The short answer: There is no published fixed cap, but the model is brief. Ask the Initial Evaluation clinician to distinguish what UCS can provide from what should start off campus.¹

Start with University Counseling Services (UCS)

Book it: Call 818-677-2366, option 1, for an Initial Evaluation. The current phone number is 818-677-2366. Open the official service page →¹

Who can use it: Currently enrolled undergraduate, graduate and Tseng College students. What it costs: Counseling is free.¹

The limit that matters

Short-term, goal-focused care with a flexible number determined by need; groups have no limit. This is the fact to confirm again at intake, because staffing and campus rules can change during the academic year.¹

If you need help today

Call the main number, option 1, or go in person during weekday hours; no appointment is required for crisis care. After hours: Call 818-677-2366, option 3, for after-hours urgent support.²

In crisis? Call or text 988 — free, 24/7.

Medication and longer-term therapy

Psychiatry: Psychiatric consultation is available when clinically appropriate. When campus care is too short: UCS case management connects students to insured or low-cost community treatment when specialized or ongoing care is needed.²

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 →.

What to ask in the first appointment

  1. What is my individual-session limit this term or year, and does intake count?
  2. If I need weekly or specialized care, who starts the outside referral?
  3. Is psychiatry separate, and does it require a campus or insurance referral?
  4. What can I use while I am waiting: a group, same-day consultation, or virtual care?
  5. 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 Northridge 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

  1. CSUN UCS — Available services, read 2026-08-24.
  2. CSUN UCS — FAQs, read 2026-08-24.