Being a college student can be very stressful and present challenges that can be hard to navigate alone. However, Cornell Health offers a wide variety of self-care resources, including Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), to its students that they can utilize.

How I learned about CAPS

I first learned about the CAPS services by reading a sticker posted in my first-year dorm bathroom. The sticker was small yet packed with helpful information about the services and who they are available for. I knew how easy these services were to access for students, and I have always kept this in mind during my time on campus.

My experience using CAPS services

At the beginning of my third year at Cornell, I lost my grandfather. It was tough to deal with my loss, and it was even more challenging to go to class and keep up with my assignments. However, I knew there was help available to me. Some friends reminded me of CAPS services, so I decided to utilize this resource.

I initially hesitated to schedule an appointment because I had never seen a counselor before. Most of my hesitation stemmed from wanting to find someone who could relate to or share my background. But I knew that the CAPS staff represents various backgrounds and expertise. Being Indigenous, I preferred working with an Indigenous counselor, and CAPS was very understanding, so I was able to receive help from an Indigenous counselor right away.

This was my first time utilizing counseling resources, so I was unsure how to best use the counselor's support. My counselor was very understanding and gave me a lot of direction while working together. The grief I was experiencing led to procrastination and having trouble sleeping. So, we worked together and came up with healthy ways I could navigate this. I began journaling and calling my family more often. I started processing my grief in healthy ways by giving myself time to process my loss and how to return to my academic responsibilities when I needed to. My counselor gave me invaluable advice during my visits, and I immediately noticed the positive changes in my life.

Help is available at Cornell

Many CAPS resources are available for students to utilize for their mental health concerns and needs. The CAPS staff wants to support and ensure student success at Cornell. Learn more about CAPS.