General Questions
A: Counseling & Psychological Services is located in the Duke Wellness Center at 305 Towerview Road. We are on the 3rd floor on the Towerview side of the building.
A: We offer a range of services to support students' mental, emotional, and interpersonal well-being. This includes:
- Individual, couples, and group psychotherapy or counseling, including short-term services as well as single sessions
- Same day crisis support
- Psychiatry and medication management
- Support with referrals to off-campus resources
- A range of outreach services.
A: We are open Monday - Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. We offer walk-in hours from 9 am to 4 pm each day.
A: Our counselors operate from a generalist perspective, which means we are able to support students with most concerns. We do have team members who have specialized training in various modalities. If you are looking for a specific type of therapy, please share that information with our team and they can assist you in determining if this is a service we are able to provide in CAPS or assist you with identifying a provider in the community.
A: We do offer telehealth and in-person appointments for many services. If you have a preference, please share this with the team when you are scheduling.
A: A Solution-Focused Brief Counseling model for CAPS means that clients are typically able to work through their concerns in a way that does not require long term psychotherapy or counseling. The number of sessions as well as the frequency of sessions are determined by the provider in agreement with the client. Typically, short term counseling may be provided in 8 – 10 sessions over the course of the treatment plan. The key goal is to provide students with tools, resources, and empowerment to move through their daily tasks as successfully as possible.
A: CAPS can help with a wide range of mental health concerns ranging from anxiety and depression to relationships, adjustments to university life, and managing the stressors of a rigorous academic program. We also have a wide range of resources for connecting students to other counselors in the community, so if we’re not the best fit to support you with your concerns, we can help connect you to a mental health professional who can.
A: To ensure that we are able to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for all clients, CAPS does not allow emotional support animals in counseling sessions.
A: Services at CAPS are confidential, which means we will not share information about you or your care at CAPS without your consent. Along with the rest of the Duke University Health System, we are committed to protecting the privacy of our students’ personal health information. You can read more about Duke Health’s Privacy Practices here, including the very limited circumstances where CAPS is required to disclose information about your care.
If you wish to involve a family member or support person in your care, talk with our team about the process for authorizing us to share information or involve them in discussions about your care plan.
A: CAPS is staffed by fully licensed and certified health professionals who are dedicated to the university community. Our clinical team is comprised of licensed mental health counselors, social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, physicians, and nurse practitioners who are supported by a range of administrative professionals. Many of our providers are engaged with Duke University Health System, ensuring that we are providing the same level of high quality care that our students can expect to see anywhere else in our world-class health system.
CAPS providers are mental health professionals with significant experience as therapists, psychologists, psychiatrist. All have educational backgrounds at the Masters Degree level or above. CAPS also have providers who are under training, such as doctoral interns, post doctoral fellows, and psychiatry residents. For more information, please visit our website to learn more about our providers.
In addition to our core staff, we also serve as a training site for psychiatry residents, doctoral psychology interns, postdoctoral psychology residents, and master’s level counseling training staff. These training staff are supervised by our full time staff members as they complete work toward their various degrees and licensure.
A: While CAPS is available for crisis assessment and support, we strongly recommend that students maintain just one provider for therapy and one psychiatry provider.
We understand it can be challenging for students who may be moving back and forth between Duke during the academic year and home or other locations during the summer. In order to provide high quality and safe care for you, your providers need to be aware of any other care plans that are in place. Your CAPS provider team will recommend that you only see one provider for therapy and one for psychiatry at any given time for health and safety reasons. Please talk with your CAPS counselor or psychiatrist about your specific situation and they can provide you with clear recommendations and work with you on your care plan.
A: Services are tailored to the client’s needs, but counseling sessions are typically 50 minutes. The frequency of the sessions will vary, based on the client’s needs and the counselor's recommendations. Psychiatry appointments are 30-60 minutes, depending on the need. Again, frequency of appointments with the psychiatrist will be established between the student and the provider, based on the student’s needs.
A: Yes, we do offer single sessions. Just let our team know when you call us or come in to schedule and we can assist with this.
A: To connect with your counselor, please call 919-660-1000 and request to leave a message with your counselor or psychiatry provider.. You can also connect with your provider through your My Duke Health patient portal.
