What Kinds of Concerns Do Students Bring to CAPS?
We are located at 36th and Walnut, on the 2nd floor above the Ann Taylor Loft, across from the Penn Bookstore. The entrance is on 36th Street, across from Cosi.
The Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers a wide range of services including: individual and group counseling and therapy, crisis intervention, structured workshops, psychological testing, medication reviews, and consultation. One or more of our services could be suitable for you. In the past few years, we have provided individual counseling services to over 2,900 Penn students per year.
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Your Initial Contact:
To receive services please call 215-898-7021 (between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday) to receive an intial phone consultation with a counselor. CAPS does not schedule first appointments via email. The initial consultation will last about 15 minutes, and usually will be on the same day you call. The counselor will collect some information from you, and help connect you with the services most appropriate for your needs. You may be scheduled for an initial appointment (see below) or connected with other resources on campus and/or in the community.
Your Initial Appointment:
Once your first appointment with a CAPS counselor has been scheduled, you will need to fill out some forms. You can complete the forms in our office before your initial appointment, or you can download our forms here. In either case, please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment as there is typically another form to complete before your meeting. This initial appointment allows us to gather information, get a clear picture of your needs, and to make some decisions about the most appropriate course of action to be taken.
Counseling is a partnership between an individual and a professional like a psychologist or social worker who is trained to assist undergraduate, graduate and professional students.
To help students in their adjustment to college life and to help them take full advantage of the academic and social environment at the University.
To learn to manage personal problems and situational crises effectively, learn strategies to cope with academic stress, and develop self-awareness, personal responsibility, and skills for life-long learning.
We welcome all students regardless of race, sex, ethnic background, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or physical status.
If you are concerned about the well-being of a friend or roommate, you can consult with a CAPS staff by phone or in person. You can discuss your concerns confidentially and get advice on how to best help this person. For more information on how to help a friend, please click here.
Office hours are 9am to 5pm. If you are in an urgent situation or cannot wait until the first available appointment during office hours, please call CAPS at 215-898-7021 and ask for the On-Call Clinician.
After Hours (after 5pm): If it is after office hours, including weekends, please call the operator at the University of Pennsylvania Health Systems 215-349-5490. The operator will page the CAPS Clinician On Call who will return your phone call.
The Counseling and Psychological Services at the Univerisity of Pennsylvania strictly protects the confidentiality of information shared during sessions. We are ethically committed to confidentiality and federal/state laws require it. This means that even your attendance in counseling is kept private and confidential.
State and Federal law states that there are four exceptions to this general rule:
a) you may request (by means of a signed release) that your counselor reveal information to other individuals or agencies of your choice.
b) in instances where there is imminent danger of serious harm to yourself or others.
c) in cases involving physical and/or sexual abuse of children or endangered adults.
d) where otherwise requested by subpoena or mandated by court order or state/federal law.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
133 South 36th Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Hours: 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday
Emergencies: 215-349-5490 (ask for CAPS Clinician On Call)
Tel: 215-898-7021
Fax: 215-573-8966
Email: caps@pobox.upenn.edu
©2008
Counseling and Psychological Services, a division of University Life, University of Pennsylvania 
