The short answer: Campus counseling needs no reimbursement; no separate outside-copay fund was verified.¹
Start with Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS)
Book it: Call CPS to schedule or request urgent support. The current phone number is 310-954-4114. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: Traditional full-time undergraduates plus students in ADN, ABSN and DPT programs; other graduate students should confirm eligibility. What it costs: CPS services are free.¹
The limit that matters
Up to 10 counseling sessions per academic year for the published eligible groups. 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 CPS for crisis support during operating hours. After hours: No campus-operated after-hours clinical line was clearly verified; use 988 or 911.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: Routine psychiatry is not promised on the current public page. When campus care is too short: CPS offers referral help when students need care beyond brief campus treatment.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 Mount Saint Mary’s University door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Call CPS for crisis support during operating hours. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call CPS to schedule or request urgent support. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | No campus-operated after-hours clinical line was clearly verified; use 988 or 911. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | Routine psychiatry is not promised on the current public page. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | CPS offers referral help when students need care beyond brief campus treatment. | 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 Mount Saint Mary’s University page. Core access facts are due for re-check by 2026-11-23. A missing number is reported as “not published,” never filled from an old catalog or another campus.
Sources
- MSMU — Counseling and Psychological Services, read 2026-08-25.
- MSMU Engage — CPS, read 2026-08-25.