Online scheduling for appointments at UCS is now closed for the remainder of the Fall semester. If you would like to speak with a counselor, please come to either of our office locations or call us at 804-828-6200.
Online scheduling will resume at the start of Spring semester 2025.
Schedule an Appointment
The first steps to connecting to UCS services include completing intake paperwork and scheduling a Referral and Assessment Meeting (RAM). During the RAM, you will meet with a counselor who will focus on learning about your mental health goals and making a recommendation for next steps. The RAM typically lasts 20-30 minutes.
To complete intake paperwork and schedule a RAM, you can call us at 804-828-6200, come to either of our office locations, or follow one of the links below.
The first steps to connecting to UCS services include completing intake paperwork and scheduling a Referral and Assessment Meeting (RAM). During the RAM, you will meet with a counselor who will focus on learning about your mental health goals and making a recommendation for next steps. The RAM typically lasts 20-30 minutes.
To complete intake paperwork and schedule a RAM, you can call us at 804-828-6200, come to either of our office locations, or follow the link below.
Please note that online scheduling is only available during our business hours.
If you have been seen for UCS services within the last 12 months and would like to reconnect, you will complete updated intake paperwork and schedule a brief meeting called a Returning Client Consultation. During this meeting, you will meet with a counselor who will focus on learning about your current mental health goals and making a recommendation for next steps.
To schedule your Returning Client Consultation, you can call us at 804-828-6200 or come to either of our office locations. Returning Client Consultations typically last 20-30 minutes.
Online scheduling is not available for Returning Client Consultations.
If the last time you were seen for services at UCS was more than one year ago, you will complete updated intake paperwork and schedule a Referral and Assessment Meeting (RAM). During the RAM, you will meet with a counselor who will focus on learning about your current mental health goals and making a recommendation for next steps. The RAM typically lasts 20-30 minutes.
To complete intake paperwork and schedule a RAM, you can call us at 804-828-6200, come to either of our office locations, or follow the link below.
Please note that online scheduling is only available during our business hours.
If you and your partner(s) are seeking couples/relationship therapy, your first steps include completing intake paperwork and scheduling a Relationship RAM. During the Relationship RAM, you will meet with a counselor who will focus on learning about you and your partner(s)’ mental health goals and making a recommendation for next steps. The Relationship RAM typically lasts 20-30 minutes.
You are eligible to schedule a Relationship RAM as long as at least one partner in your relationship is an enrolled VCU student.
To complete intake paperwork and schedule a Relationship RAM, you can call us at 804-828-6200, or come to either of our office locations. Please note that each partner must individually complete intake paperwork before you will be able to schedule the Relationship RAM.
Online scheduling is not available for Relationship RAMs.
If you are a VCU varsity student-athlete who would like to connect to mental health support, your first steps include completing intake paperwork and scheduling an Athletics Referral and Assessment Meeting (Athletics RAM). During the Athletics RAM, you will meet with a counselor who will focus on learning about your mental health goals and making a recommendation for next steps. The Athletics RAM typically lasts 45 minutes.
To complete intake paperwork and schedule an Athletics RAM, you can call us at 804-828-6200, come to either of our office locations or follow the link below.
Please note that online scheduling is only available during our business hours.
If you are a current UCS client and need to schedule, reschedule, or cancel an appointment, please call us at 804-828-6200 or come to either of our office locations.
Possible Recommendations from RAM
Depending on each student’s concerns and needs, UCS counselors may recommend time-limited individual therapy, group therapy, skills groups, support groups, off-campus therapy, and/or additional services offered at the center or across campus.
There are some instances in which counselors may recommend care outside the scope of UCS services. In these cases, UCS counselors will support students in connecting to community providers and resources.
FAQs
All enrolled VCU students are eligible to access UCS for help in connecting to mental health support and determining which services may be a good fit.
Students currently enrolled at the university (6 credits) are eligible for UCS clinical services as determined by clinical assessment. Students are eligible for summer services if they are enrolled or have been enrolled and intend to enroll in the upcoming fall semester. If a person is an incoming freshman, they are not eligible until the fall semester of their freshman year begins.
You are welcome to come to our office and speak to one of our front desk staff members in order to schedule your RAM. It is rare that we would have same-day RAMs available, so it is likely you will be scheduling a RAM for a later date.
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, you can come to our office at any time during business hours or call us (804-828-6200) any time day or night and ask to speak to someone. A crisis appointment is not a RAM, but would include a counselor talking with you about immediate needs, ensuring your safety, and collaborating on next steps.
Let your RAM counselor know that you are interested in seeing an off-campus therapist. Your RAM counselor can help provide you with recommendations for therapists who match your needs and preferences. You can get additional support in an appointment with one of our Case Managers who can assist you in contacting and scheduling with an off-campus therapist.
University Counseling Services offers both in-person and virtual services. TimelyCare is another resource for VCU students that offers FREE, 24/7 access to virtual mental health and well-being services. You do not need insurance or assistance from us to access TimelyCare services. Students can go to timelycare.com/vcu or download the TimelyCare app to access care.
University Counseling Services does not offer formal psychological assessments or evaluations. If you are seeking this service, your RAM counselor can assist you with finding and contacting off-campus providers who do offer assessments.
Services at University Counseling Services are confidential.
Students interested in beginning therapy should first schedule a RAM. Their RAM counselor will make a recommendation for next steps, which could include individual therapy at UCS, group therapy, support groups, off-campus therapy, and/or additional resources.
Students referred to individual therapy at UCS will develop a treatment plan with their assigned therapist. The number of therapy sessions a student has will be determined by the student and their therapist. While there is not a session limit for individual therapy at UCS, our center works from a short-term treatment model for individual therapy.
Need immediate support?
UCS crisis services are available day or night. Students experiencing suicidal thoughts or any other mental health emergency can call 804-828-6200 to speak with a crisis clinician.