Initial Appointments
Monday - Friday
9:00am - 4:00pm
Welcome!
Monday through Friday Counseling Services will be open for Initial Appointment. The Initial Appointment is for students who are seeking our services for the first time, or if you urgently need to speak to a counselor before your next scheduled appointment. The purpose is to give the student a free initial appointment that is accessible to their schedule and is confidential. All you have to do is visit our website to schedule an appointment or come by our office during office hours. You can find the paperwork in your Baylor Health Portal.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is the Initial Appointment?
Monday thru Friday the counseling services will be available by phone for Initial Appointments.
Initial Appointment Hours
Monday – Friday / 9:00 - 4:00
Office Hours
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 5:00pm
What is an initial appointment?
An initial appointment is the first entry point into the Baylor Counseling Services. During your initial appointment, you will meet with one of the Clinic Team, and they will explain to you the level of care that the Counseling Center provides. This includes answering any questions about Initial Appointments. They will listen to why you are seeking services and make a recommendation that will best meet your current needs. Though the Initial Appointment Team is part of the Clinical Staff, the initial appointment will not count as a counseling appointment.
Why do I need to fill out all these forms and survey?
In order for us to best help you, we need to know a little bit about who you are and what brought you to see us today. These forms and survey will help us understand who you are and how you are currently feeling. It also helps the counselor to provide a more comprehensive initial appointment by referring to the Client Information Form. You and your counselor will collaborate on what level of care is appropriate for your needs based on your survey and appointment.
Why do I have to take the CCAPS survey?
CCAPS (Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms) is a survey we have you take when you come for an initial appointment and is utilized for reassessment during follow up visits. It takes about 7-10 minutes to fill out, but it will help the Clinician understand what your Mental Health concerns are. The CCAPS is a tool that the clinician will use in the Initial Appointment to help aid in their judgment on what level of care would best fit your needs and share the results as well with you. It is important that you answer all questions carefully in order for the clinician to get an accurate understanding of what your concerns are.
I'm in crisis, what do I do?
If you are in crisis, please call our office during business hours/non-business hours, (254) 710-2467. You can also visit one of our offices, located at the SLC or Dutton during normal business hours.
How long will it take?
The college years are an exciting but stressful time! Many students decide they want assistance, so we have a lot of business each day. Also, while we try to see students in the order they arrived, sometimes an urgent situation demands our attention. We will get to you as soon as possible. The Initial appointment is often 30 minutes but may extend to an hour based on your present need.
Do you offer Telehealth therapy?
Baylor University offers several options for online counseling:
If you are in Texas and would like to visit a Baylor University counselor over a video chat during the normal Counseling Center office hours, call 254-710-2467.
If you are outside of Texas, or if you’re looking for counseling services outside of the Counseling Center’s regular business hours, call 833-969-3998.
If you are outside of the U.S., call +1- 984-268-2016.
Counseling Center hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
If you have more question: Please feel free during your Initial Assessment to ask any questions that you might have about our services with the counselor, who will be willing to address any concerns, or call our office at (254) 710-2467