The short answer: There is no session limit — SPS says so in as many words. Psychiatry exists but is gated: a Student Psychological Services counselor has to refer you.¹
Start with Student Psychological Services (SPS)
Book it: Call SPS for an appointment; current students can leave a non-urgent message or request immediate crisis support. The current phone number is 310-243-3818. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: "ALL STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED AND PAY THE STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES FEE ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICES."¹ What it costs: "If you are currently enrolled at CSUDH, you are eligible for counseling services at no additional cost."²
The limit that matters
Confidential short-term counseling with no session cap: "Because everyone's needs are different, we do not have a specific session limit."² Sessions run about 45 minutes.³ This is still worth confirming at intake, because staffing and campus rules can change during the academic year.
If you need help today
SPS counselors assist students in crisis during business hours, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.⁴ After hours: "Our after-hours call center is available 7 days a week including weekends, holidays and breaks."⁴ For a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: "Psychiatric services are available to eligible CSUDH students. Referrals to the staff psychiatrist are made by a Student Psychological Services counselor."³ You cannot book the psychiatrist directly. When campus care is too short: SPS publishes a student resources page listing outside options.⁵
If you use a parent’s insurance, billing paperwork can disclose that care was used. Read the student privacy and EOB route →. If money is the obstacle, compare Medi-Cal →, sliding-scale care →, and California-wide telehealth →.
Choose the right Cal State Dominguez Hills door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | SPS counselors assist students in crisis during weekday business hours. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call SPS for an appointment; current students can leave a non-urgent message or request immediate crisis support. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | The SPS number routes to an after-hours call center seven days a week, including weekends and holidays. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | Eligible students can use psychiatric care through Student Psychological Services. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | SPS provides referrals for long-term or specialized care. | Say what matters: specialty, identity, location, telehealth, language, insurance and maximum price. |
Before you spend money outside campus
Campus counseling and outside insurance are separate. Before booking an outside therapist, ask:
- Is this clinician in-network for my exact plan—not just the insurance company?
- What will I owe before and after my deductible?
- Does the plan require a campus referral or prior authorization?
- If the clinician is out-of-network, will they provide a superbill and where do I submit it?
If you use a parent’s plan, ask the insurer how to request confidential communications before the first claim. An explanation of benefits can otherwise show that care was used.
What to ask in the first appointment
- What is my individual-session limit this term or year, and does intake count?
- If I need weekly or specialized care, who starts the outside referral?
- Is psychiatry separate, and does it require a campus or insurance referral?
- What can I use while I am waiting: a group, same-day consultation, or virtual care?
- Will any charge or insurance explanation be sent to someone else?
Verification record
Every campus-specific statement above was read on an official Cal State Dominguez Hills page. Core access facts are due for re-check by 2026-11-22. A missing number is reported as “not published,” never filled from an old catalog or another campus.
Sources
- CSUDH — Student Psychological Services, read 2026-09-12.
- CSUDH — Scheduling an Appointment, read 2026-09-12.
- CSUDH — Services Offered, read 2026-09-12.
- CSUDH — SPS Contact Us, read 2026-09-12.
- CSUDH — SPS Student Resources, read 2026-09-12.
Correction, 12 September 2026, withdrawn 23 September 2026: the September correction said no $40 summer health fee appeared on any Cal State Dominguez Hills page, and removed the figure. That was wrong. Student Psychological Services publishes it — "Effective May 21, 2026, current students are required to pay a $40 summer health fee to access health and counseling services during the summer term" — and the summer fee schedule lists it as well. The figure stands as printed above, and the September correction is withdrawn.