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 feels 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) 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 an 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.

Psychiatric medication evaluation and follow-up sessions are offered to students free of charge.

Your psychiatric provider will help you schedule your psychiatry appointments so that you don’t run out of medication between visits. It is the expectation of the psychiatric team that you will stay on top of any medications that you take and regularly keep appointments in order to continue to receive prescribed medications. If you miss a psychiatry appointment, you should reschedule it immediately to avoid running out of medication. If you do need to call for a prescription refill, you should call your psychiatric provider no later than three business days before you run out of your medication.

If you find yourself about to run out of medication, your best option is to contact the physician who originally prescribed your medication to obtain a refill. Most refills (excluding most ADHD medications) can be called into a local pharmacy by your original physician.

You should not expect to receive a prescription from a CAPS psychiatric provider who has not been involved in your treatment. If you want to start seeing a psychiatrist in the Washington, D.C. area, plan to transfer your care before you run low on your prescription.

If you are unable to receive a refill prescription from your original prescribing physician and you are running out of medication, you may seek help at the following same-day clinics: the 35 K Street North Clinic (202-442-4202) and Inova Psychiatric Assessment Center (703-289-7560).

If you have never been diagnosed with ADHD or ADD before, or if you have already been diagnosed but are transferring care from another provider, including needing prescription refills, please read the Process to Obtain Prescriptions for ADHD/ADD from either CAPS or SHC for very important information. If you are seeking a prescription refill for a medication to treat ADHD or ADD, you will be asked to sign the GUH Student Health Center and GU Counseling and Psychiatric Services (SHC/CAPS) Psycho-Stimulant Policy and Patient Contract prior to your first prescription.

CAPS does not provide prescriptions for medical marijuana. Due to limited and conflicting research in the field, at this time, if you are currently using medical marijuana, you are not eligible for psychiatric care at CAPS.