Counseling

Counseling

We are committed to supporting student mental health while also responding to the current global pandemic and prioritizing health and safety for students and employees. To this end, CAPS is currently offering services in-person and remotely by phone and HIPAA-compliant Zoom. When attending an in-person appointment, you are required to wear a facial covering during the entirety of the appointment (masks can be provided if needed). If you feel ill, please stay home and call 707-654-1170 to meet virtually instead.

Contents

Urgent and Same Day Services

Individual Therapy

Group Therapy

Couples/Partner Therapy

BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students)

 

Urgent and Same Day Services

Many of our services are available within a few days, but if you need to talk to someone more urgently, reach out!  Call or visit the Student Health Center (707-654-1170), including during the daily drop-in hour from 2-3pm. 

WHEN SHOULD I CALL OR USE THE DROP IN HOUR? 

• You may be thinking about suicide, or injuring yourself or someone else. 
• You may be experiencing a panic attack and unsure what to do. 
• You may be the target of stalking, abuse, or assault. 
• You are unable to take care of your basic needs – eating, sleeping, bathing. 
• You may have experienced a traumatic event like a hate crime or a car accident. 
• You are worried about a friend and don't know how to support them, or they have disclosed information to you that you don't know how to handle. 
• You are experiencing distress and need to talk to a professional to sort out what your options are. 

AT CAL MARITIME COUNSELING SERVICES: 

• Call us at 707-654-1170 and tell the front desk that you need to speak to a counselor urgently.  After hours, follow the prompts to select option 1 to speak with a health care professional. 

• Come to the health center and let the front desk know you need to speak to a counselor urgently or use the daily drop in hour from 2-3pm. 

LOCAL AND NATIONAL SERVICES – AVAILABLE 24/7: 

• Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK(800-273-8255) (Services are available in many languages).  Para hablar con alguien en espanol: (877) SUICIDA (877-784-2432)

• Text START to 741741 for Crisis Text Line.  Available 24/7 in the U.S. (No charge for most plans; may not be accessible on pre-paid phones. Or visit the crisis linefor more information.) 

• Call the Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386 (for LGBTQ+ young adults)  

• Call the Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860

• Call 911- any Emergency Services or Police Department that responds can help you, including Cal Maritime Police Department (707-654-1176 for non-emergencies). 

If you or someone you know is an imminent danger to themselves or someone else, go to the nearest emergency department: 

LOCAL HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS - OPEN 24/7 

Sutter Solano Medical Center
300 Hospital Drive | (707) 554-4444

Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center
975 Sereno Drive | (707) 651-1000

NEARBY INPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES 

Solano County Crisis Stabilization Unit
2101 Courage Drive
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 428-1131

Adventist Health Vallejo - Center for Behavioral Health
525 Oregon Street
Vallejo, CA 94590
(707) 649-4040

Individual Therapy

WHAT IS INDIVIDUAL THERAPY?: This is an experience in which a student meets with a person trained in providing psychotherapy (talk therapy) to address mental health symptoms, explore personal or relational challenges, understand and support one's social identities, discover solutions to conflicts or issues, or to work though traumatic experiences.  The goal is often to heal, to promote new patterns of behavior, to gain insight, or be more effective as a human and a student.  There is no charge for individual therapy at Cal Maritime – your student health fees cover this service.

WHAT ARE YOUR THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONS?: Our therapists work from a variety of theoretical perspectives, drawing from evidence-based, values-oriented, and relational theories to help students take the next step in their journeys.   We seek to be culturally-responsive in our care and welcome students across identity to seek out our services.

HOW DOES INDIVIDUAL THERAPY WORK AT CAL MARITIME?: Most individual sessions are 50 minutes long.  Students may attend one session, or several sessions.  We don't have session limits, but in general, we focus on providing brief individual therapy.  We prioritize serving students who may not have access to care elsewhere due to barriers related to financial, family, insurance, or other concerns.  For students interested in or in need of longer-term care, we'll help get them connected to the care they need, considering the resources they have available to them, whether here or in the community.  

IS INDIVIDUAL THERAPY THE BEST OPTION FOR ME?: Individual therapy isn't the only way to address mental health or behavioral concerns.  We offer groups and workshops that focus on concerns common to Cal Maritime students – these can be a great way to connect with other students, learn about a topic, and build skills to better support your academic and personal goals.  Check out our other services including Let's Talk, too! 

