In response to IU canceling face-to-face classes and encouraging students to go home, IU’s Counseling and Psychology Services has moved all appointments to video and phone counseling.
To do an online counseling session, CAPS requires clients to be in Indiana during the time of the appointment and that they have access to a confidential space and video and audio technology, such as a phone or computer. According to Indiana telehealth laws, most mental health professionals can only practice video counseling within the state they’re licensed. CAPS appointments are 30 minutes long, and students can make an appointment online or by calling 812-855-5711. Remote appointments will take place through Zoom or a phone call.
CAPS director Denise Hayes said she’s confident in her staff’s ability to be fully remote. She said the service has had a video counselor for several years, though the video counseling service wasn’t used much.
Hayes said CAPS counselors are trained to do a lot of prep work with students that deals with confidentiality and privacy. They will talk to clients about what to do if the calls get disconnected.
Freshman Maddie Burke said she went to CAPS every once in a while at school. But while she is at home in Schererville, Indiana, she does not plan on using CAPS because she doesn’t feel like she needs to.
“I have a different kind of support system with my family being around, and it’s easier to talk to someone else when I need to,” Burke said. “But I think that it is really awesome for students to still have access to them.”
Besides one-on-one counseling, CAPS also offered various in-person group workshops in sleep, procrastination, stress and substance abuse. CAPS will offer online group workshops in various topics such as stress management, beating anxiety and time management, according to the Health Center calendar.
Freshman Megan Hall said she attended some CAPS group workshops while at school and hopes to use them while at home.
“I like how they are still offering workshops even online,” Hall said. “I think it is super important to keep some kind of normalcy, which for me would be going to these workshops while at home. During this time, I think having resources to cope with anxiety is also very important.”
