CAPS serves all undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who are full-time students (three or more courses). During summer quarter, students must be registered for two or more classes to be eligible for services. School of Continuing Studies students, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary students, Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary students, and part-time students are offered an assessment and/or crisis services but are not eligible for on-going services at CAPS.  CAPS clinicians will assist these students in finding appropriate referrals in the community.

Eligible Northwestern University students may receive an assessment, and, if appropriate to be seen at CAPS, may receive up to a maximum of 12 sessions with a CAPS counselor at no charge for the duration of their degree program. For example, an undergraduate may receive a total of 12 sessions over four years. A graduate student enrolled as a full-time student in a one-year Masters program can receive up to 12 sessions.

If a student is assessed to need services other than those which CAPS can provide, CAPS counselors will help facilitate this referral process.

If a student is interested in CAPS services, he or she can call 847-491-2151. The student will be given a same-day phone appointment with a counselor. The counselor will speak with the student for about 15 minutes and collect some information about the student and what she/he needs. The counselor will then schedule the student for a CAPS intake appointment, a same-day crisis appointment or will help connect the student with other services on campus or in the community depending upon the situation. This procedure is the same for the Evanston and Chicago campuses.