A: Clients can be assessed for specialized care needs, such as drug and alcohol related concerns. Depending on the nature of the need, students may be referred to BASICS services available through DuWell or provide a referral to community resources that provide care for this specialized concern.
A: No, students can be seen for any mental health concern and do not need to have any diagnoses or previous history to get support from our team.
A: TimelyCare is a free, online mental health support service available for Duke students. All students have access to TimelyCare–including students enrolled in fully virtual programs. Timely Care provides 24/7 mental telehealth support to all Duke students at no cost.
Through TimelyCare, Duke Students have access to multiple services:
- Telecounseling – all students have access to 12 free virtual counseling sessions with a licensed therapist.
- Talk Now – this service provides on-demand mental health support for any concern, typically available within 20 minutes or less.
- Well-being resources – a range of videos, toolkits, and other resources on a variety of mental health topics
A: Yes, CAPS does offer couples counseling. Both partners must be enrolled students at Duke.
A: While CAPS does have providers who speak languages other than English, not every service is available with every counselor or medical provider. We offer on-demand interpreter services for our students and our team is happy to provide care in your preferred language, including American Sign Language. Just let our team member know that you would like to have interpreter services available for your visit.
A: No, CAPS does not offer testing services. Our team can assist you with locating these services in the community. Please call us at 919-660-1000 or come into our office for support.
A: CAPS is unable to see dependents of students. Dependents can be seen at Duke Health as well as other local primary care providers who accept the Student Medical Insurance Plan. Students can locate available Duke medical and mental health providers using the Duke provider search website.
A: CAPS is not able to see medical interns and residents as they are considered employees and are not participating in the health fee. Interns and residents can locate available Duke medical providers using the Duke provider search website.
A: CAPS is not able to see Duke Employees, unless they are enrolled Duke students.
A: We are unable to schedule appointments via email. Please call us at 919-660-1000 to schedule.
A: Yes, students have access to the My Duke Health portal for their care at CAPS. For incoming students, you will be able to sign up for a My Duke Health account starting in July.
A: Since we are providing care for students, we are not able to host students for shadowing experiences due to privacy concerns. We recommend connecting with your academic department or the Career Center for support with shadowing and internship opportunities.
A: A limited number of parking spaces are available next to the Wellness Center on Union Drive. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You will need to obtain a parking pass from the front desk. The closest parking garage is located at the Bryan Center. You will be responsible for the cost of the parking pass needed for the Bryan Center.
A: We welcome your feedback and suggestions on our well-being services, including Student Health, Student Health Insurance, and Counseling & Psychological Services. Please share your feedback with us via our online form. You may also call us at 919-681-9355 (Student Health) or 919-660-1000 (CAPS).
Eligibility & Scheduling
A: Students are eligible to be seen at CAPS if they have paid the Student Health fee for the current semester. In general, students who are enrolled in all in-person academic programs are required to pay the Student Health fee and it will be added to their student account each term they are enrolled in courses. Some hybrid programs also require that students pay the Health Fee, so students are therefore eligible to be seen at CAPS.
Students who are enrolled in online or virtual programs do not generally pay the Health Fee, however they can request to pay the Health Fee and become eligible to be seen at CAPS (as well as Student Health). If you wish to pay the fee via your Duke Student Account in order to access services, please call the Student Health team at 919-681-9355, option 1.
Please note that due to North Carolina state regulations, students must physically be in North Carolina to receive care, including telehealth visits.
A: Please call us at 919-660-1000. You can also walk in during our business hours, Monday - Friday, 9 am - 4 pm or Tuesdays, 9 am - 4 pm.
A: Based on your needs or in order to be seen for certain services, we may require that you complete a brief intake appointment with a member of our team in order to be scheduled. This intake is typically available the same day within approximately 20 - 30 minutes. The counselor will ask a series of questions to better understand your needs and will help facilitate connecting you to the right mental health services.
A: Wait times for your first appointment with a counselor can vary, based on the time of year. Typically, the wait time is two weeks or less. If you have concerns regarding the wait time for your appointment, please let our team know.
A: Our team will work to assess your needs and whether the available services at CAPS are a good fit for you. If we are not able to meet your needs, we will support you with referrals to off campus resources.
A: CAPS prioritizes safe and appropriate care, which includes ensuring your needs match the services CAPS can provide. Community referrals help ensure you get timely, specialized, or ongoing care that CAPS may not be able to offer.
