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CAPS does charge a fee for some services. The initial consultation and first three individual sessions are at no cost to students. There will be a $35 fee for most individual therapy sessions after the third individual appointment in a fiscal year. There is no charge for group therapy. No student will be denied services due to financial barriers. If you have questions or concerns about fees, please speak to your initial consultation therapist or ongoing treatment provider about a fee waiver. Select the "Pay Fees Here" button below to pay your balance.

Note: CAPS waives the fees for the following students:

1. Students with a Medicare, Medicaid or Student Health insurance plan
2. Students who are Veterans
3. Students who are Pell or Cincinnati Pride Grant Recipients
4. Students who have experienced a identity based violence, stress or trauma.

* Students who service fees are waived, will still be required to pay the $25.00 fee if missed session was not called into CAPS within the 24 hours.

CAPS adheres to state, federal, and professional standards in the provision of mental health services. 

The privacy of your treatment information is important to all of us at University of Cincinnati (UC) Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), Division of Student Affairs. This Notice will tell you about the way we protect that privacy by complying with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ “education records.” The University of Cincinnati follows FERPA regulations because it receives funds that are administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Under FERPA, “Education Records” are very broadly defined as records that are directly related to a student and are kept by an educational agency or institution, or someone acting for the agency or institution.

Under FERPA, the records maintained by CAPS are “Treatment Records”. “Treatment records” are records regarding a student aged eighteen (18) or older who is attending a post-secondary institution and which are made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor, or other recognized professional and which are made, maintained, or used only in connection with the provision of treatment to the student and are not available to other third parties.

CAPS uses your Treatment Records to provide you with healthcare services. We may disclose your records to other healthcare providers who are also providing you with treatment. In general, we will ask you to sign a written consent form before we provide your information to another healthcare provider for treatment. If there is an emergency situation, however, we may provide this information to other providers for your treatment without having you sign a written consent. At your request, we will also provide your Treatment Records to a physician or other appropriate professional for review.

In general, we will ask you to sign a written consent before we disclose your CAPS records to anyone for a purpose other than treatment. In the following circumstances, as permitted by FERPA regulations and Ohio State laws, we may disclose your CAPS records without your written consent: (a) to comply with a written subpoena; (b) to comply with a court order; (c) in connection with a health or safety emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of you or other persons; (d) if we know or suspect child abuse or neglect; (e) reasonable cause to believe that an adult is abused who is unable to provide for his or her own care; (f) if you are a member of the military as required by armed forces services; (h) if necessary for national security or intelligence activities; (i) if you file a lawsuit against CAPS and/or UC; and (j) to coroners and/or funeral directors consistent with the law.

Federal Law and Ohio State Law protect the confidentiality of alcohol and drug program records maintained by UC CAPS. Treatment information on your alcohol or drug use may not be disclosed without (a) your written authorization; (b) a court order, or (c) unless the disclosure is made to medical personnel in a medical emergency or to qualified personnel for research, audit or program evaluation. 

Ohio law requires that we have your authorization or a court order before disclosing the results of an HIV test or diagnosis of AIDS or AIDS-related condition.

We encourage you to ask questions about your therapist’s qualifications, your treatment, the therapy process, fees and method of payment, or any other issues. Right to request an amendment – You have the right to request that your records which you believe to be inaccurate or misleading. All requests must be made in writing and signed by you or your legal representative.

Right to Request Records – We may provide you with copies of the records or arrange for a healthcare provider to be with you when you review them in order to explain the records and/or answer your questions.

Right to Request Restrictions – You have the right to request restrictions of use or disclosure of treatment information even for treatment, payment or operations; disclosure to persons involved in your health care or payment for health care; or disclosure to notify family members or others about your general condition, location, or death. However, CAPS are not required to agree to a restriction you request.

Right to Received Confidential Communications by Alternative Means and at Alternative Locations – You have the right to request and receive confidential communications of treatment information by alternative means and at alternative locations (For example, you may not want a family member to know that you are a client here). Upon request, we will send any communications to an alternate address.

Right to an Accounting – You have right to have accounting of the disclosures of your treatment information upon request.

Right to Inspect and Copy – You have the right to inspect and/or obtain a copy of your treatment information. All requests must be made in writing and signed by you or your legal representative.

Right to a copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices – You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this notice of its privacy practices at your first service from us upon request, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically.

University Rules 10.43.11 and 10.43.13 establish University of Cincinnati procedures for FERPA compliance. You may contact the UC Director of Privacy at (513) 558-2733. 

UC Counseling and Psychological Services occasionally receives requests from students/clients to provide documentation regarding their services and/or recommendations. Any release of medical records or material regarding counseling services requires a completed and signed release of information. The release of information can be found below. 

If you require a letter for any reason from CAPS, please note the following:

• Letters will be provided only in the event that a therapeutic relationship has been established with a CAPS therapist.
• All requests must be made well in advance of the deadline. CAPS clinicians will complete requests within a reasonable timeframe.
• All requests require a completed release of information form before a letter will be given, even if a client is requesting a letter to themselves.
• We will take reasonable steps in advocating for students as they seek accommodations.

We do not provide any letters that "prescribe" or "require" specific accommodations as a treatment for a mental health diagnosis (i.e., Emotional Support Animal Letters) or accommodation for a psychological disability. Students interested in receiving these types of letters will be provided with referrals to other practitioners in the community who provide this form of treatment.

Occasionally, CAPS may provide supportive letters to clients with whom we have an ongoing therapeutic relationship. These letters may "recommend" certain accommodations for diagnosed mental health disorders, especially in situations where CAPS services included psychological assessment. Please note that these letters are not written in a manner that states these accommodations are a necessary treatment for a disorder or psychological disability, and the third party makes the final determination as to whether the request for accommodation is reasonable and/or appropriate. Often, recommendations take the form of requesting flexibility for the student in meeting their academic demands and involves communication with Student Accessibility Services, Dean of Students, or professors.

Please speak with your CAPS counselor if you have any questions about letters from CAPS.

***If you need attendance verification of your appointment(s), CAPS staff members will provide this for you.

Download Authorization Form (PDF)