Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services

The staff of Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services consists of psychologists, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, post-doctoral fellows, and administrative staff who are committed to providing excellent mental health and psychological wellness services to the five undergraduates of The Claremont Colleges.

For after hours emergencies or if you are in crisis, call the number listed above and dial “1” when prompted to be connected with an on-call therapist.

Contact MCAPS

Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services
Phone | (909) 621-8202 Fax | (909) 621-8482
Crisis Line | (909) 621-8202 Dial “1”
Hours |Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services will be closing for the summer as of May 12th, 2023.  We will reopen on August 29th, 2023, for appointments.

If you are experiencing a crisis situation after hours, you can talk to a counselor by calling 909-621-8202 and dialing “1”.

Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services
Tranquada Student Services Center – 1st Floor
757 College Way Claremont, CA, 91711

Downloadable MCAPS Fact Sheet PDF

Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services will be closing for the summer as of May 12th, 2023.  We will reopen on August 29th, 2023 for appointments.

We will be open for virtual and in-person appointments as of August 29th, 2023

Welcome to Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS) and to the Fall 2023 Semester! MCAPS is the mental health resource to the five undergraduates of The Claremont Colleges.  Our professional staff serves the enrolled undergraduates.  There are no fees for counseling services, and all services are confidential.

At the present time, due to declining COVID-19 case rates in Los Angeles County, as well as lower rates of severe outcomes, MCAPS is pleased to offer students a choice between virtual and in-person appointments for regular counseling. Initial Brief Assessment appointments will be strictly virtual. Crisis appointments and psychiatry/medication visits will generally be held in person. Group therapy will vary, based on the needs and preferences of each group. We will continue to monitor public health recommendations, and will adjust our procedures accordingly, as needed.

Please note that, while the COVID-19 pandemic continues, face coverings are required for all in-person visitors to MCAPS.

Brief, goal-oriented counseling is offered virtually for individuals, couples and groups to help address a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, academic stress, identity-related concerns, as well as relationship, familial, cultural and interpersonal stressors. Students who would benefit from longer-term or more specialized care will be offered referrals to appropriate resources. Workshops, outreaches, and presentations on a variety of topics are offered throughout the year. Please call our office during business hours to access services and for further information. A list of our Fall 2021 programing is located at the bottom of the page. Check out our Resources section to learn variety ways to cope with COVID-19-related stress. Also please note our workshops and support sessions to assist students in navigating the stresses of the ongoing pandemic.

Please note that state laws restrict the services that we can provide to students who are not currently living in California. As a result, students out of state are not able to schedule individual, group, or couples therapy at this time. However, we are glad to help you locate local resources and referral options! Please schedule a brief assessment, contact your previous MCAPS therapist, or complete a referral form for out of state referral options. You are still able to access workshops (both on-going and one-time), brief assessments, drop-in hours, crisis and consultation services, and referral appointments. Psychiatry appointments are also available on a case-by-case basis depending on your state’s laws and other circumstances.

Additionally, all students at The Claremont Colleges have access to 7C.Health, which provides 24/7 medical and behavioral telehealth care for 7C students, at no cost. They also now offer up to 12 ongoing therapy appointments for the academic year. To get started, visit 7C.Health online, or download the TimelyMD app.

Students with SHIP (Aetna) medical insurance can also access tele-medicine appointments, including behavioral health appointments, at https://www.teladoc.com/Aetna/

For Crisis or Urgent Needs:

During our business hours, a counselor is available to respond to urgent needs. If you are experiencing a crisis situation after hours, you can talk to a counselor by calling 909-621-8202 and dialing “1”.  You can also contact the following crisis lines:

  • National Hotlines: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) and 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
  • Didi Hirsch 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-877-727-4747 (for Spanish, dial 1-800-628-9454)
  • LGBTQ – The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
  • Trans Crisis Line: 1-877-565-8860
  • Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741-741
  • Students of Color Crisis Text Line: Text STEVE to 741-741

As a point of information, the above crisis lines are not affiliated or vetted by MCAPS.

If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call, if you are on campus, Campus Safety at  909-607-2000 (x72000 from any campus phone) or, if off-campus, please call 911.

TCCS support resources:

Chaplains (McAlister): 909-621-8685

Chicano Latino Student Affairs (CLSA): 909-621-8044

Office of Black Student Affairs (OBSA): 909-607-3669

Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC): (909) 607-7419

MCAPS Services

Scheduling

To schedule an appointment with a psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist please call (909) 621-8202. All appointments are scheduled in advance unless in the event of a psychological emergency. Services such as intake appointments, individual and group therapy and psychiatric evaluation and follow-up are available at no charge to undergraduate students. Please note that we do not have a pharmacy on site and prescription drug costs are the responsibility of the student. For no-show or late cancellations (less than two hours) a fee of $15 may be applied.