You can always talk to your CAPS counselor or intake team. They are available to answer questions, address concerns, and help you understand your options.
A: We strive to have initial appointments available with a counselor available within two weeks. During certain peak periods of the year, this wait time can vary. If you have concerns regarding the wait time for your appointment, please let our team know.
While awaiting your scheduled appointment, if you are experiencing distress or an urgent issue, CAPS can provide same-day crisis support. This ensures you can get immediate assistance even while waiting for a routine appointment. Please walk-in or call us during business hours to be connected to same-day crisis support.
A: If you have a specific request for the provider you are scheduled with, such as a specific demographic preference or a specific therapeutic modality, please let our team know when you are scheduling your appointment. We work to honor these requests when possible. If we are not able to meet your request, we can work with you on alternative options or assist you in identifying a community counselor who may meet your needs.
A: It’s important that you feel safe and supported in counseling. If you are not comfortable with your counselor fit, you can request a change. We encourage you to talk to your current provider, if you feel safe in doing so. Alternatively, you can also call the front desk and request a different provider. A CAPS leadership team member may reach out to have a brief conversation with you. This helps ensure you are matched with the provider who is the best fit for your needs.
A: Some students choose to work with an off-campus provider for personal, practical, or clinical reasons. This may include wanting longer-term or more frequent therapy, seeking specialized services, preferring greater privacy or separation from campus life, or finding a provider who better fits their scheduling, cultural, or therapeutic preferences.
If you’re seeking off-campus services, our team can help you identify providers in the community who may be a good fit for you and who accept your insurance. Contact us at 919-660-1000 for support with a community referral.
A: Duke CAPS offers our individual counseling services both in person as well as online. Please let our team know when you call to schedule your appointment and we will be happy to support you with a telehealth visit.
In addition, TimelyCare is a free, online mental health support service available for Duke students. All students have access to TimelyCare–including students enrolled in fully virtual programs. Timely Care provides 24/7 mental telehealth support to all Duke students at no cost.
Through TimelyCare, Duke Students have access to multiple services:
- Telecounseling – all students have access to 12 free virtual counseling sessions with a licensed therapist.
- Talk Now – this service provides on-demand mental health support for any concern, typically available within 20 minutes or less.
- Well-being resources – a range of videos, toolkits, and other resources on a variety of mental health topics
A: Students have a range of support resources available to them when CAPS is closed.
In case of an emergency call Duke Police at 919-684-2444 or 911.
Students can access 24/7 confidential mental health crisis support by calling 919-660-1000, option 2 or by calling the National Mental Health Crisis Line at 988.
TimelyCare is a free, online mental health support service available for Duke students. All students have access to TimelyCare–including students enrolled in fully virtual programs. Timely Care provides 24/7 mental telehealth support to all Duke students at no cost.
Through TimelyCare, Duke Students have access to multiple services:
- Telecounseling – all students have access to 12 free virtual counseling sessions with a licensed therapist.
- Talk Now – this service provides on-demand mental health support for any concern, typically available within 20 minutes or less.
- Well-being resources – a range of videos, toolkits, and other resources on a variety of mental health topics
A: The Solution-Focused Brief Counseling model that we use in CAPS means that clients are typically able to work through their concerns in a way that does not require long term psychotherapy. The number of sessions as well as the frequency of sessions are determined by the provider in agreement with the client. Typically, short term counseling may be provided in 8 - 10 sessions over the course of the treatment plan. The key goal is to provide students with tools, resources, and empowerment to move through their daily tasks as successfully as possible.
For students who need or want more sessions than are available within our model, our team can support with referrals to community providers that can meet their specific needs.
A: Yes, there is a brief set of forms to complete prior to your appointment. This is typically done on an ipad prior to your brief intake or when you are in the office to schedule your appointment. Please plan for approximately fifteen minutes to complete your paperwork.
A: Your My Duke Health account will generate appointment reminders and you can choose whether to receive those reminders via email, text, or app notification. Make sure you have set your My Duke Health app to allow for notifications. Detailed instructions for updating that setting are available here.
A: If you wish to cancel your appointment, please call us at 919-660-1000. We request that you call us at least 24-hrs in advance so that we can offer that appointment to a student who may need that service.
If you cancel an appointment or do not show up for the appointment your clinician may contact you via email or phone to check on your wellbeing and to determine your desire for the continued care.
