Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) works to support the holistic development and psychological health of Bates students. CAPS is committed to provide equitable access and services to all Bates students supporting their personal and educational needs.
Meet the CAPS staff here.
INFORMATION FOR INCOMING AND RETURNING BATES STUDENTS, 2024-2025:
THERAPY
CAPS works within a short-term model of care. Students who are desiring or needing longer-term or weekly care are encouraged to either maintain relationships with home providers as state licensing allows, or seek out community resources. Maine-licensed providers can be found through your insurance or various directories such as Bates Thriving Campus that can be found here. CAPS also offers different topic based therapy groups for weekly peer based support. Please read our FAQ / Services Provided carefully.
PSYCHIATRY / MEDICATION MANAGEMENT
Psychiatry resources in Maine are limited, including at Bates. We highly recommend that students on psychiatric medication maintain relationships with their current providers, being seen on school breaks if possible. As we are a short-term service, including for psychiatry, we will at some point be referring you to community resources. We do not see students just for stimulant prescriptions and do not do ADHD assessments. Maine-licensed providers can be found through your insurance or online telehealth platforms such as Talkiatry. We encourage you to speak with your current providers about your treatment needs as soon as possible to provide ample time to transition care.
Pathways to Care
CAPS services are free and confidential for enrolled students during the academic year. We provide timely appointments, many of these being same-day appointments, to maximize accessibility and an immediacy in addressing each student’s primary concerns. CAPS offers short-term individual, group and psychiatric services, and referrals when needed.
| Same Day Access | Daily same-day appointments available, accessed via phone or email. |
| Brief Treatment | Short term therapy and psychiatric support, including free teletherapy available to all Bates students |
| Groups | Therapy groups for students to connect and learn from each other. |
| Crisis Services | 24 hours a day counselor-on-call availability (see below). |
| Support Spaces | Regular conversation spaces in the community to engage and support. |
| Tailored Referrals | Counselors will help you connect to community providers. |
| Online Resources | Check out our online resources. |
Scheduling
Contact us Monday through Friday 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.by phone at 207-786-6200 or email us at CAPS@bates.edu to schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment. If you are in crisis or have an emergent concern, let us know. It’s helpful if you include your availability if sending an email.
We see the vast majority of students on the same day you contact us or within a few days depending on your availability.
You and the counselor you meet with will discuss a treatment plan that best meets your needs within the available resources at Bates, including:
- one-time consultation
- short-term counseling
- confidential group therapy
- help with referrals for medication or long-term therapy
Frequency and scheduling of sessions will be a collaborative and flexible agreement between you and your counselor.
For frequently asked questions about our services, click here.
Groups and Support Spaces for Fall 2024
+Stop Body Hate
A confidential counseling group that will be held on a weekly basis for eight (8) weeks. This group is designed for students who are tired of disliking their appearance and want to prevent self-critical thoughts and self-judgments from affecting their lives. Group sessions will guide students in altering their cruel perceptions of themselves, help members reduce body dysmorphia, and enable students to develop higher levels of self-compassion and self-acceptance. Run by Wendy Kjeldgaard, PsyD. If interested, please email caps@bates.edu.
+Boys at Bates
A space for male identified students to explore their experiences at Bates. This group will focus on building connections with other men on campus, provide a space to understand and explore our feelings, and talk about the unique challenges men at Bates face related to mental health. Run by Brandon Ouellette, LCPC. If interested, please email caps@bates.edu.
+Considering Your Substance Use
Are you navigating your relationship with substances and looking for support in a non-judgmental environment? This closed group offers a safe space for students to explore their substance use, set personal goals, and learn strategies to reduce negative impact. Run by Susanna Preziosi, PsyD. If interested, please email caps@bates.edu.
+Managing Social Anxiety
Meeting in a group to discuss how anxious groups make you feel may sound like a nightmare, but it’s helpful, we promise! This group will provide peer support, education, and skill building surrounding social anxiety. Run by Jessica Mayo, PsyD. If interested, please email caps@bates.edu.
+Managing the Imposter
Welcome to our support group for kicking imposter syndrome to the curb! Feeling like a fraud? Feeling like you don’t belong? You’re not alone! Join for a safe space to share, learn, and grow together. Together, we’ll swap tips, tricks, and support each other on this rollercoaster ride of navigating imposter syndrome. No judgment, just good vibes and a whole lot of support.. Run by Nadia Aman, LMSW-cc. If interested, please email caps@bates.edu.
+Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Lite
This DBT Lite group will introduce the skills of mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness supporting personal self-care. Run by Wayne Assing, LCSW. If interested, please email caps@bates.edu.
+Neurodivergent Support Group
Offering support and community to students whose brains work differently than neurotypical students, this group will provide space to discuss interpersonal relationships, common stressors, and new strategies students might choose to try when managing their social experience. Run by Allison Brown, LCPC. If interested, please email caps@bates.edu.
Social Justice Statement
The staff of Bates College Counseling & Psychological Services is committed to social justice and examining the impact of systemic and historical issues of power, privilege, and access to resources at the individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural levels. We are dedicated to the active process of critical thinking and rigorous self-reflection to ensure that all students are treated fairly and competently as well as to compensate for obstacles and unequal treatment that can be set in place by individuals, institutions, and society. For more information, please click here.
If you are concerned about a student’s safety or well-being when CAPS is closed, please call Campus Safety at extension 6111 or (207) 786-6254. If you or the student are off campus, please call 911.
Call 988 for the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Faculty and Staff can go here to access a guide for working with students in distress.