The short answer: The first appointment is triage, not a promise of ongoing campus therapy. Say at that call if you need weekly, specialized or medication care so the referral begins immediately.¹
Start with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Book it: Call 951-827-5531, option 2, or visit the Student Health and Counseling Center. New clients begin with phone triage. The current phone number is 951-827-5531. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: All registered UC Riverside students, regardless of insurance. What it costs: CAPS services are free; missed or late-cancelled appointments can produce a $20 charge.¹
The limit that matters
CAPS uses individualized care planning; no current fixed numerical cap was found on the official service and FAQ pages. 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
Phone triage can arrange priority care. Use the same main number for immediate support. After hours: Call 951-827-5531 and select option 1 for a 24/7 crisis counselor.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: CAPS can refer students for psychiatric or medication evaluation through Student Health or another appropriate provider. When campus care is too short: Phone triage can lead to campus therapy, tele-behavioral health or an off-campus clinician according to need.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 UC Riverside door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Phone triage can arrange priority care. Use the same main number for immediate support. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call 951-827-5531, option 2, or visit the Student Health and Counseling Center. New clients begin with phone triage. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | Call 951-827-5531 and select option 1 for a 24/7 crisis counselor. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | CAPS can refer students for psychiatric or medication evaluation through Student Health or another appropriate provider. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | Phone triage can lead to campus therapy, tele-behavioral health or an off-campus clinician according to need. | 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 UC Riverside 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
- UC Riverside CAPS — Beginning treatment, read 2026-08-24.
- UC Riverside CAPS — Documents, forms and FAQs, read 2026-08-24.