Counseling & Psychological Services

About Counseling

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I seek out counseling?

It’s a good idea to contact the counseling center as soon as you recognize that there is a problem that is too difficult for you to manage on your own.  Early intervention provides an opportunity to deal with and resolve difficulties before there is a significant impact on your work, school or home life.  Services are available to all benefits-eligible TSRI students, employees and their families beginning on date-of-hire.

What kind of services does CAPS provide? 

CAPS counselors provide free counseling, psycho-educational programming, outreach and consultation to benefits-eligible employees and their families. We also assist with referrals to community-based psychiatrists, therapists, legal and financial agencies and other resources, as needed.

How do I make an appointment for counseling? 

To make an appointment, contact a CAPS counselor by phone or e-mail, or contact Holly Wheeler, our administrative assistant, by phone or e-mail.  Our contact information is listed in the “At A Glance” section of this webpage. Under most circumstances, an appointment will be made within two weeks of the time you contact CAPS.

What hours is CAPS open? 

CAPS is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Do I have to pay for counseling? 

No. Counseling services are free of charge for benefits-eligible employees and their families.

Are there limits to the number of counseling sessions allowed? 

The counselors at CAPS utilize a brief-therapy model, which means we usually see clients for up to ten appointments a year.  Many clients do not need to be seen for ten appointments, and occasionally, we will see clients more extensively.  We will assist students or employees who want or need more intensive or longer-term support to locate the services they need in the community.

Do you provide couples’ counseling or family counseling?

Yes.  Daphne Lurie, Ph.D., specializes in couples counseling, and about ¼ of her caseload is comprised of couples.  Occasionally, we may see a TSRI employee or student with his/her other family members, for family therapy. We are not child-focused clinicians, however, and will likely refer someone who is looking for individual therapy for their child to a skilled clinician in the community.

Does counseling really help? 

Yes, more often than not, counseling has been shown to help people. There is significant scientific research which indicates that people who participate in therapy feel better than people who don't participate in therapy.   To learn more about how counseling works and what research suggests about different types of treatment, look up this press release from the American Psychological Association titled “How psychotherapy works”.  However, not everyone benefits from counseling, and even those who do benefit from counseling can sometimes find the process of learning about themselves and making changes in their lives to be quite challenging.

Can staff at CAPS prescribe medications? 

No.  Neither Daphne Lurie, Ph.D. nor Jan Hill, L.C.S.W. is licensed to prescribe medications for psychological concerns.  However, we would be happy to connect you with physicians or psychiatrists in the community whom you can consult with about the possibility of medication management.

What happens during my first appointment? 

During your first appointment, your counselor will talk with you about what is bringing you in and will have some general questions about your background. There are some standard questions counselors ask everyone and the majority of the session will be spent talking about your concerns.  Your counselor may then work with you to set some goals for treatment, if additional meetings are warranted.

What happens if I have a mental health crisis when CAPS is closed? 

If your situation is life threatening, go directly to a hospital emergency room or call 9-1-1 for assistance.

Otherwise, twenty-four-hour psychiatric help is available to benefits-eligible members of the TSRI community:

PPO participants can call the United Behavioral Health Helpline: 1(800) 888-2998.
HMO participants can call Aetna Behavioral Health: 1-800-424-5928.

There may be a charge for these services depending on the level of care provided.

Do you have a waitlist? 

We do not have a waitlist. We strive to see clients as soon as possible, which is usually within two weeks of your initial contact with the counseling center.

How can I obtain mental health services in the community? 

If you would prefer to obtain community-based-services, you are welcome to obtain information about referrals from the counseling center. We maintain an up-to-date list of skilled clinicians in the community who work TSRI students and employees.  Many of these providers have particular specialty areas of practice and accept TSRI’s  HMO and PPO plans.

What should I do if I’m worried about the mental health of a colleague? 

It can be a challenge to have a colleague who is having emotional problems; and you may be unsure of how to help. You can always encourage your colleague to make an appointment at CAPS. However, you can’t force a friend who is refusing assistance or support to seek help. You can try to offer friendly support by:

• letting your friend know, in a private setting, that you are worried about him/her.
• offering to accompany your friend to an appointment at CAPS;
• contacting Daphne Lurie or Jan Hill at the counseling center about your concern.

You can also make an appointment for yourself at CAPS to speak confidentially about your friend and receive support. However, if you are concerned about an immediate risk to the safety of a friend, please dial 911 or help your friend get to the nearest hospital emergency room.

What kinds of problems can CAPS counselors help with? 

Members of the TSRI community seek counseling for many different reasons, including job stress, relationship issues, depression, anxiety, parenting and other concerns. At CAPS, we work with clients to address a wide range of problems and needs.

What about confidentiality?

Confidentiality is an issue that we at CAPS take very seriously. The Counseling center, the ethical principles of counseling professionals and state and federal law all support the importance of confidential interactions between clients and their counselors. In most cases, we will not release information about your participation in therapy to anyone unless you give us explicit permission to do so, or if emergency circumstances require it. In rare and serious situations, we may be legally and ethically mandated to breach confidentiality. If there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else, if you inform us about the abuse of a child or an elderly person, or if a court orders information to be provided, then we may need to breach confidentiality.

In rare and serious situations, we may be legally and ethically mandated to break confidentiality. If there is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else, or if a court orders information to be provided, then we may need to break confidentiality.