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, and SCU says so on its own Getting Started page: sessions are "50-minute therapy sessions offered at no costs or predetermined session limits, but are designed to be short-term." Separately, CAPS 24/7 states that counselling sessions through it are unlimited. Two routes, neither capped in writing, both brief by design. 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
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 →.
Choose the right Santa Clara University door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | CAPS usually offers same-day 30-minute crisis sessions weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call CAPS during business hours or use CAPS 24/7/Uwill at 408-554-5220. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | Call 408-554-5220 any time for crisis, referral or therapy support. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | Campus CAPS has psychiatric support; CAPS 24/7 does not provide medication management. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | Free case management has no session limit and helps students find therapy, psychiatry and specialized services that accept their insurance. | 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 Santa Clara University page. The session-limit facts were re-read on 24 September 2026. 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
- SCU — CAPS, read 2026-08-24.
- SCU — Fees, read 2026-08-24.
- SCU — Case Management, read 2026-08-24.
- Santa Clara University CAPS — Getting started, read 24 September 2026 — "50-minute therapy sessions offered at no costs or predetermined session limits, but are designed to be short-term."