CAPS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please call the CAPS Hilltop office number, (202) 687-6985, on which a menu of options can direct you to our emergency consultation line.

All CAPS records are confidential and are not part of a student’s academic record. No information is released to an outside party (even parents) without the student’s explicit written authorization. Exceptions to confidentiality include information about child abuse, serious risk to human life, and court orders.

Generally, students can speak with a clinician on the same day they call. This will vary by time of year–at times of high demand (midterms until finals) it is conceivable that the wait may be longer. Every effort is made to accommodate students as quickly as possible.

CAPS psychiatrists are available to provide medication consultation, evaluation, and management for students who are engaged in individual therapy at CAPS. If you or your CAPS counselor feel that medication may be helpful to your situation, an appointment for a consultation with a psychiatrist can be arranged. This meeting will allow the student and the psychiatrist an opportunity to discuss the appropriateness of medication and discuss any other medical concerns that may be present.

All services at CAPS are free of charge.

A student may be referred in the following ways:
– Suggest to the student that they contact CAPS during business hours. If there is an emergency, please contact the front desk to alert CAPS of the crisis. For emergencies and crises on weekends or after hours, please call the CAPS main office number, (202) 687-6985, on which a menu of options can direct you to our emergency consultation line..

– When uncertain of what actions to take, call (202) 687-6985 to work out a specific strategy for getting help for a particularly reluctant or an especially troubled student.

Please visit our page on Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA) page for information about taking a medical leave of absence.

It depends on your particular circumstances. We will base our recommendation for the length of leave on an individualized assessment. A medical leave of absence allows students whose academic progress has been seriously compromised by illness to take time away from Georgetown University without academic penalty. Such leave affords students time to pursue treatment and eventually return to the University with a significantly improved chance of success academically and personally. Frequently students want to rush back to campus as soon as possible, but we find that this is not the best strategy because a premature return often results in the need for another MLOA.

Students returning from a MLOA typically have further and ongoing needs for care. Because CAPS is designed for short-term work, we generally recommend that students seek individual care in the community where it can be of a longer duration. In addition, because we have a finite ability to render services, we want to make sure that we have availability for students who have never been in counseling before. However, in certain cases, we may make an exception if suitable help cannot be found in the community or if there is true financial hardship.