FAQ

Common questions about counseling:

• Will my going to counseling appear on my University record?

   Coming to counseling in itself is not recorded in any way on your transcript or any University record which would be sent to others. If you ask for a letter from us to get out of a course, for example, that letter will be in your file for a time, but it won't appear on any record sent outside the University. It is possible that when you apply for a job, especially if the employer requires security clearance, you will be asked if you have had psychotherapy or counseling in the past. It is up to you how you answer that question. The policy of Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services is not to release any information about people who have been in counseling, even whether they came at all, without an explicit request from the client him- or herself.

• Will what I say be kept confidential?

In general everything you say will be kept confidential. Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services staff members have a legal and ethical obligation to protect your privacy. However, there are several exceptions to the general rule of confidentiality. We would be required to release information and possibly contact appropriate people if:

• we believed you were a serious threat to either yourself or someone else
• we learned information which led us to believe that someone under the age of 18 was being abused
• we received a valid court order to release the information.

   It is our policy, by the way, to avoid appearance in court. This means that if you anticipate wanting your therapist to testify in court for you (for example, regarding psychological impairment as a result of an accident) we will refer you to someone who specializes in forensic (court-related) work.  

   In order to facilitate your counseling, there are several other ways in which information about you might be shared with others. First, if you are seeing one of our graduate student therapists, all their sessions are supervised by a senior staff member. This means in most cases that sessions must be audiotaped, though this requirement can always be discussed with the therapist. Second, any member of the staff might consult with one or more other staff members (preserving your anonymity as much as possible) in order to better understand you and figure out the best way to be helpful. If you also see another professional, such as a campus psychiatrist or a previous therapist, we will ask your permission to get in touch with them in order to coordinate therapy.

• How much does counseling cost?

All our services are free for the students at Rutgers University who are eligible for our services. This would include all registered full-time students.  For part-time and summer school students, there is a small Health Services fee that must be paid in order to be eligible for CAPS services.

• Is Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services handicapped accessible?

Yes. The main office at 17 Senior Street on the College Avenue Campus is handicapped accessible.  The office at 61 Nichol Avenue on the Douglass Campus is also handicapped accessible.

• Is there a waiting list for services at Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services?

We have recently revised our intake procedures at CAPS to eliminate the need for a protracted waiting list. All students will be able to speak to a counselor for an initial screening on the day they called (or the next morning at the latest). At all times, we are available immediately for students whose problems are "emergencies" (meaning, roughly, that you feel you are a danger to yourself or others, or your mental stability or a significant part of your life is at risk if you don't get help right away). For more urgent concerns we will get you in for an appointment within about two days. For non-emergencies, regular appointments are usually available within a week after the initial screening. This may vary somewhat from office to office, depending on which office is receiving more requests for service at that time. We always try to respond to individual situations, and encourage clients to ask for what they feel they need. When the wait is longer on one campus we are likely to offer referral to another office which has openings rather than just keep someone waiting for a longer time. We encourage you to be flexible about where you go, in order to receive services most quickly.

• Can I get a referral from Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services to a therapist in private practice, or a specialist?

Yes. Counseling, ADAP & Psychiatric Services offices have an extensive list of private practitioners in the New Brunswick/Highland Park area (i.e., within a few blocks of campus or a campus bus stop), with some information about people in other areas in New Jersey and Internet access to sources of information about other parts of the country. We may also be able to help you find specialists in different fields. Just call and ask to speak to one of the counselors about getting a referral.

• Is counseling available year-round? Is it available after graduation?

The College Avenue office at 17 Senior Street is open twelve months a year. The counseling office on the Douglass Campus is closed during the summer (July and August). All offices are closed on University holidays and weekends. Services at the counseling offices are not available to students before they enter Rutgers or after they graduate, other than a session or two to make a referral to other services. Continuing students who are NOT registered for summer classes must pay a health fee in order to be eligible for CAPS services during the summer.