Services and Resources

Counseling can take a number of forms. The decision about which type of service may be appropriate is based on many factors, including your current concerns and needs, your counseling history, scheduling considerations, and availability of resources. Our goal in this process is to find the best way to attend to your concerns in the most effective and efficient way. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers the following services and works within a brief therapy model. Resources are available for self-help and self-access; essentially services that you can utilize without in-person assistance.

Initial Assessment

All registered UCF students are entitled to an initial assessment to determine what the focus of therapy will be and what type of services are most appropriate for a particular problem. If the student is under 18 years of age, parental consent will be needed to participate in an Initial Assessment or ongoing counseling. At the end of the interview, a counselor will give recommendations to students regarding the best mode of treatment. This may mean a service CAPS provides, or a referral to a resource on or off campus.

Individual Counseling

In a one-on-one interaction with a counselor, you are helped to express feelings, examine thoughts and beliefs, reflect on patterns of behavior, and work toward making healthy changes in your lives. Please note that there is a session limit for individual counseling, which your counselor will discuss with you in the initial meeting.

Group Counseling

Groups led by professional staff offer students a supportive and stimulating environment to explore common issues of concern. We encourage you to learn more about Group Counseling and to browse our complete list of current groups offered this semester at CAPS.

Couples/Conjoint Counseling

Couples may seek premarital, marital, divorce, sexual adjustment, or alternative life-style counseling. Any two students, such as roommates, may also utilize this service to improve their relationship or to work out communication problems. Both students must be enrolled at UCF to be eligible

Crisis Counseling

Our staff offers crisis intervention services during regular office hours. Students under 18 years of age can be seen on a limited basis without parental consent while they are in crisis. Check our Emergency Services page for more information.

Outreach/Presentation Services

The professional staff is available to present programs on a number of student developmental concerns. We invite you to inquire about our Prevention and Outreach Services and to browse the programs offered this semester as part of our Self-Discovery Knights at the Student Union.

Consultation Services

CAPS provides Consultation Services for UCF students, faculty members, and staff who are concerned about any unusual, problematic, or potentially harmful behavior of students. Our staff will explore your concerns, identify options, and provide referral information or recommendations.

Research

CAPS staff members engage in research on a variety of issues related to college student mental health as well as conduct ongoing evaluation of our services. Our research page includes current research projects, selected results from evaluation data, a monthly brief summary of research relevant to students, and information on how you can partner with CAPS on a research project.

Training

Our internship prepares trainees as strong generalists in the practice of psychology. The training is agency-based with opportunities to gain experience in CAPS functions such as clinical interviewing, individual, and group counseling/psychotherapy; consultation and outreach; supervision and training; and crisis intervention.

For Students

Mental health is the way your thoughts, feelings and behaviors affect your life. Good mental health leads to positive self-image and in turn, satisfying relationships with friends and others. Unfortunately, many college students do not seek treatment or utilize the counseling services available to them when they are struggling with a problem. For some, it may be the stigma associated with mental health counseling and psychological treatment. This stigma can limit your opportunities for overall health and wellness, increase feelings of unhappiness, impair the ability to form relationships, and create feelings of fear and shame causing unnecessary pain and confusion.

It is important to know that it is okay to ask for help and we have resources to help you. In addition to free counseling services on campus, we have provided many self-help links to assist you in this process of discovery. Please check out the menu below or feel free to contact us @ (407) 823-2811 to schedule an appointment.

For Parents

When your child leaves for college, you probably realize that life is going to change. You may be asking yourself if he/she will be homesick, make friends, succeed academically, or if he/she will change or be different as a result of this experience.

The truth is that both of your lives will change. There are many unknowns for you and your child at this time. Your child is moving from adolescence to adulthood, and this is will be a challenging time for both of you. Some of your hopes and dreams may go unrealized, and others may be surpassed. The challenges that your son or daughter will face will help him/her to broaden his/her world of experience. To meet these challenges will be his/her "job" for the next few years.

This section of the website describes some of the changes you can expect. Your son or daughter will probably think, feel, and act differently as he/she grows and changes. He/she will seek to become more competent, independent, self-sufficient, and socially skilled. He/she may not go about this in the most efficient manner or in a way that you totally understand, but with encouragement and support, most students make it through the process successfully.

For UCF Employees

While the college experience is often referred to as the "best years" of one's life, it may also be one of the most stressful times. While most students cope successfully with the many demands of college life, for some the pressures can become unmanageable and overwhelming. Students may feel alone, helpless, isolated, and hopeless. These feelings can easily disrupt academic performance or personal relationships, and may result in harmful behaviors such as substance abuse and attempts at suicide.

Counselors are not typically the first people that students turn to when they have problems. Students are in almost daily contact with faculty and staff members, advisors, friends, resident assistants, and they naturally confide in those closest to them when they are having difficulties. As a result, these individuals are in an excellent position to identify students in emotional distress, provide assistance, and refer them to counseling when they appear to have more serious concerns. Your expression of interest and concern may be critical in helping a student re-establish their emotional equilibrium necessary to get back on track.

CAPS provides consultation for university students, faculty members, and staff who are concerned about the unusual, problematic, or potentially harmful behavior of students. In-person or over the phone, a counselor will explore your concerns and help you identify options or develop ideas for dealing with a situation regarding a student. If circumstances warrant, we'll help you with the process of getting help for the student, either at CAPS, or another more suitable resource. Below is a menu of items which may answer or address various concerns you may have about recognizing and/or helping a student in distress:

Note: We do not provide counseling services to UCF faculty and staff. If you are interested in receiving ongoing services for yourself please call Horizon Health at 407.788.8822 or 800.272.7252