A: For students who are enrolled in the fall term and will be enrolled again in the spring, you will continue to have access to CAPS during the winter break. Students who are graduating or leaving Duke at the end of the fall term will not have access through the full break and should connect with CAPS for any needed care or support before the end of their final semester.
Students who are enrolled in the spring term and will be returning to Duke in the fall but who are not enrolled in summer courses can access CAPS by paying the summer health fee. Please speak with a member of our team if this applies to you.
Please note that due to North Carolina state regulations, students must physically be in North Carolina to receive care, including telehealth visits.
A: Students are eligible to be seen at CAPS if they have paid the Student Health fee for the current semester. If you have paid the health fee for the semester and take leave partway through, you will continue to have access during the semester in which you paid the health fee.
If you have taken leave for the full semester and have not paid the health fee, you can request to pay the Health Fee and become eligible to be seen at CAPS (as well as Student Health). If you wish to pay the fee via your Duke Student Account in order to access services, please call the Student Health team at 919-681-9355, option 1.
Please note that due to North Carolina state regulations, students must physically be in North Carolina to receive care, including telehealth visits.
A: Students can access CAPS until the end of the week after their graduation. After that time, we are no longer able to see you as a client, including providing you with any prescription refills.
We strongly recommend that you begin the process of establishing care with a new community provider at least thirty days before graduation. This process often takes multiple weeks, as many counseling and psychiatry practices have one to two‐month waits for new patient appointments. If you are staying in the area, you can find a Duke Health provider here. Another great starting point is your medical insurance provider’s website, which should be listed on the back of your health insurance card. This will help you identify providers who are covered by your insurance.
You can also search for mental health services using Duke’s MiResource tool. This allows you to search both by location and by insurance plan and then filter by other criteria you may be seeking in your provider.
We are happy to provide you or your new provider’s office with your healthcare records for medication management needs. All we need is a signed release form with your authorization to release those records. Those release forms are available here.
Additionally, you are able to access My Duke Health where you can view and print records, as needed. Your access to My Duke Health does not terminate.
A: For incoming students who are interested in transferring their psychiatry or medication management to CAPS, please call our office at 919-660-1000 to schedule an appointment.
CAPS provides short-term, solution-focused counseling and appointments are time-limited and designed to help students address specific concerns or challenges. Such care focuses on practical strategies and support that can be implemented quickly.
If you have been receiving long-term counseling prior to attending Duke, CAPS can help you identify counselors in the Durham area who may be a good fit to continue that care.
If you are hoping to have a counselor available for short-term or situational support, contact CAPS once you are enrolled to start the intake process and be connected with a provider.
A: You can access CAPS, whether in person on the main Duke campus or via telehealth visits. To schedule with one of our providers, please call us at 919-660-1001to schedule an appointment.
You also have access to TimelyCare, which is a free, online mental health support service available for Duke students. All students have access to TimelyCare–including students enrolled in fully virtual programs. Timely Care provides 24/7 mental telehealth support to all Duke students at no cost.
Through TimelyCare, Duke Students have access to multiple services:
- Telecounseling – all students have access to 12 free virtual counseling sessions with a licensed therapist.
- Talk Now – this service provides on-demand mental health support for any concern, typically available within 20 minutes or less.
- Well-being resources – a range of videos, toolkits, and other resources on a variety of mental health topics
A: Students enrolled in online only programs do not typically have access to CAPS services, as they have not paid the Health Fee. All students can call and ask to speak to a Triage Nurse for guidance on their health situation or concerns and recommended next steps.
Students who are enrolled in online or virtual programs can request to pay the Health Fee and become eligible to be seen at CAPS (as well as Student Health). If you wish to pay the fee via your Duke Student Account in order to access services, please call the Student Health team at 919-681-9355, option 1.
Please note that due to North Carolina state regulations, students must physically be in North Carolina to receive care, including telehealth visits.
Group Services
A: CAPS offers multiple groups each semester focusing on a range of topics. For our current group offerings, please click here.
A: Signing up for a group can vary, based on the type of group. Please review instructions on our groups page to determine how to get connected with each specific group.
A: Some of our group offerings do allow for drop-in attendance. These groups will be noted as drop-in on our groups page. For drop-in groups, just check in at the CAPS front desk a few minutes before the group and you will be all set. Students can also call our office ahead of time and ask the front desk team to add you to the drop-in group.
