Health, Wellness and Safety

Mental Health Resources at the School of Law

Dr. Kate Gibson and Karen Painter, therapists with UVA’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), are located at the Law School and focus exclusively on the mental health needs of law school students. These embedded Law School therapists have offices in Slaughter Hall 135d. They have both been at CAPS for a number of years. Dr. Gibson has been at the Law School since 2015, is a licensed psychologist and attorney, and practiced in big law for eight years in Washington, D.C., before becoming a psychologist. She is at the Law School full time. Ms. Painter is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has provided mental health services in Central Virginia for over 20 years. She is interested in cultural and identity development and wellbeing, family dynamics and incorporating trauma healing practices that integrate the mind and body. She splits her time between the Law School and Darden School of Business, and is at UVA Law on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Among the services these embedded Law School therapists provide are:

  • Consultation for students and faculty and staff (for concerns about students)

  • Assessment

  • Brief individual therapy

  • Outreach activities such as presentations, guest talks in class, or meeting with your organization

  • Referrals (Community Psychiatry, specialized or more intensive treatment options, care management)

CAPS Hours

Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. during winter break and summer)

Cost

In-person visits with these embedded Law School therapists (and other professionals of UVA Student Health and Wellness Center) are funded through your comprehensive student fees. There is no additional cost to meet with them during Fall and Spring terms.

Missed appointment/Cancellation Fee: A fee of $25 is charged for missed appointments or appointments canceled after 8 a.m. of the day of appointment.

Title IX

Dr. Gibson and Ms. Painter are Confidential Employees under UVA’s Title IX policy. This means students can individually consult with either of them (or other Student Health and Wellness Center professionals) on issues related to incidents of gender or sexual-based violence while leaving the choice on reporting to the University to the student.

How to Make an Appointment

Students who are interested with meeting with Dr. Gibson or Ms. Painter can make an initial appointment (a) online through your UVA Healthy Hoos patient portal, (b) by emailing both law embedded therapists at @email or (c) by calling the CAPS main number 434-243-5150 and letting them know that you are a law student. A first meeting will be by phone and will take approximately 45 minutes. During the meeting you will have the chance to review your concerns and plan appropriate next steps.  

Law students may also choose to meet with a CAPS therapist at Central Grounds CAPS and can start this process by calling the CAPS main number 434-243-5150. The main office is located within the Student Health and Wellness Center at 550 Brandon Avenue, 4th floor, Charlottesville, VA 22908. Parking for appointments is available beneath the building and can be accessed from Monroe Avenue.

Community Connection and Outreach

Dr. Gibson and Ms. Painter enjoy meeting with student groups, faculty and staff. They are available for presentations or discussions on mental health issues including issues of stress, diversity and difference and mindfulness. They are interested in hearing about students’ experiences at the law school and thoughts about improving mental health services and mental health programming. You can contact them if you would like to arrange for mental health presentations or programming for your organization or class by emailing @email.

Academic Accommodations

The Law School will grant reasonable academic accommodations to students with documented disabilities and may provide temporary accommodations for illness or injury upon the recommendation of a medical professional. The Law School’s policy with respect to accommodations can be found at here. Please contact Sarah Davies in the Student Affairs Office to discuss any accommodation request.

 

Additional Mental Health Resources on Grounds

Please take a look at the General Safety Information and Resources page, for more information.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS (434-243-5150) is the University of Virginia's primary student counseling clinic. Its mission is to be responsive to the mental health needs of UVA students and to foster their success and growth as students and people while also providing consultation, education, outreach, and crisis management to the broader UVA student community.

Services at CAPS include:

  • Consultation for students and faculty and staff (for concerns about students)

  • Assessment

  • Crisis walk-in hours Mon-Fri, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

  • Brief individual therapy

  • Limited-time Psychiatric Care/Medication management (after assessment/consultation with a CAPS therapist)

  • Group Therapy

  • Outreach activities such as screenings, presentations, guest talks in class, or meeting with your organization

  • Referrals

  • Web-based links to assessment tools, mental health information and resources

*Law students are eligible for the full range of CAPS services at Central CAPS, as well as services with Dr. Gibson and Ms. Painter.

Hours

CAPS is open Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (4:30 p.m. during winter break and summer).

Eligibility and Cost

CAPS services are AVAILABLE TO ALL registered students who have paid the comprehensive student fee regardless of insurance coverage.

