The short answer: The official site is clear about 24/7 crisis access but not about session count or psychiatry. Those are the two questions to ask before treating campus counseling as an ongoing plan.¹
Start with WellCat Counseling Center
Book it: Call 530-898-6345 and leave your name, number and student ID if staff cannot answer; the center returns scheduling calls. The current phone number is 530-898-6345. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: Current Chico State students. What it costs: The current public counseling page does not list a separate counseling charge; confirm any appointment fee when scheduling.¹
The limit that matters
Individual counselling is available in person and by Zoom. No number is published anywhere — but a limit is: the centre’s own What to Expect page says "If you do receive individual counseling, your counselor will provide you a limited number of sessions." It does not say how many, and it adds that you may be placed on a waiting list until a counsellor has an opening. Ask for the number at intake, because Chico has told you there is one without telling you what it is. 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
Use the WellCat crisis line for immediate support. After hours: Call 855-530-6802 or 530-898-6345, option 2, for a crisis counselor 24/7.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: The current counseling landing page does not clearly describe medication access; ask WellCat whether psychiatry is on campus or referred. When campus care is too short: Ask the center for community referral help when campus treatment is not the right duration or specialty.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 Chico State door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Use the WellCat crisis line for immediate support. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call 530-898-6345 and leave your name, number and student ID if staff cannot answer; the center returns scheduling calls. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | Call 855-530-6802 or 530-898-6345, option 2, for a crisis counselor 24/7. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | The current counseling landing page does not clearly describe medication access; ask WellCat whether psychiatry is on campus or referred. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | Ask the center for community referral help when campus treatment is not the right duration or specialty. | 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 Chico State page. The session-limit facts were re-read on 24 September 2026. 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
- Chico State — WellCat Counseling Center, read 2026-08-24.
- Chico State — On-campus providers, read 2026-08-24.
- Chico State Counseling — What to expect, read 24 September 2026 — "If you do receive individual counseling, your counselor will provide you a limited number of sessions."
Correction, 24 September 2026: this page said no numerical cap is published on the official landing page. True, and misleading by omission: the centre’s What to Expect page states that a counsellor will provide a limited number of sessions without saying how many. A student should know a limit exists even when the number does not.