Your Initial Consultation 

Your first visit with CAPS is what we call an initial consultation. The initial consultation is the starting point for every student making an appointment with CAPS for the first time and allows us to assess your needs and make recommendations about services that may be a good fit for you. Initial consultations typically last 25-30 minutes. and you will meet with a mental health counselor who is equipped to listen to your concerns and assess what level of care is best for you.

Initial consultations are scheduled on a same-day basis, meaning the day you call is likely the day you’ll be seen. If the counselors’ schedules are full, you may be asked to call again the following day.  

Call to Schedule: 509-335-4511 

Please note that booking through the Patient Portal is unavailable for initial consultations.

Are you in crisis?

Please tell us if you're in crisis so we can help you get the services you need. Contact us at 509-335-4511 (during business hours) or 509-335-2159 (after hours).

Call 9-1-1  in an emergency or if a student poses an immediate threat to self or others.

What to Expect 

If you’ve never been to counseling before, you probably have a lot of questions about the process. Here’s what you can expect from your first appointment with CAPS. 

On the day of your initial consultation, you will complete a questionnaire and surveys in your Patient Portal prior to your appointment. This information will be reviewed by a mental health counselor before your consultation. 

During the initial consultation, the counselor will ask some follow-up questions to gather more information and better understand your concerns. The counselor will then make recommendations about what level and type of care may be best for you. Together, you will outline a plan that aligns with your needs.  

The type of care recommended for you depends on your needs but could be one or more of the following: 

• Participating in a skills-based workshop 
• Participating in a counseling group 
• Brief, focused individual counseling 
• Couples counseling 
• A referral to the medical clinic or psychiatric services 
• A referral for psychological assessment to test for ADHD and/or learning disabilities 
• Biofeedback 

Current Patients

If you are currently a client at CAPS, you can make, reschedule, or cancel appointments by phone at 509-335-4511. If your counselor has sent you secure messages through the Patient Portal, you can reply to a message to contact your counselor.  

Online booking through the Patient Portal is not currently available for scheduling counseling appointments.  

Canceling or Rescheduling Appointments 

Because counseling services are in high demand, missed appointments mean missed opportunities for other students in need of services. If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please let us know by 4:00 p.m. the day before the appointment. 

That there is a $25 no-show fee for missed appointments. Please note that if you no-show or cancel two or more appointments, you may be removed from your counselor’s caseload.