The short answer: Six sessions renew each semester, and the college has a separate after-hours line. Ask for an outside referral if you need continuity between terms.¹
Start with Student Health and Well-being Center Personal Counseling
Book it: Contact the Student Health and Well-being Center for an in-person or online counseling appointment. The current phone number is 661-362-3259. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: Fully enrolled College of the Canyons students. What it costs: Short-term counseling is free.¹
The limit that matters
Up to six sessions per semester; late cancellations and arrivals can count as visits under the center’s policy. 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
Crisis intervention is available during Student Health and Well-being Center hours. After hours: Call 661-362-3259 and press 9 for the college’s after-hours crisis line; use 988 or 911 for crisis or immediate danger.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: Medication management is not listed as a personal-counseling service. When campus care is too short: The center supplies outside referrals and resources when campus care is not appropriate or sufficient.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 College of the Canyons door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Crisis intervention is available during Student Health and Well-being Center hours. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Contact the Student Health and Well-being Center for an in-person or online counseling appointment. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | Call 661-362-3259 and press 9 for the college’s after-hours crisis line; use 988 or 911 for crisis or immediate danger. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | Medication management is not listed as a personal-counseling service. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | The center supplies outside referrals and resources when campus care is not appropriate or sufficient. | 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 College of the Canyons 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
- College of the Canyons — Personal Counseling, read 2026-08-24.
- College of the Canyons — Student Health and after-hours support, read 2026-08-24.