A: All groups held at CAPS are confidential. We recognize how important it is for students to be able to participate in groups with all information that is discussed being held in confidentiality. Our counselors spend time working with all of our students early in the group process to walk through expectations around confidentiality for all participants.
A: Each of our groups is a little different. For some groups, they are drop-in and students can join from week to week, as needed. Other groups are built for students to attend each week and have specific attendance expectations for students to be able to continue in the group, due to the nature of the work being done in the group. Our groups page will outline these expectations and counselors will review them in the introductory group session.
A: While Duke CAPS does not presently have firm session limits, we do use a short-term model that typically aligns with 8 - 10 sessions a year.
A: Your CAPS counselor will provide guidance on whether individual sessions are recommended while you are participating in group sessions. This may vary, based on the nature of the group.
A: We understand that comfort and confidentiality are important in group therapy. You can let your CAPS provider know about your concern before joining a group. We will do our best to match you to a group where you feel safe and supported, which may include placing you in a group where you don’t know other participants.
Mental Health Crisis
A: In case of an emergency call Duke Police at 919-684-2444 or 911.
Students can access 24/7 confidential mental health crisis support by calling 919-660-1000, option 2 or by calling the National Mental Health Crisis Line at 988.
A: An urgent crisis at CAPS means any situation where a student’s safety or ability to function is at risk. If someone is having thoughts of harming themselves or others, or they’re unable to meet basic daily needs, it is always a good idea to connect with CAPS or Duke Reach for support.
Urgency and crisis can look different for everyone. Cultural background, level of support, coping skills, and sudden intense stress can all make a situation feel like an emergency. Students are often the best judges of their own experience, and if something feels urgent to them, CAPS wants to meet them where they are and provide help as soon as possible.
Please call CAPS at 919-660-1000, option 2 for urgent needs 24/7 and we will be happy to support you.
A: If you have urgent or emergent concerns, please call Duke Police at 919-684-2444 or 911.
Students can access 24/7 confidential mental health crisis support by calling 919-660-1000, option 2 or by calling the National Mental Health Crisis Line at 988.
For situations that are not considered an emergency, please connect with the DukeReach team. You can submit a report form that provides some details about your concerns and the team will follow up and connect the student with support where needed.
A: Yes, you can walk in during business hours to be connected with a counselor at CAPS for a brief intake. During that session, our counselor will work to understand your concerns and help you put together an appropriate care plan. Our drop-in hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
You can also call us to be connected with same-day telephonic crisis support at 919-660-1000.
A: CAPS is the university’s clinical counseling center. Our team offers clinical counseling and psychiatry services to students. Our providers maintain clinical licenses and fall under HIPAA privacy regulations.
DukeReach is the university’s student support and non-clinical case management team. They work with students on a wide range of concerns and help them connect to a range of university and community resources.
CAPS and DukeReach will often work together as a team to help support students (when given permission by the student to do so).
A: Yes, you can always walk back in or call us when you are experiencing urgent mental health concerns.
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call Duke Police at 919-684-2444 or 911.
Students can access 24/7 confidential mental health crisis support by calling 919-660-1000, option 2 or by calling the National Mental Health Crisis Line at 988
Medication Management / Psychiatry Services
A: Yes, our psychiatry team provides medication management for Duke students. We will see students who are not currently on medications and help them assess if medication may be helpful for them as well as see students who have been on medication previously and wish to transfer their care to Duke. Our providers see students for a wide range of reasons.
To schedule with one of our providers, please call us at 919-660-1000.
If you are a student who is seeking to transfer your care to our team, we strongly encourage you to schedule with us at least thirty days before your current prescriptions expire / run out.
A: No, you do not need a referral in order to schedule a psychiatry appointment. Just call us at 919-660-1000 or stop into the office and we can help you schedule with one of our providers.
A: Yes, we can provide support with these needs. Our psychiatry team will complete a comprehensive evaluation to understand your specific needs. Based on that evaluation, we will either manage your care in-house, including medication management when appropriate, or provide a referral to a trusted community provider to ensure you receive the support and treatment that’s right for you.
If you are a new student, have an ADHD prescription from an out of state provider, and need to transfer care, the CAPS psychiatry team is also able to assist in appropriate services or referrals.
