Counseling and Psychological Services

College counseling services provide a confidential space to manage academic pressure, anxiety, and homesickness while helping you build healthy coping strategies. To schedule an appointment on campus, come to Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) located at 123 Row Hall. Your first visit will take 30-45 minutes to complete a computerized intake form and complete a brief check-in with a Licensed Professional Counselor (if available).

For immediate daytime crisis care, go directly to Row Hall 123, and you will be seen as soon as possible. For after-hours crisis support, call the main CAPS number and select option 2 to connect with an on-call counselor. Alternatively, you can use Uwill for flexible telehealth options by registering online with your school email. This private service allows you to instantly book day, night, or weekend sessions and customize your therapist search based on preferences like availability, issue, gender, language, ethnicity, and specialty.

What is Group Counseling?

Group counseling involves a small group of people (usually 6-10) who meet together weekly, along with one or two trained members of the Counseling and Psychological Services staff, to talk about their struggles and problems. These groups can take a variety of forms. Some focus on a specific topic or problem, while others address a number of different concerns.

What makes Group Counseling work?

When people come into a group and interact freely with other group members, they tend to recreate those difficulties that brought them to counseling in the first place. Under the skilled direction of the group facilitators, the group is able to give support, offer alternatives, or gently confront the an individual. In this way, the difficulty is resolved, alternative behaviors are learned, and the individual develops new social skills or ways of relating to people. Group counseling has been found to be a very effective means of treatment and, in some cases, the best form of treatment for a particular individual or a particular type of concern.

What are the benefits of Group Counseling?

In a group, you can learn more about how you are perceived by others and experience a sense of acceptance and belonging. Discover that you are not alone in the difficulties you are experiencing. Hear ideas from others, which enhance your ability to make decisions and solve problems. Benefit from the experience of being helpful to others. Learn to constructively express your feelings and ideas to others. Gain encouragement by observing the successes of others.

Group Counseling Offerings

• Come Experience Expressive Art Therapy - Where writing, movement, and visual art come together to help you process emotions, reset your mind, and connect with others. Thursdays at 2 P.M.
• College life can be a lot-classes, relationships, stress, and everything in between. DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills are all about giving you real tools to handle it. This group is open to all students who want to grow, find peace, and take control of their mental health. Fridays at 1 P.M.

Psychiatric counseling support students who may benefit from medication as part of their mental health care. Following an evaluation, psychiatric providers can assess symptoms, discuss treatment options, prescribe medications when appropriate, and provide ongoing medication management and follow-up care. Psychiatry services may be used on their own or alongside counseling and other wellness supports. Students can access psychiatric care through the Counseling and Psychological Services referral process.

Our goal is to provide and connect a wide array of services to student-athletes who may not otherwise be aware of them.

After a brief conversation, we will match your needs with the appropriate services. These services include career counseling, nutrition guidance, counseling services, as well as group presentations on a variety of topics or a custom topic to meet a specific needs.

Counseling practicum and internships for Master’s, and Specialist students in Psychology or Counseling and Educational Psychology or Social Work are available with Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Positions are limited and available on a competitive basis. A minimum of a 2-semester commitment is required. Email counseling@westga.edu if interested.

24/7 Mental Health Resources

• Sharpen Minds - Free mental health resources that are customized to UWG students
• Headspace - Learn to meditate and reduce stress or depression
• SuperBetter - Build resilience, stay motivated, and keep optimism
• Wysa - A chatbot that helps you cope in fun conversation
• PTSD Coach - Help for those recovering from trauma

Relaxation Room

The Relaxation Room is a safe space where you an relax, recharge, meditate, and take a break. This room has various tools in it to help you reset and be present with yourself including but not limited to sand garden, relaxing music, journals, pens, blankets, diffusers, and more.

This room is walk-in available and operates when the Counseling and Psychological 

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Survey Results

• 100% of students that completed the CAPS survey said that they feel respected and safe.
• 93% feel valued
• 94% said they would refer friends to CAPS at UWG
• 91% are satisfied with their services

Student comments

1. I can’t thank the Counseling Center enough for how supportive every person I’ve encountered there has been. And I do mean everyone: Not just my therapist Norie, but everyone else I’ve met while working on my recovery there too, like the on-call counselor Alli, or Abby at the front desk who helps me book my appointments each week or so. Because of that, I don’t mind naming names if everyone I’ve seen there are all sincerely kind, supportive people who’ve been helpful to my recovery in their own ways. I often recommend the Counseling Center to people I know as a means for my friends to get what help with, they need too, just out of how great my experiences there have been.

2. I’ve had a great experience so far! Alli has been incredibly helpful

3. Ive had bad experiences with outside counseling however uwg counseling has been a wonderful experience, and I appreciate it I look forward to my appointments even if ive been having a good week

4. The Counseling Center is one of the main reasons I keep going and continue moving forward in life. Your support, kindness, and willingness to be there for students mean more to me than I can put into words. I am truly grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for making a difference in my life.

5. The office staff and counselors are amazing!

6. This counseling is best opportunity before I becoming worker in society.

7. yall are amazing and truly care for your students and staff!

8. The counseling center is great, they help me a lot and always work with my schedule.

9. Thank you to each and every one of you for all your hard work, dedication, and support for us students. I know the work you do isn’t easy, and I truly appreciate everything you do for us.