Professional visits with CAPS (and other Student Health and Wellness Center (SHW) providers) have been pre-paid through the payment of the comprehensive student fee. There are charges for medications, lab tests, supplies for certain treatments, immunizations and allergy injections, and copies of your medical record.

Missed appointment/Cancellation Fee: A fee of $25 is charged for missed appointments or appointments cancelled after 8 a.m. the day of the appointment.

Title IX

CAPS therapists and SHW professionals are Confidential Employees under UVA’s Title IX policy. This means students can individually consult with them on issues related to incidents of sexual or gender-based violence while leaving the choice on reporting to the University to the student.

Location

CAPS is located in the Student Health and Wellness Center at 550 Brandon Ave, 4th floor (434-243-5150). Parking for appointments is available under the building and is accessible from Monroe Avenue.

How to Access Services

Students may schedule an initial appointment online or by calling the CAPS main number 434-243-5150. Initial nonurgent first meetings are by phone and provide the opportunity to review your concerns and plan appropriate next steps.  

Immediate Mental Health Support

  • TalkNow: a free 24/7 service available to UVA students through the TimelyCare app. Students can connect with a mental health professional any time of day, either by phone or video call.

  • CAPS Walk-in hours: Students who are in crisis or with urgent concerns can walk in to CAPS (4th floor, 550 Brandon Avenue) and speak to the on-call clinician, Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

  • CAPS On Call: Students who are in crisis or with more urgent concerns can call the main CAPS number (434-243-5150) and ask to speak with an on-call clinician 24/7.

Emergency situations: In an emergency or life-threatening situation, you should call 911 or go to your nearest hospital emergency room (often UVA Hospital).  

Timely Care: CAPS partners with a telehealth organization called Timely Care, which includes several programs for UVA students:

  • Teletherapy (12 free sessions per academic year and in all 50 states)
  • TalkNow (24/7) an on-demand access to speak with a mental health professional about anything at any time

  • Telepsychiatry:  UVA students may have access to Timely Care telepsychiatry services. Timely Care telepsychiatry services are limited and your CAPS provider and you can discuss if this option fits. Timely Care psychiatry as a telepsychiatry provider does not prescribe controlled substances including ADHD medication. 

The UVA Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center

The UVA Maxine Platzer Women’s Center (434-982-2252) provides free counseling and resources to students and community members. Their focus is on issues of interpersonal and gender violence, limited individual and group therapy, outreach, resources and assistance with providing community referrals.

The Sheila Johnson Center for Clinical Services

The Sheila Johnson Center (434-924-7034) is a local clinic on UVA Grounds providing counseling and assessment services for students and community members. Counseling is provided by supervised Clinical and School Psychology doctoral graduate students, with limitations based on therapist availability. Their clinical focus is on Prolonged Exposure therapy for trauma, obsessive compulsive disorders, and autistic spectrum services.

Mary D. Ainsworth Clinic at the UVA Department of Psychology

The Ainsworth Clinic (434-982-4737) is a local clinic on UVA Grounds providing brief and long-term therapy for students and community members. Therapy is provided by clinical faculty members and supervised graduate student therapists, with limitations based on therapist availability.

UVA Madison House Helpline

Madison House Helpline (434-295-TALK) is a student-run and operated anonymous, confidential telephone service serving students and community members. The Helpline is staffed by UVA student volunteers and operates 24/7 during term time until finals. Volunteers are available to discuss any issues the caller may be dealing with and to provide referrals to other resources as appropriate.

WahooWell

WahooWell offers confidential sessions to explore your strengths, goals, and motivations related to well-being and identify strategies for successful growth. To get started, students complete a survey and then schedule a 1:1 meeting online.

UVA Collegiate Recovery

Collegiate Recovery Program is a social support network for students in recovery or considering recovery from a substance use disorder. Sober resources include sober housing, Hoos in Recovery (social support focused on recovery for UVA students, faculty and staff), and other fun sober social activities, including a weekly gathering on Wednesdays at 6pm in the CRP space (1st floor in the Student Health and Wellness Center, 550 Brandon Avenue).

The Office of Health Promotion has additional information about alcohol, tobacco/vaping, or other drugs, including self-assessments.

 

Medical Health Resources on Grounds

Medical Services Department at UVA Student Health and Wellness Center

  • Medical Services (434-924-5362) provides a broad range of general medical care from board certified teams of physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and physician assistants. Medical Services including gender affirming care, men and women’s health care, sexual and reproductive health care, and eating disorder care and consultation.