CAPS does not provide neuropsychological testing or assessment services for ADHD at this time. However, we can provide referrals to qualified off-campus providers who offer comprehensive ADHD evaluations and testing services.
A: If you have been seeing a member of our psychiatry team and are in need of a refill, please call us at 919-660-1000. Your provider may require you to be seen for a visit prior to providing a refill request.
We encourage students to call us at least three business days prior to running out of medication.
A: In many cases, our team can serve as your new psychiatry provider. Please call our office at 919-660-1000 to schedule an appointment to be seen by a provider.
If you have urgently run out of a medication that you were previously prescribed, please contact the Student Health team for a more urgent visit and assessment of a potential interim prescription while you get scheduled with the CAPS psychiatry team. Student Health can be reached at 919-681-9355; choose option 2 to speak with a triage nurse.
A: Under limited circumstances, CAPS can provide prescriptions over the break. Generally, we will try to work with students prior to leaving for break to put a care plan in place for any extended time away from campus, particularly for students who may be out of the state or out of the country.
A: We can send your prescription to any pharmacy that you prefer, including the Duke Student Duke Campus Center Pharmacy, Duke University Health System Pharmacies, Walgreens, CVS, and other major retailers. Mail order pharmacy services are often available as well.
A: No, you may use the pharmacy of your choice. The Duke Campus Center Pharmacy is conveniently located for students and accepts prescriptions from medical providers at Duke as well as external and community healthcare providers. The pharmacy accepts a wide range of insurance plans.
If you prefer to use a pharmacy in the community, simply let your medical provider know your pharmacy preference and be sure they accept your health insurance plan.
A: Student Health can see students to review their medications needs, prescribe refills where appropriate and consult with CAPS psychiatrists or other specialists to assist with more complicated medication regimens and regimens where certain medications are not available in the US. If you have a specific medication that you take that you need to continue to be able to access when you arrive at Duke, please call 919-681-9355 option 2 to speak with a triage nurse.
A: Yes, when our providers want to order labs or other tests that may be needed, we will work with the Student Health team to complete these tests. Please note, laboratory or other tests (such as EKGs) will be billed to your student insurance. Students will be responsible for any costs associated with these tests.
Duke Campus Center Pharmacy
A: The Duke Campus Center Pharmacy is located on the first floor of the Health and Wellness Building at 305 Towerview Road. It is on the ground level, near Penn Pavilion.
A: The Duke Campus Center Pharmacy is open:
- Monday - Friday: 9am - 5:30pm
- Saturday - Sunday: Closed
- *Closed 12:30-1pm for lunch
A: To transfer a prescription to the Duke Campus Center Pharmacy, you'll need to contact the pharmacy at 919-385-3784, provide them with your prescription information, and the old pharmacy's contact details. Or you may request your medical provider to send a new prescription to the Duke Campus Center Pharmacy.
A: Yes, the Duke Campus Center Pharmacy accepts prescription insurance cards and bills insurance for medications, just as you would experience at any other retail pharmacy.
A: The Duke Campus Center Pharmacy carries a wide range of the most commonly prescribed medications that our students may need. If you want to confirm, you can always call 919-385-3784 or stop into the Pharmacy and they can advise on medication availability.
A: A variety of over-the-counter medications are available for purchase in the Duke Campus Center Pharmacy. Included are medications for colds, allergies, fever, and pain relief.
A: Pharmacists can counsel patients on the possible side effects of medications, medication interactions, and provide guidance on how to take medications properly. Some questions may need to be directed to your medical provider.
A: Yes, there is a receptacle for medication disposal located in the Duke Campus Center Pharmacy.
Disability & Accommodations Support
A: For students who are seeing a CAPS clinician for ongoing management and support of their mental health, you can speak with your provider regarding your request for documentation for accommodations. Before speaking with your provider, we recommend you connect with the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO), as they can walk you through the process and provide information on exactly what documentation is required.
Please note, we do not generally provide documentation or letters of support for housing or emotional support animal accommodations.
For students who are interested in accommodations, but are not seeing a clinician at CAPS, we recommend you connect with your current treating provider, as they will have the information and history that best supports your request for an accommodation through the SDAO process
If you are not presently seeing a medical or mental health provider and are experiencing a concern, please call us to schedule an appointment with a member of our team so we can work to support and assist with your concerns.
