Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
CAPS is currently CLOSED for student appointments. Our offices are fully closed from June 15 through August 15.
For rising second, third, and fourth year students:
UWill Free Tele-Therapy Sessions – Bates students have access to up to 6 FREE half hour sessions. Click on the link to learn more and register.
CRISIS HELP –
If your life or someone else’s is in immediate danger, please dial 9-1-1.
National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline – DIAL “988” OR 1-800-273-TALK(8255)
National Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741Maine Crisis Hotline: 1-888-568-1112
Text Support for BIPOC students: Text “STEVE” to 741741
Text Support for LGBTQ students: Text “START” to 678-678
Information for Incoming and Returning Students for the 2025-2026 Academic Year
THERAPY
CAPS works within a short-term model of care. Students who are desiring or needing longer-term, regularly scheduled 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. 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.
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.
Care at CAPS
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 address each student’s primary concerns. CAPS offers short-term individual, group and psychiatric services, and referrals when needed. Contact us Monday through Friday 8:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you are ready, reach out by using one of the buttons below to connect with us now.
Getting Started
We see the vast majority of students within a day or two depending on your availability.
If you call or email us to schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment, we recommend you check your calendar first. That way, you can identify two or three times and days that work for your schedule.
This could sound like: “I’m calling/writing to set up an initial appointment. I can meet Thursday at 2 pm or Friday at 9 am this week. Thanks!”
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.
| Service | Description | How to arrange |
| Same Day Access | Daily same-day appointments available, both in person and via telehealth. | Call Us Email Us |
| Short Term Counseling | Short term counseling on-campus | Call Us Email Us |
| Crisis Counseling for You | 24 hours a day counselor-on-call via ProtoCall, available to students on campus. | 207-786-6200 and press “0” |
| Crisis Support for You | Campus Safety Local municipal resources | On Campus: 207-786-6254 Off Campus: 911 |
| Crisis Services for a Student | If you are concerned about a student’s immediate safety or well-being. | On-Campus: 207-786-6254 Off-Campus: call 911. |
| Groups | Therapy groups for students to connect with, learn from each other, and reduce feeling alone. | Call Us Email Us |
| Tailored Referrals | Counselors will help you connect to community providers for counseling or psychiatric services. | Email Us and let us know you need support finding a community provider. |
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.
Accessibility Statement
Bates College CAPS is committed to creating an environment that meets the needs of all who wish to participate. If you have a disability and anticipate a barrier to your ability to utilize our services, please email Allison K. Brown, Associate Director to discuss possible accommodations.
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.