  • To make an appointment, students can schedule online through your UVA Healthy Hoos patient portal, or by calling 434-924-5362. For immediate needs, Medical services holds several same-day appointments that can be scheduled by phone.
Title IX

Student Health professionals (including the Student Health dietitian) are Confidential Employees under UVA’s Title IX policy.

Cost

In person visits with medical staff are funded through your comprehensive student fees. There are charges for medications, lab tests, supplies for certain treatments, immunizations and allergy injections. A fee of $25 is charged for missed appointments or appointments cancelled less than one hour before the appointment.

Sexual Assault/PERK exams

During regular business hours, any student who has experienced a sexual assault can receive medical care at Student Health and Wellness Center, even if they do not wish to have evidence collected.

 A Physical Evidence Recovery Kit (PERK) exam, or forensic exam, is available at SHW during business hours and based on Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE nurse) availability. (If after hours, this exam can occur at the UVA Health Emergency Department.)

Nutrition services at Student Health and Wellness Center  

Nutrition services (434-924-1509) with registered dietitians are available to develop a better relationship with food.

To make an appointment, students can schedule online through your UVA Healthy Hoos patient portal, or by calling 434-924-1509 during business hours. Allot an hour for your initial appointment. Review their Nutrition Approach page to learn about what to expect. Meetings with SHW dietitians are covered by the comprehensive student fees.

Telehealth nutrition services may be available, including the Nourish program. The Nourish program is a network of registered dietitians that provide nutrition counseling via telehealth using your insurance.

 

Some Mental Health Resources in Charlottesville

For emergency and inpatient care:

UVA Hospital (434-443-4112)

UVA Emergency Department (434-924-2231) and Inpatient Psychiatry

The UVA Hospital has an emergency department and an inpatient psychiatric unit. The hospital is located at 1215 Lee Street Charlottesville, VA 22903.

Region 10 Community Services Board

Region 10 Community Services Board (434-972-1800) provides a continuum of services for mental health, intellectual disability and substance use services. 24/7 Emergency Services can be accessed by calling the main number. Wellness Recovery Center (WRC) is a 24/7 crisis stabilization program for adults experiencing an acute mental health crisis may be available. Screenings for WRC are conducted through the emergency services clinician.

The Women’s Initiative

The Women’s Initiative (434-872-0047) is a downtown nonprofit clinic that provides a range of mental health services for women. Counseling options can be explored through their call in wellness consultation on a sliding scale. Free Group services and social support focus on women with marginalized identities.

Private practice therapists and psychiatrists

There are more than 150 private practice therapists and a handful of psychiatric providers in town. Please feel free to consult with CAPS embedded law school therapists or CAPS care managers.

  • MiResource is a referral database where you can search for your own local therapist, using filters to narrow down your options.

  • A nationwide referral database commonly used, is Psychology Today.

  • FYI, very few psychiatric providers in town are in-network with insurance. The two psychiatric providers currently in-network with Aetna insurance are: Charlottesville Integrated Psychiatry and Ryan Topel, PMHNP-C. Scheduling an initial appointment with a psychiatrist may take some time (1-3 months) so consider continuing with your current prescriber or starting the process as early as possible.

Community Sexual Violence Resources

UVA Student Health and Wellness Center – see above under Medical Services, CAPS

Student Health professionals (including the Student Health dietitian) are Confidential Employees under UVA’s Title IX policy.

UVA Health System – Emergency Department

CAVCare

CAVCare is UVA’s website focused on issues of sexual/gender-based violence including information on support resources, education and prevention, reporting, and policies and procedures.

Sexual Assault and Resource Agency (SARA)

SARA (434-977-7273) provides free support services for survivors of sexual violence including men, women and children as well as friends and family of survivors. Services include therapy, support groups and a 24-hour hotline.

Shelter for Help in Emergencies (SHE)

SHE (434-293-8509) provides free comprehensive services to women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Services include 24 hotline, emergency shelter and supportive counseling.

Virginia Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program (VJLAP)

VJLAP provides confidential, non-disciplinary help to lawyers, judges, law students, bar applicants and other members of the legal community who are experiencing personal or professional impairment as a result of substance abuse or mental health issues. To access their 24-hour confidential help line, call 1-877-545-4682.