The short answer: There is no public session count, but there is a clear case-management route. Ask for it during the first visit if brief counseling will not be enough.¹
Start with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Book it: Call CAPS for a confidential in-person or telehealth appointment. The current phone number is 209-667-3381. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: All currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. What it costs: CAPS counseling is free to enrolled students; the Student Health Center separately publishes a $10 no-show fee.¹
The limit that matters
Short-term, goal-focused counseling; no fixed current numerical cap is published. 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 offers same-day crisis visits during business hours. After hours: Call the CAPS number and press 2 for an after-hours crisis counselor.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: CAPS and the Student Health Center coordinate mental-health and medical consultation; ask which office handles medication evaluation. When campus care is too short: CAPS case management provides outside-provider referrals and follows up on the connection.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 Stanislaus State door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | CAPS offers same-day crisis visits during business hours. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call CAPS for a confidential in-person or telehealth appointment. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | Call the CAPS number and press 2 for an after-hours crisis counselor. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | CAPS and the Student Health Center coordinate mental-health and medical consultation; ask which office handles medication evaluation. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | CAPS case management provides outside-provider referrals and follows up on the connection. | 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 Stanislaus 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
- Stanislaus State — CAPS, read 2026-08-24.
- Stanislaus State — CAPS services and case management, read 2026-08-24.