About CAPS

Mission

At CAPS we are dedicated to providing the highest quality short-term, problem focused and evidence-based mental health services for MUSC students. Our services are entirely confidential. CAPS seeks to facilitate good academic performance and help students develop effective coping strategies to meet the challenges they encounter. CAPS offers individual and couples therapy and medication management. CAPS also offers psycho-educational groups targeting important issues related to student well-being.

Eligibility

Students who are actively enrolled in degree seeking programs carrying at least 6 credit hours are eligible for medical care at CAPS, with services beginning the first day of classes and ending on graduation or at the time of withdrawal, removal, or a leave of absence from study.

Common Concerns

CAPS provides help to students whose concerns range from normal, social, or developmental issues to serious psychological problems.

Common issues for which students seek assistance include:

• crisis management support (e.g., a broken relationship or the death of a loved one, legal problems)
• academic performance
• poor self-confidence
• stress and anxiety
• substance abuse
• sexual concerns/sexual identity
• relationship/marital/family issues
• eating disorders
• depression
• self-defeating/injurious behaviors
• perfectionism
• procrastination
• anger management
• issues affecting learning

Billing

There are no charges for visits to CAPS for actively enrolled students, regardless of the type of insurance coverage they carry.

Confidentiality

Information regarding the physical or mental status of students at MUSC is strictly confidential and available only to those directly involved in the student’s care. Information regarding a student will not be released without the student’s written consent, unless legally mandated. Mental health records are maintained at CAPS in a free-standing electronic medical record that does not interface with the MUSC Hospital electronic medical database and is not accessible to students or MUSC faculty.

CAPS operates independently from other MUSC academic and clinical programs. Our providers do not grade students or determine their academic promotion.