Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Support the IDS in College Media Madness! Donate here March 24 - April 8.
Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

CAPS introduces Counselor in Academic Residence Program

Counseling and Psychological Services is expanding its services beyond the walls of the IU Health Center through its new Counselor in the Academic Residence 
Program.

Beginning this fall, Brad Stepp, a clinical psychologist at the IU Health Center, will be stationed within the Jacobs School of Music 20 hours each week, according to an IU press release.

“We’ve had experience with the academic departments over the past several years,” said Pete Grogg, executive director of the IU Health Center. “We’ve had faculty members from academic departments actually escorting students over to CAPS.”

Grogg said certain students may reach a crisis point and react in different ways, such as failing or no longer attending a class.

“And it gets to the point where the student finally goes and talks to the faculty member from the academic department and explains what’s going on, and it becomes clear that this person needs help,” he said.

During the 2014-15 academic year, 4,098 students used CAPS, 
according to the release.

Generalized anxiety disorder, interpersonal problems, anxiety state, depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder were the most common diagnoses.

“When a student shows up to CAPS, it’s generally because they feel like they can no longer manage the problem by themselves,” Grogg said.

By placing a counselor in an academic unit, Grogg said CAPS hopes to reach students before they feel like they can no longer manage the problem themselves.

“So when a student arrives on campus, whether they’re a new student or an existing student, how can we get closer to that student and provide resources to that student and work with other people who are close to that student, like faculty members or academic 
advisors?” he said.

Stepp said he hopes having a counselor in the Jacobs School of Music will make it easier for those students in emotional distress to receive the counseling that may benefit them.

“There could be a variety of reasons why a music student may choose not to come to the health center: location, stigma, schedule conflicts,” he said. “If we can eliminate or reduce any of these barriers by having a presence there, that’s one of my main hopes for this program.”

Interested students schedule their appointment through CAPS but identify as a Jacobs School of Music student.

Once the appointment is scheduled, the interested students will be told where to find Stepp’s office.

“The goal is to begin addressing personal issues that a student may be 
experiencing, maybe something going on in their personal life that is affecting their academic life, and begin putting resources closer to the student so we can begin addressing those issues sooner, rather than later,” Grogg said.

The IU Health Center will fund the pilot program during the 2015-16 
academic year, Grogg said.

If successful, the IU Health Center and the Jacobs School of Music will both fund the program during the following 
academic years.

The two units will split the cost evenly.

“This is a learning opportunity for us too, because we want to be able to place this in other schools,” he said, adding that other schools have expressed interest in the program. “I think it’s a win for all sides: for us, the student and the academic unit.”

Get stories like this in your inbox
Subscribe