CAPS PROGRAM
By Sarah Hurley
Do you feel stressed? Overwhelmed? Anxious? Sad? If so, these are a few signs you should start taking care of your mental health.
One major on-campus resource Widener has to offer is its Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS is a great resource to look into whenever you need to talk about anything going on in your life. This service has the dedication to support you during your entire time in college. The CAPS psychologists acknowledge that they are “committed to providing all Widener students with culturally responsive health and wellness services.” These services may include “individual therapy, outreach programming, and upon request, group therapy.”
CAPS is located at 522 E. 14th Street in Chester, Pennsylvania. They now inhabit the building formerly known as the Pineapple House. Their hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This program also has a new feature – walk-in hours. Students can walk in any time during walk-in hours and will be seen by one of the psychologists once they are available. The current walk-in hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
All full-time graduate and undergraduate students are eligible for 10 counseling sessions per academic year. To make an appointment, call 610-499-1261, or fill out the appointment request form on the CAPS website. Here is the link to this form!
(https://sites.widener.edu/caps/scheduling-appointment/)
Please know that if you ever have an emergency outside of CAPS’ operating hours, contact your RA, call campus safety at 610-499-4200, or dial 911.
CAPS also has a new program called Wellness Wednesdays. Join the team at the Pride Rec Center every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. During this time, students will have the opportunity to learn about some gentle movements and meditation practices they can utilize to relax and reduce stress.
In addition, Caps provides numerous newsletters which focus on mental health. A publication titled “Warning Signs of Mental Health Concerns” illustrates the different ways a negative mental health can affect you.
Ways A Negative Mental Health Can Affect You According to CAPS
With a negative mental health, you may experience …
“Headaches, muscle tension, neck or back pain”
“Upset stomach”
“Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep”
“Fatigue”
“Lack of concentration or focus”
“Withdrawal from social engagement”
“Forgetfulness or problems with memory”
“Change in appetite”
“Feelings of sadness”
“Feeling overwhelmed”
“Feelings of hopelessness”
“Increased pessimism”
If you notice you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider reaching out to talk to someone. Please do not take your mental health lightly. It is important that you take care of yourself and your wellbeing throughout the entire semester.