As the University of New Haven welcomes new students, freshman start a chapter of their lives. While this chapter is full of opportunities and fun, it can also involve significant adjustment. Change is not always easy, and it is important to know what services are available on campus.

One resource available to university students is Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS is the mental health counseling center on campus. Any registered student can utilize CAPS by clicking on the butterfly icon in MyCharger, visiting the office in Charger Plaza, or by calling 203-932-7333. CAPS offers multiple services, such as individual therapy, group therapy, urgent walk-ins or an after-hours call line. CAPS also hosts events on campus, such as bi-weekly therapy dogs.

Paige Bartels, CAPS director, said the main goal of CAPS is “to support the mental health and wellbeing of our campus community. We do that by offering the individual services (individual therapy, group therapy), doing outreach and collaborating with campus partners to provide psychoeducation and activities focused on mental health, and by offering urgent support and community connection when needed.”

Bartels also said that CAPS offers training to students on taking care of themselves, and tips on what to do when someone is in distress and needs support.

“We understand mental health as well as the campus and campus resources, which can be a unique intersection,” said Bartels. “We also aim to encourage students to understand their own wellbeing, and care for all facets of it, as well as lean into the discomfort that is inherent in both transition and growth. Part of our mission is helping ensure our campus is trained to recognize when someone is struggling with their mental health and know what to do in order to support them and connect them with the appropriate resources.”

As classes get more intense and students feel more pressure, they always have free counseling available to them. CAPS makes getting help easy. For more information on CAPS, students can visit the website, and for more information on the training services offered by the organization, students can visit this link.