The short answer: Use free, unlimited CAPS 24/7 for general therapy and case management for specialist care. No separate SCU copay-refund fund was verified.¹

Start with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Book it: Call CAPS during business hours or use CAPS 24/7/Uwill at 408-554-5220. The current phone number is 408-554-4501. Open the official service page →¹

Who can use it: All currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students; campus clinical visits require the student to be in California. What it costs: All CAPS appointments and unlimited CAPS 24/7 counseling are free; missed or late appointments can carry a fee.¹

The limit that matters

Short-term campus therapy has no published fixed cap; CAPS 24/7 states that counseling sessions are unlimited. 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

CAPS usually offers same-day 30-minute crisis sessions weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. After hours: Call 408-554-5220 any time for crisis, referral or therapy support.²

In crisis? Call or text 988 — free, 24/7.

Medication and longer-term therapy

Psychiatry: Campus CAPS has psychiatric support; CAPS 24/7 does not provide medication management. When campus care is too short: Free case management has no session limit and helps students find therapy, psychiatry and specialized services that accept their insurance.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 →.

What to ask in the first appointment

  1. What is my individual-session limit this term or year, and does intake count?
  2. If I need weekly or specialized care, who starts the outside referral?
  3. Is psychiatry separate, and does it require a campus or insurance referral?
  4. What can I use while I am waiting: a group, same-day consultation, or virtual care?
  5. Will any charge or insurance explanation be sent to someone else?

Verification record

Every campus-specific statement above was read on an official Santa Clara University 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

  1. SCU — CAPS, read 2026-08-24.
  2. SCU — Fees, read 2026-08-24.
  3. SCU — Case Management, read 2026-08-24.