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Counseling (CAPS)

We’re here to listen

Stressing out over your studies? Just need someone to talk to? Our trained, professional staff will give you the confidential support you need.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re having a serious mental health crisis or you just want to discuss a problem with someone—we’re here for you. And we know that mental health treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. We’ll customize your care to your situation.

If you're a first-time client, you can schedule your free, 30-minute CAPS Now assessment online. This initial appointment will connect you to the CAPS services that are right for you.

All other appointments can be made by calling 812-855-5711.

Counseling and Psychological Services

IU Student Health Center, Fourth Floor
600 N. Eagleson Ave
Bloomington, IN 47405

Office hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

  • Phone: 812-855-5711
  • The crisis line is available to students 24/7 choosing option 1 after-hours.
Find a provider

Have an emergency?

Students can contact us 24/7 to speak to a crisis counselor. Call 812-855-5711, option 1 or contact your local hospital emergency department. You may also call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

If you’ve experienced a sexual assault, call 812-855-8900 at any time.

Health Insurance 101

Learn how to use your health insurance at CAPS. Find out what insurance plans we accept and how to maintain your privacy.

Thriving Campus

Directory of off-campus mental health providers serving college students, with searchable filters for location and specialization.

Graduate Student Support

Adapting and thriving in graduate school is a complex process, learn how CAPS can help.

Recorded Workshops

CAPS offers an on demand online video library covering a number of topics. Start learning self-care tips!

LGBTQ+ Support

Do you identify as LGBTQ+? We know this can add additional stressors. We're here for you.

Health Answers

Can’t sleep? Having trouble coping with graduate school? Read up on issues related to mental health.

Our services

In this one-on-one counseling service, the focus is on you. We’ll help clarify your goals and will work hard to see the world as you do. We want to share your experiences, because feeling understood is a powerful part of counseling. We may suggest new behaviors for you to practice, or more helpful ways of thinking.

There’s no set number of counseling sessions, but the focus is on short-term treatment. If it turns out that you need weekly sessions or longer-term care, we can help you find what you need.

Couples counseling can help you and your partners work through relationship issues like trust, communication, intimacy, and sex. Working with a partner in therapy can help directly address the issue in the relationship in a safe and collaborative environment. We can teach partners about behaviors and patterns that might be causing problems, and we may work on techniques for partners to practice together.

All partners interested in participating must call to schedule a couples counseling session.

We offer many group counseling options each semester, including some especially for graduate students. Working on problems with a group of six to eight of your peers (and group facilitators) can be valuable. Knowing firsthand that the people around you have similar problems is powerful. You’ll be able to give and receive meaningful feedback as you work through your issues together. All group members commit to complete confidentiality about attendee names and discussions during group sessions.

Most groups require an initial individual meeting. For more information, call us at 812-855-5711.

See a list of our group sessions

Did you know that we offer free in-person and online workshops throughout the semester? By attending these workshops, you can learn some of the same strategies to improve your life as you would in a counseling visit. Even if you’ve never been to CAPS or SACS, you’re welcome to join us!

See what workshops we offer

See a counselor without leaving the comfort of your home with our virtual visits.

Learn about virtual visits

We offer psychiatric assessment and follow-up treatment. Psychiatrists are medical doctors with specialized training in treating emotional and behavioral problems through medical intervention. They prescribe medication when needed to treat conditions such as depression and anxiety.

To see a psychiatrist, you will need a referral from a CAPS or SACS counselor. Our psychiatrists work exclusively with students who are seeing a CAPS or SACS counselor. Psychiatric visits are not included in the two free counseling visits that are available for students who have paid the student health fee, but rates are reduced.

Adapting and thriving in graduate school is a complex process, but you are not alone! CAPS can help. 25% of the students we see are graduate students.

Learn more about Graduate Student Resources

If you’ve experienced sexual violence, come to us for help. We’re here to support you.

Learn about the Sexual Assault Crisis Service

We know that sometimes you just need to talk with someone. We’re here to listen.

Learn about the Let’s Talk program

Concerned about an IU student? During CAPS business hours, anyone may call and speak with the CAPS director or on-call staff member. After-hours phone consultations are available by calling 812-855-5711 and selecting option 1.

You can also submit a care referral if you’re concerned about the safety or well-being of an IU student (including yourself).

Learn more about submitting a care referral

CAPS requires its own in-house protocol for diagnosing and treating ADHD.  Unfortunately, this service is unavailable during the Spring 2023 semester.  If you are seeking an ADHD diagnosis or continuity of care started elsewhere, consult your health insurance to locate providers who are covered and available.  Indiana pharmacies accept stimulant prescriptions from providers in other states, so if you have a current prescriber outside of Indiana, consider asking them if you could remain their patient.  If you are currently treated by a CAPS psychiatrist, this change does not affect you.

For academic assistance please refer to these academic resources:

If you wouold rather connect with someone off-campus for your mental health needs, IU has partnered with Thriving Campus. Thriving Campus is a directory of off-campus mental health providers serving college students, with searchable filters for location and specialization.

Visit Thriving Campus

Make an appointment

Call 812-855-5711 to make a CAPS appointment.

Cancel an appointment

Learn about canceling

We speak your language

We offer counseling services in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Dari, Farsi, Hindi, and Urdu.

About our free visits

All IU students who have paid the student health fee receive two free CAPS counseling visits each semester. If you’re a first-time client, you’ll also receive one free, 30-minute CAPS Now assessment (to connect you to the best CAPS service(s) to meet your needs) and a bonus free visit during your first semester.

These visits are free if you have paid the student health fee, but your health insurance will be billed for its portion of the visit's cost. If you do not want your health insurance billed, then please notify either your CAPS counselor or one of the cashiers when you check-out. Make an appointment by calling 812-855-5711.

Thanks to a generous donation from IU parent Michelle Brawner, we are able to offer the bonus free visit for the 2022-23 academic year.

If you’re experiencing a financial hardship, please speak with your counselor about financial assistance. Don’t let low funds stop you from seeking help.

All Sexual Assault Crisis Service appointments are free of charge.

Resources for diversity, inclusion, and academic concerns

We wish to acknowledge and honor the Indigenous communities native to this region and recognize that Indiana University Bloomington is built on Indigenous homelands and resources. We recognize the Miami, Delaware, Potawatomi, and Shawnee people as past, present, and future caretakers of this land. (Excerpt from the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center website).

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is committed to the mission of Indiana University. IU’s mission explicitly states IU “strives to achieve full diversity and to maintain friendly, collegial, and humane environments…”.

There are times when external events, such as racially motivated violence, systematic discrimination or marginalizing socio-political actions cause trauma, fear, anxiety, and depression. These situations can significantly impact us individually or collectively. 

CAPS supports student in many forms, including trauma response, outreach consultations, and mental health counseling. We have diverse counselors who are international and domestic, speak a variety of languages, and represent a range of identities. CAPS is available to offer large or small group debriefing sessions, and we offer consultation to help students process their reactions. 

Additional resources include:

Get involved with CAPS

Are you a psychology or social work graduate student looking for professional training? Or are you an undergraduate who wants to help create a culture of compassion at IU Bloomington? Either way, we have something for you.

Get more information about mental health topics