The short answer: Campus services are free, but avoid published no-show fees; no separate outside-copay fund was verified.¹
Start with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Book it: Call CAPS; use extension 3 for immediate crisis support. The current phone number is 209-946-2315 ext. 2. Open the official service page →¹
Who can use it: All currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students across Pacific campuses. What it costs: CAPS is free for enrolled students; missed visits can cost $35 for therapy and $50 for psychiatry.¹
The limit that matters
No current numerical session 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
Call 209-946-2315 extension 3. After hours: The crisis therapist is available 24/7 at extension 3.²
Medication and longer-term therapy
Psychiatry: CAPS provides psychiatric medication management. When campus care is too short: CAPS provides community referrals when its model or scope is not enough.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 University of the Pacific door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Call 209-946-2315 extension 3. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | Call CAPS; use extension 3 for immediate crisis support. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | The crisis therapist is available 24/7 at extension 3. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | CAPS provides psychiatric medication management. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | CAPS provides community referrals when its model or scope is not enough. | 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 University of the Pacific page. Core access facts are due for re-check by 2026-11-23. A missing number is reported as “not published,” never filled from an old catalog or another campus.
Sources
- Pacific — CAPS, read 2026-08-25.
- Pacific — Appointments and eligibility, read 2026-08-25.