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Parents and Loved Ones

 

Welcome to our parents and loved ones web pages. Our goal is to provide you with information that might assist you in supporting your family member who may need mental health services while they are a student at the University of Michigan. We also encourage you to peruse the entire website, but especially the counseling services and medication consultation pages for specific information about these services.

Professional Staff

CAPS has a diverse staff with regard to race/ethnicity, country of origin, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, age, professional discipline, theoretical orientations and intervention approaches. We have clinical social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, post doctorate and post MSW fellows, graduate level psychology and social work interns and three support staff that all contribute to providing excellent mental health services for students.

Eligibility

Eligibility for our services extends to currently enrolled University of Michigan students as well as to their family members or significant others when seen with students.

Confidentiality

As a parent, it is completely understandable that you would want to know specifics about the therapeutic content and/or services that your student might be participating in at CAPS. However, confidentiality in the mental health arena is a professionally and legally complex issue.

Treating information confidentially means not releasing any information to parents or loved ones, including whether a student has made an appointment or attended sessions at CAPS, without their signed written consent. Our staff keenly recognizes that this may be difficult however we are legally and ethically required to maintain these standards of confidentiality.

What may be helpful to know is that in most instances, students are more than willing to sign a release of information that would allow the therapist to discuss their situation or concerns with their parent(s) or loved one(s).

However, for any number of personal reasons, there are students who are not willing to sign a release of information.  In these situations, we uphold privacy concerns consistent with professional guidelines and mental health laws.  If you have questions about this don't hesitate to contact us.

Common Questions and Answers

  • My granddaughter is a first-year student and is coming to U-M already diagnosed with a depression and needs medication monitoring only. Where does she go?
    • Your granddaughter can make an appointment with a CAPS counselor, or call 764.8312 and ask to speak to the Counselor on Duty, to discuss referral sources for ongoing psychiatric support and medication monitoring. Appropriate referrals will be suggested given a variety of factors, i.e. insurance plans, financial needs, distance from campus etc. It is important that your student doesn't run out of medication prior to being evaluated by a psychiatrist.

      Learn more about depression and antidepressant medication
  • What can I do if I suspect that my daughter or son could benefit from professional help and support?
    • It is recommended that you express your reasons for concern in a straightforward, yet loving, and supportive way. It might be helpful to say something like “I am worried about you. You just don't seem to be yourself lately. Have you thought about going to talk to someone about your concerns? I think it would be really good for you to talk with an objective person who can help you sort out what ever is bothering you. Will you go over to CAPS and make an appointment?”
  • Does CAPS provide walk-in services?
    • Yes. Emergency consultation and crisis counseling is available to students in person or by telephone. If a student is dealing with an urgent situation or crisis during regular business hours, they can come into the office and request to be seen by a counselor as soon as possible.

      If they are not able to come to CAPS they can call 734. 764.8312 and ask to speak to the Counselor on Duty.

      For emergency help during evening or weekend hours, students need to contact Psychiatric Emergency Services at the U of M Medical Center, 734.996.4747.
  • Can I talk to a counselor at CAPS?
    • Yes. Our Counselor on Duty is available to talk to you about concerns regarding your family member and/or how you might help them. However, remember that counselors can only talk with you in general terms without the written consent of your student.
  • How much does counseling cost?
    • There is no fee for CAPS services for enrolled students.
  • How does a student make an appointment?

Additional Resources

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