Specifying Therapists

If you prefer to see a particular therapist, inform the receptionist, who will work to make a timely appointment. Please note that a requested therapist may result in a longer waiting period before your first appointment. If you come in for an intake appointment and you are dissatisfied with your initial therapist for whatever reason, you may contact the receptionist to accommodate a change.

Psychiatric Consultation

Psychiatric consultation is available. There is no limit on the number of visits allowed for medication management.

Crisis Appointments

MCAPS offers same-day crisis appointments. Please phone us at 909-621-8202, or walk into MCAPS between 8:30-5:00, Monday-Friday. After hours, you can call 909-621-8202 and press “1” to speak with an on-call therapist by phone.

Out of state students

Due to California mental health licensing laws, MCAPS can only offer ongoing appointments (individual or group) to students currently residing in the state of California. Some state laws are different, but we are bound by the laws governing mental health practice in California. Students do not need to be physically on campus to be seen for ongoing therapy (e.g., we can see students living in Northern California during the current semester), but we cannot provide ongoing teletherapy services to a student who is physically based outside of California.

Confidentiality

At MCAPS, we adhere to the American Psychological Association (APA) Ethics Code, all relevant California state laws and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  Whenever there is any discrepancy between these guidelines, we follow the highest or most stringent ethical standard, as advised by the APA Ethics Code. Specifically, this means that no information will be revealed to anyone outside of MCAPS without written permission from the client, except where disclosure is required by law.

MCAPS provides psychiatric services to students of The Claremont Colleges including medication evaluations and medication monitoring for most psychotropic medications. Appointments with our psychiatrists are free to students.  Students can request an appointment for psychiatric services by calling MCAPS at (909) 621-8202 and speaking with the front desk administrator.

Please see MCAPS policy on stimulants/medications for ADHD here.

Psychiatric appointments can be made when:

  1. a student is currently seeing a therapist at MCAPS but is not currently on psychotropic medication
  2. a student is referred by their current outside therapist and their current outside therapist is recommending they have a medication evaluation or medication management.
  3. a student is already taking psychotropic medication(s) (and is seeing an outside provider) and is seeking medication management/continued refills for certain medications (see below regarding stimulant medications).
  4. if student seeking stimulant medications (such as medications for the treatment of ADHD), please see the policy regarding stimulant medications

The Claremont Colleges Honnold Library’s Mudd Conference Room is available to students for therapy appointments.

1. Students may request the Mudd Conference Room in the Claremont Colleges Honnold Library for teletherapy with their providers from the Library’s website. This room requires approval, but staff typically approve within a day (usually within hours). The room is available for reservation any time the Honnold Library is open.

2. Students can also go directly to the room reservations page and reserve the Mudd Conference Room. Please email the library for more information or with any questions at library@claremont.edu.

3. At the time of your reservation, check out the key from the Main Services Desk. You will be the only person with access during the reservation. The door does have a glass panel in it but is still very private and there are places to sit in the room that are not visible to someone at the door.

4. Students should bring their own devices for their Zoom session, laptop, tablet, or cell phone.

5. The room is available for therapy appointments for 1 – 3 hours per day per availability.

2023 Spring Workshops & Groups

During the Spring 2023 semester, MCAPS will be offering a variety of groups, workshops & drop-in hours, in-person & virtual. Students can sign-up by clicking on the workshop or group name below.

Spring 2023 Workshops

Anxiety Toolbox 

3-part series: 2/27, 3/6, 3/13 at 2:00pm

Facilitated by Dr. Ruby Aranki

Getting Unstuck

3-part series: 3/10, 3/17, 3/24 at 10-11:00am

Facilitated by Dr. Stephanie Gutarra

Recovering from Relationship Trauma 

March 7 at 11:00am

Facilitated by Dr. Shalom Alaichamy

Yoga for Stress Relief 

Feb 22, March 29, April 26 at 4:00pm

Facilitated by Dr. Dana Reyes

Art for Anxiety  

March 7 at 1-2:00pm

Facilitated by Dr. Emily Metrie

Study Skills 

February 17 at 12:00-1:00pm

Facilitated by Dr. Grant Goodman

Self-Compassion

April 12 at 3-4:00pm

Facilitated by Dr. Jessica Demerdjian

Spring 2023 GROUPS

Understanding Self & Others 

Mondays 2:00-3:30pm

Facilitated by Dr. Adrienne Hilliard and Stephanie Gutarra

Women’s Group

Fridays 1-2:00pm

Facilitated by Dr. Carrie Park

Processing Grief Therapy Group

Wednesdays 3-4:30pm

Facilitated by Dr. Emily Hauck & Dr. Ruby Aranki

Students of Color

Fridays 3:00-4:30pm

Facilitated by Dr. Dana Reyes & Dr. Shalom Alaichamy

Men’s Group  

Fridays 10-11:30am

Facilitated by Dr. Grant Goodman

Radical Body Acceptance Bibliotherapy 

Fridays 1-2:30pm

Facilitated  by Dr. Dana Reyes & Dr. Adrienne Hilliard

Graduate Student Support Group

Thursdays 3-4:30pm

Facilitated by Dr. Jessica Demerdjian

To request a program or workshop, please complete this form or download a copy here.

