Let’s Talk Frequently Asked Questions

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Let’s Talk is a program that provides easy access to informal confidential consultations with clinicians from the UGA Counseling Center. Clinicians hold walk-in hours once a week on Wednesday afternoons. There is no appointment or fee necessary. 

Appointments are first-come, first-served. Usually there is not much of a wait. Students are encouraged to talk about whatever is important to them. The clinician will listen closely to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.

Clinicians at CAPS provide individual and group counseling, which usually consists of regularly scheduled 45-50 minute appointments. Let’s Talk is not formal counseling—it is a drop-in service where students can have an informal consultation with a clinician from time to time.

This service is open to all University of Georgia undergraduate, graduate and professional students.  Let’s Talk is the best fit for the following people:

  1. students who are not sure about counseling and wonder what it’s like to talk with a clinician;
  2. students who are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a clinician;
  3. students who have a specific problem and would like someone with whom to talk it through;
  4. students who have a concern about a friend and want some thoughts about what to do.

Thursdays: 4:00pm-5:00pm, Science Learning Center, Room 116, and a Zoom hour on Wednesday mornings from 11:00am-12:00pm

Absolutely. The clinician will talk through your issue with you and help you determine the best way to get help.  If you feel comfortable with the clinician, it’s sometimes possible to meet with him or her at CAPS in an ongoing way.

Let’s Talk services are intended to be used by current University of Georgia students. However, if you come to a Let’s Talk location on your own, the clinician will work to assist you with referrals should you need ongoing support.

If you believe you need to be seen sooner than the appointment you were given, you can walk-in to CAPS Monday through Friday 8am-5pm to access crisis services.

Since regular counseling visits are not available at Let’s Talk, following up with the referral is a good idea. Unfortunately, CAPS cannot always provide ongoing counseling to every student who seeks it.

If your next appointment is not soon enough, it’s best to contact CAPS directly to see if you can be seen sooner. If your therapist cannot see you sooner, and it is an emergency, you can utilize the CAPS walk-in crisis services Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.

The best thing to do in this situation is to talk directly with your clinician. Clinicians are eager to get your feedback, positive or negative. Oftentimes an open conversation about your concern helps smooth out any wrinkles. If, after talking with your clinician, you prefer to transfer to someone else, just ask your clinician directly and they will help you begin that process.

Although Let’s Talk clinicians are professionals, Let’s Talk is not a substitute for formal counseling and does not constitute mental health treatment. Let’s Talk clinicians provide informal consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it’s like to speak with a clinician. Your Let’s Talk clinician can help you determine whether formal counseling at CAPS or with another resource would be useful for you and, if appropriate, assist you in scheduling an appointment.

Conversations with Let’s Talk counselors are confidential, with a few very rare exceptions. Clinicians may need to share information in an emergency when there is an immediate threat of harm to self or others. Clinicians are required by law to report when a minor, elderly person, or someone otherwise incapacitated and unable to act on his/her own behalf is being abused. Let’s Talk visits are never noted on a student’s official university record.

 

We don’t want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help.  If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a Let’s Talk clinician or call CAPS for additional information.