You can contact us during business hours at 919-660-1000.
Confidentiality & Records
A: Services you receive at CAPS are confidential. With very limited exceptions around your safety and the safety of others, we will not share any information with anyone, unless you specifically request a release of information.
You can read more about Duke Health’s Privacy Practices here, including the very limited circumstances where CAPS is required to disclose information about your care.
If you wish to involve a family member or support person in your care, talk with our team about the process for authorizing us to share information or involve them in discussions about your care plan.
A: To request a copy of your records, please complete the online Authorization for Release of Medical Records Form.
A: Please complete an Authorization for Release of Medical Records Form. Typically, these entities have a very brief questionnaire that they will request be completed by your counselor or psychiatrist. They usually are not seeking details on your care at CAPS, but rather feedback from your provider on the ability to participate in a program or meet requirements for a job or set of duties. If you have questions about this process, please speak with your care provider.
A: Yes, this request can be accommodated. Please be sure to let our front desk team know this preference when you call to schedule.
Please know that our team strictly adheres to confidentiality standards. You can read more about Duke Health’s Privacy Practices here.
A: Please let our team know of this request when you call to schedule. We will ensure you are scheduled with another provider.
Please know that our team strictly adheres to confidentiality standards. You can read more about Duke Health’s Privacy Practices here.
A: Please let the front desk team know and we can assist you with waiting in an alternate location in our suite.
A: Please complete an Authorization for Release of Medical Records Form and talk with your CAPS provider about this request. Alternatively, your outside provider may have you complete their release form that they send to CAPS. Either approach will allow your care providers to connect with one another.
A: Our team can update your preferred name on file at any time. Just let a member of our team know and we can make that change for you. We also recommend updating your preferred name on file with the university, following these steps. Unfortunately, updating your preferred name with the university will not update your My Duke Health account at this time.
To change your legal name on file, please connect with the Duke Registrar, as our systems are automatically updated with your student information on file. You will need to complete the process outlined here.
A: You may bring a friend or support person to your crisis or initial appointment, if it helps you feel safe or supported. The clinician will check with you privately first to confirm you want the friend present and get your verbal consent. In some circumstances, a written consent may be needed. The clinician may ask the friend to step out for part of the meeting so they can speak with you one‑on‑one.
For ongoing services, sessions are typically one‑on‑one, and guests are not usually included unless it is clinically appropriate and you and the clinician agree on such a treatment plan.
Please note that it is important for students to talk directly with their friend or support person about their expectations around confidentiality.
A: Student Health and CAPS both utilize the EPIC medical records system, so our clinical team members can see your care records from visits with either team. With a shared record system, our teams can work collaboratively to support your health and well-being needs. Providers will only access this information if they are working as part of your care team and if the information is needed for your current care and treatment planning. Along with the rest of the Duke University and the Duke University Health System, we are committed to protecting the privacy of our students’ personal health information. You can read more about Duke Health’s Privacy Practices here.
A: Duke CAPS utilizes the Epic electronic medical record system. With this transition, members of your care team who work at Duke Student Health, Duke CAPS, or Duke University Health System will be able to access your record and our CAPS providers will be able to see your records from care you have received from other Duke medical providers. Providers will only access this information if they are working as part of your care team and if the information is needed for your current care and treatment planning. Along with the rest of the Duke University and the Duke University Health System, we are committed to protecting the privacy of our students’ personal health information. You can read more about Duke Health’s Privacy Practices here.
A: Please let your provider know that your parents/guardians want to speak to them about your ongoing care. Please fill out the Authorization for Release of Medical Records Form and discuss the details of what needs to be shared with your providers.
Referrals & Community Providers
A: Yes, we would be happy to assist with that. You can stop in or call us at 919-660-1000 and let our team know you are looking for assistance with finding a community provider. We can work with you to understand what you’re looking for and help you identify providers who may be accepting new clients who also accept your insurance plan. If you are already seeing a CAPS provider and seeking an off-campus provider, just let your counselor or psychiatrist know and they can help you with this process, too.
You can also search for mental health services using Duke’s MiResource tool. This allows you to search both by location and by insurance plan and then filter by other criteria you may be seeking in an off-campus provider.
