About our counseling services
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) offers confidential mental health care designed to help support your quality of life and ability to learn during your time here at Cornell.
Our CAPS mental health providers include psychologists, social workers, and mental health counselors from diverse cultural and clinical backgrounds, all training in providing care for a wide range of mental health concerns faced by college students.
Appointments
CAPS counseling staff are providing services through in-person appointments and telehealth (Zoom) appointments.
Counseling appointments are $10 / visit.
To schedule a first appointment:
- Start by scheduling an “access appointment” (also applies if you have not seen a CAPS counselor for 6+ months). During this free 25-minute visit, a CAPS access counselor will assist with matching you with the right mental health resources to meet your needs.
- To schedule, log in to myCornellHealth using your Cornell NetID and password, and select Appointments. You may also call us during business hours at 607-255-5155.
To schedule follow-up appointments:
- Please call us during business hours at 607-255-5155. (If you are unable to call due to a hearing impairment or other disability and do not have TTY, please email us for assistance.)
Before your appointment:
Be sure to complete any required pre-appointment questionnaires prior to your appointment. Questionnaires can be found by logging in to in to myCornellHealth and selecting “Messages.”
- Zoom appointments: Please log in at least five minutes early to allow time to complete a brief survey before your appointment. (See “How do I access my telehealth appointment?” below.)
- All appointments: To get the most out of your appointment, find a private location where you can speak confidentially with your counselor without being overheard or disturbed. (See “How do I get the most out of my telehealth appointment?” below for more tips and considerations.)
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment: Please do so before 8:30 am on the day of your appointment by calling us during business hours at 607-255-5155, or logging in to myCornellHealth (select “Appointments”).
CAPS counseling FAQs
May I request a specific CAPS counselor?
Yes, you may request a specific counselor, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. You can view our counselor bios here.
At any time – whether you've met with a counselor once, or many times – you may request to see a different provider.
If you would like assistance being matched with a counselor with a specific specialty area, please call us during business hours at 607-255-5155 (#2).
What is CAPS' treatment approach?
We take a goal-oriented and collaborative approach to counseling and mental health treatment. Our goal is to help students improve their lives by focusing on the change each individual wants to make, and then using our expertise to help them achieve it. We strive to provide immediate, meaningful care focused on what your needs are right from the very first session, and we have a range of follow-up options available for you to choose from based on your unique situation.
During your first appointment, your provider will focus on learning about your goals for treatment and meeting your immediate needs, and will then make a recommendation about next steps (more sessions scheduled as needed, group counseling, psychiatry, behavioral health consultation, or other Cornell Health, campus, or community resources).
Are my telehealth appointments confidential?
Yes. Your telehealth appointment will be conducted by Zoom (accessed by logging in to myCornellHealth), by telephone, or by secure messaging – all of which are secure and confidential means of communication.
To get the most out of your appointment, find a private location where you can speak confidentially with your counselor without being overheard or disturbed. If you live with others, ask them to respect your privacy during your appointment. To increase confidentiality, some clients find it helpful to wear headphones, use a fan or other form of white noise, or find a location outside of their home to talk, such as their car.
How do I access my telehealth appointment?
Zoom appointments:
Please log in at least five minutes early to allow time to complete a brief survey before your appointment. Log in to myCornellHealth and follow these instructions:
(1) Check in for your appointment – Go to “Appointments” and click “Appointment Check In.”
(2) Complete your survey – After you check in, go to “Surveys” in the menu bar and complete the Wellbeing Assessment survey.
(3) Start your Zoom session – Return to the “Appointments” page and click “Join Meeting.”
Phone appointments:
Your health care provider will call you at the phone number you provided when you scheduled your appointment.
How do I make the most of my telehealth appointment?
Your telehealth appointment will be conducted by Zoom (accessed by logging in to myCornellHealth), by telephone, or by secure messaging – all of which are secure and confidential means of communication.
To get the most out of your appointment, find a private location where you can speak confidentially with your counselor without being overheard or disturbed. If you live with others, ask them to respect your privacy during your appointment. To increase confidentiality, some clients find it helpful to wear headphones, use a fan or other form of white noise, or find a location outside of their home to talk, such as their car.
Before your visit, take the time to consider these questions:
- What prompted you to make an appointment now?
- What are the concerns for which you are making the appointment? (e.g., I’m having trouble fitting in; I need some support and strategies to address my isolation.)
- What is your goal for the visit?
- What do you think might help?
- Once things get better, what will you notice that you are doing differently?
For more ideas, see Five Ways to Get the Most Out of Therapy from GoodTherapy.