Scope of Services 

Student Eligibility

All students currently enrolled in classes at UWF are eligible for our services. Students must be in the state of Florida at the time services are received.

Fees

Our services, consultations and outreach programs are offered free of charge. The UWF student health fee covers these services. However, the student will be responsible for the cost of any medications, laboratory tests, or other recommended medical tests as deemed necessary by the providers. Health insurance is not accepted or filed. 

Confidentiality

Information shared with a counselor, psychologist or psychiatric care provider is legally and ethically considered confidential; neither your attendance nor treatment will be shared with anyone outside the Counseling Center without your written permission. The records maintained by our center are confidential and are not part of your academic records.

There are four areas in which Counseling and Psychological Services may be bound by ethics or law to disclose certain information regarding treatment:

• Abuse of a minor, the elderly, or a vulnerable adult is suspected.
• A counselor is concerned that you are at risk of harming yourself or someone else.
• A judge or court orders any information from your records.
• If the information is requested regarding your treatment under the Patriot Act.

Documentation Requests

CAPS provides brief, short-term counseling. It is outside the scope of our practice to provide the rigorous assessment, diagnostic interviewing, and counseling that is merited when providing the following types of documentation. 

CAPS does not write letters of verification for the following:

• Learning disability
• Disability due to a mental health diagnosis
• Verification of the need for an emotional support animal or a comfort animal
• Appropriateness/eligibility for medical marijuana

Email

CAPS does not schedule, cancel, or reschedule an appointment or answer questions about counseling over email. In many states, including Florida, email is not considered a confidential form of communication.

Mandated Counseling

CAPS does not provide mandated, court-ordered counseling. If a university official refers you to see a counselor, we can meet with you for an initial assessment appointment. Students can also be referred for an alcohol use assessment and feedback session. University officials do not mandate ongoing counseling at CAPS. However, students initially referred by a university official may choose to receive counseling on a voluntary basis.

Minors

If you are under 18 years of age, please be aware that the law requires the written consent of your parent or legal guardian in order for you to participate in counseling. The limit to parental access regarding your participation in counseling can be discussed and clarified on a case-by-case basis, depending on your preferences and needs. In some cases, parents may be contacted if you are assessed to be at high risk of harming yourself or someone else.