Enrolled Duke students also have access to TimelyCare, which is a free, online mental health support service. All students have access to TimelyCare–including students enrolled in fully virtual programs. Timely Care provides 24/7 mental telehealth support to all Duke students at no cost.
Through TimelyCare, Duke Students have access to multiple services:
- Telecounseling – all students have access to 12 free virtual counseling sessions with a licensed therapist.
- Talk Now – this service provides on-demand mental health support for any concern, typically available within 20 minutes or less.
- Well-being resources – a range of videos, toolkits, and other resources on a variety of mental health topics
A: Yes, we would be happy to assist with that. You can stop in or call us at 919-660-1000 and let our team know you are looking for assistance with finding a community provider. We can work with you to understand what you’re looking for and help you identify providers who may be accepting new clients who also accept your insurance plan. If you are already seeing a CAPS provider and seeking an off-campus provider, just let your counselor or psychiatrist know and they can help you with this process, too.
You can also search for mental health services using Duke’s MiResource tool. This allows you to search both by location and by insurance plan and then filter by other criteria you may be seeking in an off-campus provider.
Gender and Sexual Violence
A: Yes, our team can provide support for you in this situation. Please call us or walk in to be scheduled with a clinician.
A: CAPS clinicians at Duke are not mandatory reporters for Title IX. They are considered a confidential resource, which means they do not report disclosures of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or other Title IX‑related experiences to the university without your permission.
This is a deliberate protection built into Duke’s support system so students can talk openly with mental‑health professionals without triggering a formal university process.
Our team can help you navigate to a range of reporting and support resources on campus at any point in the process.
Campus Mental Health Resources
A: CAPS does offer outreach programs throughout the year. To request that CAPS attend your event, please complete the Dean of Students Office Outreach Request Form or call our front desk at 919-660-1000 and request to be connected to the Assistant Director for Outreach Services.
A: There are a number of spaces around campus that may be available for students to use for private appointments.
- Individual study rooms can be reserved at many of Duke’s Libraries using their online reservation tool
- Counseling and Psychological Services may have limited space available for telehealth appointments, based on availability
- The Career Center has interview rooms that they have made available for students with appointments, pending availability
Students can typically coordinate with their roommates or suitemates to be able to use their residence hall space privately.
A: Duke University offers a range of well-being services. Please visit the Student Affairs website for all Health and Wellness support services and programs.
Billing & Insurance
A: There is no charge for visits to CAPS and no copay will be collected at the time of the visit. These services are covered as part of your Student Health Fee.
For students who are seeing our team for medication management, you will be responsible for costs incurred for any medications that are prescribed. You will pay for those medications at the pharmacy when you pick them up.
A: For students enrolled in on-campus programs, services at CAPS are included in your student health fee, which is charged as part of your tuition and fees. There is no additional cost for using the services at CAPS, though students who are prescribed medications by our psychiatry team will need to use their insurance for the cost of the medication.
A: Duke offers a wide range of health and wellness services, many of which are already covered in your Student Health Fee. This includes:
- Duke Student Health – our on campus medical clinic
- Counseling & Psychological Services – offering mental health and psychiatric care
- Nutrition Resources and Information, and
- A vast array of wellness promotion, education and programming, non-clinical case management support, and more.
A: For CAPS, the health fee covers the cost of visits including individual and group counseling, triage assessments, and psychiatry visits. The health fee does not cover the cost of pharmacy prescriptions or outside specialty visits. Charges for these services will be billed to your health insurance.
The health fee also provides a range of other campus well-being services, including:
- Student Health – offering a range of primary care and other medical services
- Nutrition Resources and Information, and
- A vast array of wellness promotion, education and programming, non-clinical case management support, and more.
A: The Student Health Fee is a mandatory fee for enrolled students, but it is not equivalent to insurance. Duke offers a wide range of health and wellness services, many of which are already covered in your fee. This includes:
- Duke Student Health – our on campus medical clinic
- Counseling & Psychological Services – offering mental health and psychiatric care
- Nutrition Resources and Information, and
- A vast array of wellness promotion, education and programming, non-clinical case management support, and more.
Students are not able to opt out of the Student Health Fee. Additional questions regarding tuition and fees can be directed to the Bursar’s Office or your academic department.
A: Tuition and fees are assessed based on the academic program in which you are enrolled. The Student Health Fee is a mandatory fee for all students enrolled in in-person programs.