Call us today at 707-654-1170 to get started.

 

Group Therapy

Group Therapy is when a group of no more than 8-10 students meet with 1-2 therapists for 60-90 minutes.  We offer different groups, including Therapy groups (i.e., support groups, psycho-educational groups, interpersonal process groups) and Drop-In groups.  Some groups are time-limited with a specific focus, while others are broader and open-ended.   

When available, please see the group descriptions below for more information about groups currently offered at Counseling Services.  If you are interested in a group that is not currently being offered, please email Dr. Ian Wallace (iwallace@csum.edu), Director of Counseling.

 

DROP-IN GROUPS - Spring 2023 

Drop-in groups are open to interested students, and do not require a referral or Initial Consultation.  You may attend as many of the drop-in group sessions as you find helpful.   

How do I join a Drop-In Group?: No pre-scheduling needed.  If the Zoom ID or date/time/location is listed in the drop-in group's description, you may join at the time of the group. 

 

THERAPY GROUPS - Fall 2023 

How do I join a Therapy Group?: If you are a current client, please speak to your current therapist about joining a group. 

If you are not a current client, please call to schedule a brief "Screening" appointment and mention your interest in joining a group to the therapist.  Call us at 707-654-1170 today to get started.

If the group you are interested in is still accepting new members and follows your recommended treatment plan, the therapist will advise you to schedule a “Group Screening" appointment, a 20-30 minute meeting with the relevant group facilitator to further answer any specific questions you may have about the group and to ensure that the group is the right fit. 

 

Couples/Partner Therapy

Couples/Partner Therapy is when you and your partner(s) meet with one therapist with a focus on the relationship between or among the partners. Each session is typically 50 minutes long.  All members of the couple/partnership are expected to attend each session, though the therapist may ask to meet individually with any member of the couple/partnership as clinically needed. Note that individual treatment may be indicated if one (or more) members of the couple have other concerns that only pertain to them, or would best be explored individually. 

Couples of all genders, sexual orientations, and relationship constructions are welcome!  All members of the couple must be eligible students at the time of service. There is no charge for couple/partner therapy at Cal Maritime – your student health fees cover this service. 

 

BASICS (Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students)

This is a preventive intervention designed to help college students make better decisions about alcohol use.

Description

Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students (BASICS) is a harm-reduction intervention for college students. Students often conform to patterns of heavy drinking they see as acceptable, while holding false beliefs about alcohol’s effects or actual alcohol-use norms. BASICS is designed to help students make better decisions about using alcohol. The program’s style is empathic, rather than confrontational or judgmental. It aims to 1) reduce alcohol consumption and its adverse consequences, 2) promote healthier choices among young adults, and 3) provide important information and coping skills for reducing risk.

Components

The program is conducted over the course of two interviews (pre and post). As a harm-reduction approach, BASICS aims to motivate students to reduce risky behaviors instead of targeting a specific drinking goal such as abstinence or reduced drinking. Students can be identified through routine screening or through referral from medical, housing, or disciplinary services.

Before or after the first interview (pre), the student receives a self-report questionnaire to complete as well as other surveys and questionnaires. From these measures and the first interview, information is gathered about the student’s alcohol consumption pattern, personal beliefs about alcohol, understanding of social alcohol norms, and family history.

Group counseling or other support interventions may be recommended or required between pre and post interviews. 

The second interview (post), which occurs about 2-4 weeks after the initial interview, provides the student with personalized feedback on his or her patterns of drinking, typical and peak blood alcohol concentration, comparison of drinking patterns with other college students of the same age and gender, and level of family history of alcohol problems.

Moreover, the program challenges inaccurate alcohol norms and myths about alcohol’s effects, highlights alcohol-related negative consequences, suggests ways to reduce future risks associated with alcohol use, and provides a menu of options to assist in making changes. Screening and referral for stepped-care treatment is also offered as needed.

Scheduling

To get started with the BASICS program, schedule an appointment with Dr. Ian Wallace in the Student Health Center (707-654-1170) or use the daily drop in hour from 2-3pm. 

Call us today at 707-654-1170 to get started.