UNLV Student Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) strives to facilitate and maintain the holistic well-being of UNLV students through three essential roles:
- Providing clinical services
- Providing education and outreach programing to the campus community
- Responding to crises that impact the campus community
To best meet the needs of the UNLV student population, CAPS utilizes a Stepped Care Model in order to utilize resources most effectively. All students are welcome to schedule an initial consultation to discuss concerns with a clinician who will recommend the most effective yet least-resource intensive intervention first. Recommendations draw from CAPS wide range of services including:
- Workshop and educational seminars
- Online or application-based self-guided resources
- Group therapy
- Short-term individual or couples therapy
- Case management and community referrals
Treatment recommendations are individualized based on various factors and may change during the course of treatment based on ongoing assessment or new information.
If you are interested in CAPS services, please call CAPS at 702-895-3627 to schedule an initial consultation appointment.
Available Services
CAPS clinicians may use a variety of mental health screeners and assessments to more fully understand students’ presenting concerns. Some of these psychological assessments may be administered for a fee (e.g., EDI-3, MCMI-IV, MMPI). Please note that CAPS does not provide neuropsychological testing for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or learning disabilities.
Student Wellness Center staff assists students preferring or needing services beyond what Student Wellness can provide. A provider and/or care manager will work to provide students appropriate information and resources that will support them during academic, personal, financial, and emergency situations. Please contact CAPS at 702-895-3627 to schedule an appointment to discuss resources.
CAPS offers couples counseling within a brief therapy model. Couples counseling is beneficial for learning how to effectively manage conflict, improve communication skills, and increase awareness of needs within the relationship. In order to be eligible for couples counseling at least one member of the couple is required to be a currently enrolled UNLV student.
For life-threatening emergencies, please immediately call 9-1-1 or go directly to the nearest emergency room.
CAPS offers crisis services for students who may be experiencing urgent concerns. Students can call or walk into CAPS for crisis services during business hours, and meet with a crisis counselor. Business hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
If a student is experiencing an urgent concern outside of CAPS hours, they may choose to utilize the additional crisis resources provided on our Crisis Services page.
The Student Wellness Eating Disorders Treatment Team (EDTT) is an interdisciplinary team, made up of mental health professionals, medical providers, and dietitians who work together to oversee the assessment and treatment of students with eating concerns. The EDTT reviews cases of students who present with eating concerns to determine appropriateness for outpatient treatment at the Student Wellness Center. At times, a student requires a higher level of care or a specialized outpatient provider for their eating concerns. In these instances, the EDTT provides the student with community referrals.
Group counseling is often a beneficial option for students to address mental health concerns and make positive changes in their lives. Some groups offered at CAPS address common mental health struggles experienced by college students while other groups are designed with specific student populations in mind who are looking for a safe space to discuss the impact that their mental health has on their overall well-being and academic success. Many students find participating in a group a very rewarding experience that can jump-start their personal growth. The idea of joining a group might bring up some discomfort (e.g. being in a group with strangers and sharing one’s personal struggles), but participating in group counseling can reduce social isolation and provide students with the opportunity to help support others while learning about themselves.
Some groups we have offered include (but are not limited to) Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga, Stress Management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and a LGBTQ Support Group.
CAPS adheres to the short-term therapy model to help students reach personal goals in a timely manner. This process occurs in a safe, caring, and confidential environment. CAPS providers draw from a variety of therapeutic techniques (e.g. CBT, ACT, etc) to help students explore feelings, beliefs, behaviors, identify aspects of their lives they would like to change, better understand themselves and others, set personal goals, or work towards desired change.
Student Wellness also offers medication management services for mental health. All students interested in a referral to medication services must meet with a mental health provider for an initial consultation.
Please note students requesting medications for ADHD must have completed neuropsychological testing and be able to provide a copy of their testing results (view the Student Wellness ADHD medication policy).
CAPS provides a variety of services for students struggling with addiction concerns. Students complete an Initial Consultation and are referred for services appropriate for their presenting addiction concerns. Services may include additional evaluation, assessments, individual therapy, or group therapy. Students may also be given referrals for resources or treatment recommendations in the community.
Students in recovery can also access support through the following local resources:
- Local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
- Local Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
- FindTreatment.gov (for an exact location search)
- Gambling Addiction Support
UNLV has partnered with TAO Connect, a digital platform aimed at making behavioral health therapy more accessible, efficient and effective. Through TAO Connect, members of the UNLV community have access to self-help tools that allow them to work toward improving their behavioral health on their own schedule.
Through TAO’s completely self-directed, self-help app and online program, users are provided over 150 brief, effective, educational sessions covering over 50 common topics and skills related to mental health, wellness, and substance use issues. TAO Includes interactive sessions, mindfulness exercises and practice tools all aimed at helping UNLV students, faculty, and staff achieve their goals. Based on user interaction and the completion of modules, the app sends users reminders and encouragement in the form of notifications and messages to their phone.
TAO Connect is available for free to all university students and faculty members. If you are a student and would like to register for TAO, or to learn more about TAO and its technology, please visit www.TAOConnect.org. To download the TAO Mobile app once registered, visit iTunes or Android’s app store and enter “TAO v3.”
The Student Wellness Gender Care Team (GCT) is a collaborative team comprised of medical and mental health professionals that works to ensure transgender and gender non-conforming students receive the highest quality care in a supportive, inclusive and respectful space. One of the key responsibilities of the team is to provide education, support, and care to individuals taking hormone replacement therapy. GCT providers are also able to work with outside providers with a signed release of information to provide students the best care possible regarding gender identity. Students can call the CAPS front desk and schedule an Initial Consultation to discuss the GCT and/or gender identity concerns.
Student Wellness offers a variety of psychoeducational workshops throughout the year targeting general needs of the student population. Workshops primarily focus on skill building and increasing awareness to help decrease in the impact of mental health concerns on overall functioning.