Fundamentals of CAPS
What Does CAPS Do?
• CAPS deals with an array of psychological concerns affecting all Penn (undergraduate and graduate) students.
• Typical issues range from adjustment, stress, relationships, identity development, depression, anxiety, academic performance to serious psychological disorders (such as bipolar and eating disorders).
• CAPS sees over 2200 students per year for individual and group counseling. In addition, CAPS provides outreach and consultation services to the campus community.
How Does Counseling Help?
• Research demonstrates counseling is extremely effective in helping alleviate/reduce symptoms of psychological distress, including anxiety and depression.
• Therapy also helps by allowing students to talk about their concerns in a confidential and nonjudgmental environment, to obtain specific advice, and develop skills to problem solve their particular concerns.
• CAPS research has found that students typically report significant reduction in their symptoms between 1 to 10 sessions.
How to Help Your Resident
• Find a private and comfortable place to talk.
• Listen rather than problem solve.
• Validate their experience.
• Avoid judging and criticizing.
• Communicate reasons for your concern in a genuine and caring way.
• Discuss how counseling can be beneficial and challenge stereotypes they may have of counseling.
• Offer to go with them to CAPS.
• If none of these suggestions works, consult with a CAPS clinician.
What Do You Do in a Mental Helath Crisis?
• Crises of psychological nature do and will happen.
• Crises can involve suicidal/homicidal threats and behaviors, extreme anxiety and agitation, bizarre thoughts/behaviors, and highly disruptive behaviors.
• STAY CALM! Immediately contact the on call supervisor. Never leave the person alone.
• Do not make promises of confidentiality. Remind student your effort is geared towards helping them so they may obtain the most appropriate care based on their situation.
• Have the supervisor call the CAPS after-hours number as needed (215-349-5490) and ask for the CAPS on-call clinician.
Contact Us
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
