The short answer: Use MCAPS for therapy or psychiatry and TimelyCare for flexible access. No CMC fund guaranteeing outside copay repayment was verified.¹
Start with Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS)
Book it: Call MCAPS for scheduled care or use TimelyCare with a CMC email address. The current phone number is 909-621-8202. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: Currently enrolled Claremont McKenna undergraduate students. What it costs: MCAPS and TimelyCare counseling are free to eligible students.¹
The limit that matters
MCAPS provides brief therapy without a current published cap; CMC also describes TimelyCare as a free 24/7 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
MCAPS offers same-day crisis appointments. After hours: Call 909-621-8202 and press 1 for ProtoCall support after 5 p.m. and on weekends.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: MCAPS includes psychiatrists and medication management. When campus care is too short: MCAPS provides off-campus referrals when a student needs longer-term or specialized care.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 Claremont McKenna College door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | MCAPS offers same-day crisis appointments. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call MCAPS for scheduled care or use TimelyCare with a CMC email address. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | Call 909-621-8202 and press 1 for ProtoCall support after 5 p.m. and on weekends. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | MCAPS includes psychiatrists and medication management. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | MCAPS provides off-campus referrals when a student needs longer-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 Claremont McKenna 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
- CMC — Mental Health, read 2026-08-24.
- CMC — Student Resources, read 2026-08-24.