Counseling and Psychological Services
How to Reach CAPS:
Give us a call! You can reach us at 203-932-7333 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. If you need us after hours for a crisis, you can call the same number and access an on-call clinician. You can also schedule online by clicking this link.
If you need help immediately, please call University Police at 203-932-7070 or 911.
Keep an eye on our Instagram @unewhavencaps for updates on events, groups, and mental health tips!
Please feel free to visit our website here. You can also take a first-person tour of our office, and get an idea for how your first appointment with us will feel, by checking out this video!
Current Services:
We are offering individual sessions, support groups, and medication management. We can meet either remotely or in-person to best meet the needs of our students. We are not able to see students across state lines, however. If meeting remotely, you will need to be in Connecticut and verify your location at each session.
Appointments which are not attended within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time are considered no-shows, and the appointment may be cancelled or rescheduled. Students receive reminder texts, but are ultimately expected to keep track of their own appointments.
Off Campus Providers:
CAPS is able to make referrals to off campus providers in the community should students need a higher level of care or are interested in working with non-CAPS therapists. We are partnered with Thriving Campus and have a dedicated provider list on their network. Check out this flyer for more information. Students can access this provider list by clicking here.
Our Philosophy:
The Counseling and Psychological Services office believes that students are strong, capable, and resilient. We offer our services to support them and those qualities in times when they may need additional support to manage an array of mental health challenges and opportunities. We utilize students’ own strengths and aid them in being able to function at their highest capacity.
Our ultimate goal is for students to be able to identify and reach their own goals.
CAPS strives to be a safe and affirming place for all students at the University of New Haven. We do this by offering services and programs that are inclusive and through providing a space for all students to feel heard, appreciated, and accepted. We stand against all forms of inequity and injustice and acknowledge the impact that racism and other forms of oppression have had on our students of color and on other marginalized students in the UNH community. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is an ongoing journey. To follow through on this commitment we continue to develop the multicultural capacity of our staff through training and education and maintaining an open environment to feedback and change.
Our Staff:
- Paige Bartels, Director – pbartels@newhaven.edu
- Esha Patel, Administrative Secretary – epatel@newhaven.edu
- Jessica Palmer, Clinician II – jpalmer@newhaven.edu
- Tavia Bascuine, Associate Director- tbascuine@newhaven.edu
- Sam Kent, Clinician II- skent@newhaven.edu
- Momina Zaman, Clinicial I – mzamaon@newhaven.edu
- Biannca Squires, Clinician I – bsquires@newhaven.edu
What should I do in the event of a mental health emergency?
- Call the Counseling Center (203.932.7333) for emergencies
- We are available for walk-in hours M-F 8:30-4:30
- We are available for phone support 24/7
- Call University Police (203.932.7070) for emergencies
- Dial 911 for emergencies when you are away from campus, or visit your nearest hospital.
- Yale – New Haven Hospital – Saint Raphael Campus: 203.789.3464
- Yale – New Haven Hospital – Main Campus: 203.688.2222
What if it’s not an emergency, but I’m really upset?
At times of distress that do not reach the level of a crisis or emergency, you can also call our phone number and speak with a clinician 24/7- 203-932-7333 Additionally, you can call a toll-free hotline. Consult our Hotlines page for listings. Other things you can do to help you cope with distress include:
- Talking to a friend, family member, or trusted clergy member
- Writing in a journal
- Practicing relaxation techniques
- Listening to soothing music
- Body movement and excercise, preferably outdoors if weather permits
- Taking a “mindful” walk
- Meditating
- Watching a movie
Click here to learn how to provide compassionate responses to students who are in distress.
CAPS is proud to share our CWA Workshop series, developed by students for students, centering on topics that are relevant to your experiences at UNH.
Please keep an eye on our Instagram page for more information as it becomes available: @unewhavencaps
To Schedule an Appointment: 203-932-7333 or click here to schedule online.
For after hours emergencies: Students can access our 24/7 crisis line after 4:30pm and during weekends/holidays by dialing our regular office phone 203-932-7333; you can also call the University Of New Haven Police: 203-932-7070; or 911 or your nearest emergency room.
For off-campus emergencies Dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
SEMESTER HOURS:
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
SUMMER HOURS:
Monday – Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Fax: 203-931-6082
If you are a University Faculty or Staff Member, please refer to our Guide (in Adobe PDF format) for more information on how to best assist students in different circumstances.
How can I be sure what I say will remain private?
Counseling services are confidential. This means that we will not tell anyone that you are a client and will not share what you have discussed in our office without your consent. We will not give information to your parents or to offices or departments in the university without your permission.
There are a few limits to confidentiality. If we believe that you are immediately and seriously a danger to yourself or to others, we will try to keep you safe and to warn anyone you intend to harm. We may also be required to break confidentiality if we are made aware of current or historical child abuse or neglect.