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Making the first appointment, and what to expect...

If you are interested in meeting with someone to talk about your current struggles, this is what you can do, and what you can expect.

1. First contact: During business hours, call (202-687-6985) or walk-in (location) and tell the receptionist that you would like to make an initial appointment.
   • If you call, you may be asked to leave a message with the Intake Coordinator, stating your name, number, and best times to call you back.
   • If you walk in, you may be asked to wait until the Intake Coordinator is free and can meet with you.
     
2. Intake: When you speak with the Intake Coordinator, he/she will:
   • Ask for some basic information, including your class, school, contact number, and SSN (used to begin a file).
   • Ask for a brief mention of your reason for coming to CAPS.
   • Schedule an intial evaluation session with a CAPS clinician
     • More urgent sessions can be schedule immediately or later that day, depending on need.
     • Non-urgent session will typically be scheduled within a week.
   • Answer any questions you may have about CAPS services.
   • (This Intake process typically lasts from 5-15 minutes)
     
3. Evaluation: You will then meet with a CAPS clinician for an evaluation period.
   • Prior to the intial evalution session, you will be asked to fill out these forms (Informed Consent, Patient Information Form), so please come about 15 minutes prior to your first session.
   • The evaluation is an extended interview, and is typically a 45/50 minute session, once-a-week, for two to three weeks.
   • It is free for all students, and is confidential (with a few exceptions, as mentioned on the informed consent form).
   • During the evaluation period, you clinician will gather information about your presenting problem, your goals, your background, etc.
   • Also during the evaluation, your need and interest in medication services will be discussed, if present.
     
4. Dispostion (the next step): By the end of the evaluation, you both will decide on the next step, which may be based on the counselor's recommendations and/or your interest.  Some next steps could include:
   • Nothing for the moment.  You may decide that you are not interested or in need of further services.
   • Ongoing therapy.  Because of CAPS limited resources, your counselor may explore referrals for treatment off-campus, if you are willing and able to seek treatment locally.  If not, ongoing therapy at CAPS is possible for full-time students, for a negotiated fee.  No one is ever turned away from CAPS due to an inability to pay. Ongoing therapy may or may not be with your evaluation clinician.
   • Psychiatric (medication) services (off-campus or at CAPS).  At CAPS, initial medication consultations are free, with a negotiated fee for ongoing medication services.
   • Group therapy.