Our Stepped Care Approach
CCPH matches the level of support to what you need. You’ll always start at the right intensity. Your care can shift as your needs change. Most students begin at Step 2 or Step 3.
| Level | What It Includes | Examples at CCPH |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1: Self-Help | Tools and resources you use on your own | Apps, wellness articles, screening tools, online workbooks |
| Step 2: Consultation | Brief contact, skill-building, or group support | Let’s Talk drop-in, psychoeducational workshops, drop-in groups, outreach presentations |
| Step 3: Brief Therapy | Structured therapy over a defined period | Individual therapy (average 4–8 sessions), therapy groups, couples and family therapy |
| Step 4: Ongoing Care | Continued support over time | Ongoing individual therapy, psychiatry and medication management, case management |
| Step 5: Intensive Support | Higher-frequency or structured intensive care | CCPH Acute Care Program (3 hours/week for up to 6 weeks), referral to IOP or PHP |
| Step 6: Inpatient | Psychiatric hospitalization | CCPH provides crisis stabilization, referral, and transition support back to campus care |
Not sure where to start? Schedule a consultation or drop in for a Let’s Talk session. We’ll help you find the right fit.
Getting Started and Low-Intensity Support
💬 Let’s Talk (Step 2: Consultation)
A free, brief, no-commitment drop-in consultation with a CCPH clinician via Zoom. Good for when you want to talk something through, get a recommendation, or explore whether CCPH is right for you.
Duration: About 15 minutes · Format: Zoom · Scheduling: Same-day or next-day · Cost: Always free
Self-Help Resources (Step 1: Self-Help)
Apps, articles, workbooks, videos, and screening tools you can use on your own or alongside other CCPH services. Resources cover topics including anxiety, depression, stress, sleep, relationships, and identity.
Format: Online, available anytime · Cost: Free
📢 Outreach and Consultation (Step 2: Consultation)
Educational presentations, workshops, and consultations for student organizations, residence life, and campus departments. We also offer faculty and staff consultations on how to support students experiencing mental health concerns.
For: Student organizations, residence life, faculty and staff · Cost: Free
Therapy and Ongoing Support
🗣️ Individual Therapy (Steps 3–4)
One-on-one therapy with a licensed clinician or advanced trainee. Sessions can be brief or ongoing depending on your needs. There is no formal session limit at CCPH. The length and pace of care is determined collaboratively with your clinician.
Available in person at Middlesex House or via telehealth (video or phone). Clinicians draw on evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), trauma-informed care, and others.
Duration: 45-minute sessions · Format: In person or telehealth · Scheduling: Patient Portal, phone, or walk-in · Cost: First 4 sessions covered by the student health fee; insurance billed after
👥 Groups and Workshops (Steps 2–3)
CCPH runs four types of group experiences, each with a different structure and level of commitment:
Therapy groups (8–12 members): Ongoing groups with a consistent membership, led by clinicians. Pre-screening required. First 8 sessions covered by the student health fee; insurance billed after.
Psychoeducational workshops: Structured, skill-focused sessions on topics like anxiety management, mindfulness, and healthy relationships. Open enrollment; register through the Patient Portal or call us.
Drop-in support groups: Walk-in sessions with no registration needed. In-person groups at Middlesex House; virtual groups via Zoom.
Identity-affirming groups: Spaces for students to discuss experiences of shared identities, including LGBTQ+ students, students of color, and international students. Some require pre-screening; contact us for details.
💑 Couples and Family Therapy (Step 3)
Brief couples, relational, and family therapy, typically 6–8 sessions. Sessions may include a combination of couple, family, and individual meetings based on what is most helpful. Clinicians draw on approaches including Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Family Systems, and Solution-Focused therapy.
At least one person in the relationship must be a currently enrolled UMass Amherst student. All participants must be physically located in Massachusetts during treatment.
Duration: Typically 6–8 sessions · Referral: Through your CCPH clinician or by calling (413) 545-2337
🐾 Animal-Assisted Therapy (Steps 3–4)
Therapy sessions that include a trained therapy animal, offered by select CCPH clinicians. Animal-assisted therapy can help with building rapport, reducing anxiety, and creating a more comfortable therapeutic environment.
Format: In person at Middlesex House · Access: Available with select clinicians. Ask when scheduling your first appointment.
🧠 Psychiatry (Step 4)
Psychiatric evaluation and medication management with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner. Psychiatric care at CCPH is typically coordinated alongside therapy. Your clinician and prescriber work together on your care plan.
Psychiatric appointments are not self-scheduled. Access is through a clinician referral: from a UHS provider, your CCPH therapist, or a community therapist you are already working with. See the Getting Started page for details on each pathway.
Includes: Evaluation, medication management, ongoing monitoring · Cost: Billed to insurance; no co-pays at CCPH
🤝 Case Management (Steps 4–5)
Help navigating campus and community resources, coordinating care between providers, finding off-campus therapy, and managing transitions to higher levels of care. Case managers can make warm handoffs and assist with discharge planning.
Access: Through your CCPH clinician or the crisis team · Includes: Resource navigation, care coordination, referral support
Intensive and Crisis Services
⚡ Acute Care Program (Step 5)
CCPH’s campus-based intensive outpatient program for students experiencing elevated distress or functional impairment, whether in the aftermath of a crisis or in a pre-crisis state. The program provides an average of 3 hours of clinical and case management support per week for approximately 3 weeks (up to 6).
Support includes individual sessions, group treatment, safety planning, case management, psychiatric care, and discharge planning. Available in person and via telehealth. The Acute Care Program can serve as primary treatment, a step-down from hospitalization, or a bridge while waiting for an external program.
Duration: Approximately 3 weeks, up to 6 · Intensity: Approximately 3 hours per week, up to 6 · Access: Referral from your CCPH clinician or crisis team · Limit: Once per academic year (exceptions considered)
🆘 Crisis and On-Call Services (24/7)
Immediate support for students in crisis. During business hours, walk in to Middlesex House for a same-day crisis appointment. After hours, weekends, and holidays, call our crisis line to reach an on-call clinician.
Crisis line: (413) 545-HELP (4357), available 24/7/365 · Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 · Walk-in: Middlesex House, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services We Refer Out
Some needs are better served by specialized providers outside of CCPH. For the following, our case management team will help connect you with the right resource:
- Intensive outpatient (IOP) or partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
- Inpatient psychiatric hospitalization
- Specialized eating disorder treatment programs
- Substance use disorder treatment beyond supportive counseling
- Comprehensive neuropsychological testing (some brief screening is available at CCPH)
Not sure whether CCPH can help with what you’re going through? Schedule a consultation or try Let’s Talk. We’ll help you find the right fit, even if it’s not us.
Need Help Now?
24/7 Crisis Line:
(413) 545-HELP (4357)
Crisis Text Line:
Text HOME to 741741
Walk-in hours:
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Middlesex House, 1st floor
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule a therapy consultation or try a free Let’s Talk session. No commitment required.
📞 (413) 545-2337, ext. 5
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.