where one of our clinicians will provide an assessment to best determine your needs.

All senior staff are licensed within their discipline. CAPS serves as a training site and our clinical graduate students/interns do provide clinical services under the direct supervision of a licensed senior staff member.

CAPS offers several different types of groups that include skills, support, and interpersonal process.   Some of the benefits of group therapy include building community, reducing isolation, education, and coping strategies.  Research shows that some concerns are best addressed in group therapy.   

It depends. We may be able to offer a letter of support for students who are actively engaged in services with CAPS.  Students should discuss this with their provider. If you have a current or previous provider outside of CAPS, we recommend that you talk with them about a letter of support.