The short answer: The consultation may be the only visit some students need, but it is also the routing appointment. State clearly if you want recurring therapy, psychiatry or an off-campus referral.¹
Start with Student Health, Counseling and Well-being Services
Book it: Book a consultation in the Patient Portal or call 916-278-6461. The current phone number is 916-278-6461. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: Currently enrolled students who pay the student health fee. What it costs: Most campus counseling is included in the health fee; no insurance is required.¹
The limit that matters
Short-term individual counseling; no fixed numerical cap is published on the current official service page. 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
Walk into Urgent Care on the first floor of The WELL during business hours. After hours: Currently enrolled students can use free TimelyCare TalkNow and scheduled counseling when SHCWS is closed.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: Psychiatry and specialized assessments are available by referral. When campus care is too short: A clinician or Patient Care Coordinator can connect students to intensive, long-term or specialized community 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 Sacramento State door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Walk into Urgent Care on the first floor of The WELL during business hours. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Book a consultation in the Patient Portal or call 916-278-6461. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | Currently enrolled students can use free TimelyCare TalkNow and scheduled counseling when SHCWS is closed. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | Psychiatry and specialized assessments are available by referral. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | A clinician or Patient Care Coordinator can connect students to intensive, long-term or specialized community 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 Sacramento State 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
- Sacramento State — Counseling services, read 2026-08-24.
- Sacramento State — SHCWS FAQs, read 2026-08-24.
- Sacramento State — TimelyCare, read 2026-08-24.