The short answer: There are two distinct doors: campus sessions and 24/7 virtual counseling. Ask the campus clinician which is appropriate for recurring care.¹
Start with Social Well-being and Behavioral Support
Book it: Call, complete the online self-referral form or visit the Social Well-being and Behavioral Support office. The current phone number is 909-652-6338. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: All currently enrolled Chaffey students. What it costs: Campus sessions and First Stop Health virtual counseling are free to students.¹
The limit that matters
The campus service does not publish a fixed session count; 24/7 First Stop Health counseling is a separate virtual route. 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
Contact the campus behavioral-support team during business hours. After hours: First Stop Health provides free 24/7 virtual counseling at 888-691-7867; use 988 for crisis care.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: The official pages do not promise campus medication management. When campus care is too short: Student health provides referrals when indicated, and First Stop Health supplies an additional virtual route.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 →.
Choose the right Chaffey College door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Contact the campus behavioral-support team during business hours. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call, complete the online self-referral form or visit the Social Well-being and Behavioral Support office. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | First Stop Health provides free 24/7 virtual counseling at 888-691-7867; use 988 for crisis care. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | The official pages do not promise campus medication management. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | Student health provides referrals when indicated, and First Stop Health supplies an additional virtual route. | 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 Chaffey College 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
- Chaffey — Schedule a mental-health session, read 2026-08-24.
- Chaffey — Health services and 24/7 counseling, read 2026-08-24.