Beyond the acronym: a conversation with CAPS
NOTE: In 2022, CAPS was renamed as Student Counselling Service. You can contact them here:聽student.counselling@sydney.edu.au
CAPS 鈥� what is it?
The University of Sydney鈥檚 (CAPS) provides all students with general support and specialist advice for issues impacting their mental health and wellbeing. Most notably, this is in the form of free, individual therapy sessions with clinical psychologists. They also provide on topics such as procrastination, resilience and adjusting to change.
Who is it?
CAPS employ clinical psychologists (counsellors) and other qualified staff with experience in student mental health. CAPS say that their counsellors usually have sessions with 5 clients in a day, with time for writing notes and other administrative tasks. They also run online workshops for students and engage in reviews and professional development training.
CAPS staff identified three key values which guide their ethos in delivering student support. Empathy 鈥� to understand things from another鈥檚 perspective, open-mindedness 鈥� to accommodate for the needs of a diverse student cohort, and flexibility 鈥� in supporting students鈥� mental health and wellbeing.
How does it work?
Students will need to book an appointment with CAPS, either online or over the phone. In their first 50-minute session, the student will have the opportunity to share concerns, undertake an assessment and collaborate on the best way forward, with the counsellor discussing options and interventions based on individual needs.
鈥淎fter the first session, we collaborate with the student to determine best options inclusive of specialist assessment, focused counselling and e-therapy resources.鈥�
Students, mental health and society
Working with students daily, CAPS recognises the unique set of circumstances and challenges facing students today. From acknowledging that university is a significant period of transition, to the unique challenge of providing international student support and anxieties around job prospects, the team at CAPS understands that 鈥渇or many people, university is a significant period of transition in their lives, and collaborate with students within this context of challenges, transitions and opportunity.鈥�
Reaching out
If you don鈥檛 know where to seek help or are afraid to do so, either for you or someone else, you鈥檙e not alone. Speaking about our personal concerns and sharing our thoughts with someone else can be daunting, but it鈥檚 a necessary step in the process of accessing appropriate support. As the team at CAPS says, 鈥渋n the long run, people seldom regret trying something even if doesn鈥檛 work out; at least they know that鈥檚 not for them鈥� we can鈥檛 solve all of life's problems by ourselves.鈥�
Good health, every semester
So how can we get through the semester and maintain good health? Here are a few tips:
- Develop a daily routine that ensures good physical health, accounting for adequate sleep, plenty of exercise, enough leisure time and a healthy diet
- Plan your semester: mark deadlines, break down larger tasks into smaller ones, work consistently and evenly
- Ensure you lead a balanced lifestyle, that not only incorporates study, sleep and a social life, but also factors work commitments and extra-curricular activities.听Click here if you want to know how to maintain a social life while social distancing
- When you need it, be brave and ask for help
You can聽聽between 9am and 5pm on weekdays. If you need to speak to someone outside CAPS business hours, you can contact the University of Sydney Crisis Line from 5pm to 9am weekdays, 24 hours on weekends and public holidays. Call 1300 474065 or text 0488 884 429聽(for sms chat option).
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