Denton
Phone: 940.898.3801
Fax: 940.898.3810
Website: www.twu.edu/counseling/
Location: West Jones Hall
Dallas
Phone: 214.689.6655
Fax: 940.898.3810
Website: www.twu.edu/counseling/dallas-caps/
Location: 5500 Southwestern Medical Ave, Suite 8300
Houston
Phone: 713.794.2059
Fax: 713.794.2018
Website: www.twu.edu/counseling/houston-caps/
Location: 6700 Fannin, Suite 2250
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides high quality mental health care to currently enrolled students on the Denton, Dallas, and Houston campuses. It is CAPS mission to support students’ academic success and personal growth in a warm and welcoming environment. Students seek services for a broad range of concerns such as relationship struggles, depression, anxiety, family issues, grief/loss, identity confusion, past trauma, and test anxiety. Individual, group, and couples therapy are available to help students resolve concerns and learn new ways to be more effective. Crisis counseling is also available 24 hours a day when the University is open.
All therapy sessions are confidential. Your privacy and trust are important to us and is protected by state laws and professional ethical standards. No information can be released without your written authorization. However, confidentiality is legally limited. Your therapist will speak with you about the limits of confidentiality when you first meet. Feel free to ask your therapist any questions or express any concerns you may have about confidentiality.
During the fall and spring semesters, both day and evening hours are available at all three locations. As hours vary by location, please check the schedule at each campus.
Crisis Intervention Services
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides emergency assistance to you if you or another student is in crisis on a 24-hour-a-day basis when the University is open. During business hours, you may phone or stop in at your CAPS campus location for emergency assistance. If you prefer to call regarding an emergency during business hours, please see the DPS campus phone numbers below:
Dallas: 214.689.6666
Denton: 940.898.2911
Houston: 713.794.2222
For after-hours crisis assistance for all campuses: call 911 or the Denton Campus Police at 940-898-2911 and ask to speak with the therapist-on-call. TWU DPS will notify the therapist on-call so the therapist may speak to you directly.
In times of crisis, the following community agencies, not connected with TWU, may also be of assistance:
Denton Crisis Line – 800.762.0157
Dallas Crisis Hotline – 214.828.1000
Fort Worth Crisis Hotline – 817.335.3022
Houston Crisis Hotline – 866.970.4770
Group Therapy
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) on the Denton campus offers a number of groups each semester. Group offerings typically include topics such as Healing from Family Pain, Sexual Assault Recovery, Overcoming Depression, Healthy Relationships, LGBTQIA Support, and Anxiety Management. Other groups are also offered on a rotating basis.
Outreach and Consultation
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) staff is available to provide workshops and presentations to classes, student organizations, or residence hall floors with appropriate advanced notice. CAPS can offer programming on a number of mental health related topics and will be glad to work with you to meet your needs. Some examples of frequently requested topics include, but are not limited to: test anxiety; time management; improving communication skills; assertiveness; coping with depression; and healthy relationships.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) maintains a comprehensive website (https://twu.edu/counseling/) which includes a Mind Body Wellbeing section with guided meditation and relaxation exercises, a list of recommended smartphone mental health apps, and a variety of self-help materials. Printed copies of our self-help materials are also available in the waiting rooms of all CAPS locations. Additionally, our website contains a full listing of Mental Health Resources for Dallas, Denton, and Harris counties as well as information on national and on-line resources.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) also offers consultation to students, faculty and staff on issues related to the mental and emotional wellbeing of TWU students. Examples of areas of concern include roommate disagreements, disruptive students, difficulties between students and faculty/staff, and difficulties between groups of students.
The Staff
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is staffed by a culturally diverse group of psychologists. The Denton campus serves as a training site for TWU graduate students in counseling psychology. The Denton campus is also the site of a doctoral internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association. All staff are either licensed or in the process of obtaining licensure in their professional disciplines. CAPS staff adhere to the ethical principles of the American Psychological Association and the rules and regulations of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.
Diversity Statement
TWU CAPS fully supports and respects issues of multicultural diversity and individual uniqueness. We view diversity as encompassing a broad spectrum of intersecting identities including ethnic/racial identity, nationality, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, age, ability status, religious/spiritual identity, socioeconomic status, body shape/size/appearance, and family composition. We recognize the critical impact of these variables on a person’s lived experiences and are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment where all of our unique identities are nurtured and affirmed.
We acknowledge the effects of systemic oppression, discrimination, stereotypes, prejudice, power, and privilege on students’ lives. At times, these factors may limit our students from achieving their fullest potential in their educational journey, physical health, and emotional well-being. To counteract this, we take responsibility for contributing to a university campus community that is embracing and inclusive of all diversity. We strive to live this responsibility by committing to our own life-long process of enhancing our multicultural competence, advocating for our students when appropriate, and engaging in difficult dialogues about these issues individually, as an agency, and as a member of the broader campus and national community.
Academically-Related Services
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) does not provide academic advising for coursework. Students should contact the appropriate academic department or Academic Advising. Evaluation of transcripts from other institutions for transfer to TWU should be discussed with either the appropriate academic department or with the staff of the Office of Admissions.