Mental Health Screening
Local Psychiatrists
Aetna/SHIP Deductible Waiver

    • Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services will be closing for the summer as of May 12th, 2023.  We will reopen on August 29th, 2023 to schedule appointments.
    • All requests made after May 11th, 2023 will be processed when we return.
    • to waive the deductible for off-campus services using the SHIP insurance. (Please note requests may take up to 8 days to fulfill.) We will fulfill requests in the order they are received. If you need urgent referrals, please call MCAPS at 909-621-8202.

Students with SHIP (Aetna) medical insurance can also access tele-medicine appointments, including behavioral health appointments, here:

https://services.claremont.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Aetna-Teledoc.pdf

Off-Campus Therapy Referral Request:

    • Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services will be closing for the summer as of May 12th, 2023.  We will reopen on August 29th, 2023 to schedule appointments.
    • All requests made after May 11th, 2023 will be processed when we return.
    • Please fill out the referral form and the MCAPS Case Manager will respond to your request. We will do our best to find you a referral that best fits your request, although we may not be able to find therapists with the exact specifications you are looking for. If you have questions about your referrals and/or the referral process, please call the Case Manager at 909-621-8202. (Please note requests may take up to 8 days to fulfill.) We will fulfill requests in the order they are received. If you need urgent referrals or if you would like to schedule an in-person appointment with the Case Manager to discuss referrals for off campus therapy, please call 909-621-8202 to schedule.

Students with SHIP (Aetna) medical insurance can also access tele-medicine appointments, including behavioral health appointments, here:

https://services.claremont.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Aetna-Teledoc.pdf

Students at The Claremont Colleges have access to 7CHealth, which provides 24/7 medical and mental telehealth care for all students, at no cost! To get started, click on 7CHealth, set up your profile and use the service when you need it. Students please use your campus email.

Crisis support via telephone will also continue to be available to all students, whether on or off campus, 24 hours/day. To access this service, please call us at 909-621-8202, after 5:00 p.m. press “1” to be connected to an on-call therapist.  The on-call therapist will also be able to assist you in finding a local referral in your area, if you wish.

Liaison Drop-in hours: Come by and meet with one of our therapists for an informal consultation about mental health and wellness at our various cultural centers on campus. These consultations can offer support, space to process, and/or highlight resources. However, these meetings are not a substitute for regular therapy, counseling or psychiatric care.

Connect with one of our therapists for an informal consultation about mental health and wellness. These consultations can offer support, space to process, and/or highlight resources; however, these meetings are not a substitute for regular therapy, counseling or psychiatric care.

CLSA Drop-In Hours with Dr. Dana Reyes

  • Thursdays from 2:00PM-4:00PM beginning January 19th, 2023
  • Hosted by Chicanx/Latinx Student Affairs
  • Please email Miriam Escobedo to reserve your 30-minute appointment

Pomona-Pitzer Athletics Drop-in Hours with Dr. Grant Goodman

  • Mondays starting January 23rd, 2023, from 12:00AM- 1:00PM
  • Hosted by Pomona-Pitzer and CMS Athletics
  • The link will be sent out via email to all eligible student athletes

OBSA (Office of Black Student Affairs) with Dr. Adrienne Hilliard

QRC (Queer Resource Center) with Dr. Emily Hauck

  • Thursdays from 12:00-2:00pm Starting January 19th, 2023
  • Coloring & Questions hosted by the Queer Resource Center

Printable Wallet Card – Crisis Resources

Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS): 909-621-8202 *For after-hours crisis, press 1 to be connected immediately to an on-call therapist
Chaplains (McAlister): 909-621-8685
Campus Safety: 909-607-2000
Dean on Call: Call your Dean of Students office during business hours; After hours, call Campus Safety at 909-607-2000, ask them to contact the Dean on call for your campus.

Therapy 101
Choosing a Therapist
Support for students with learning disabilities and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Forms & Resources

Tools for Coping with Isolation/Stress

Grounding Exercises

Tips to Manage Stress

  • Talk about it – discussing your feelings with trusted others can help you feel less alone. Facetime, Skype, and similar videochat services are a great way to minimize spreading germs, and yet feel connection and support.
  • Get plenty of sleep, as well as regular “down-time” to rest and recuperate.
  • Strive to eat in a balanced and healthy way.
  • Practice deep breathing or other forms of relaxation.
  • Avoid excessive use of alcohol or drugs to self-soothe or self-medicate.
  • Many people understandably want to stay updated on the latest health information and recommendations, but consider limiting yourself to checking 1-2 reliable sources of information, once per day.”

Self Care Phone Apps

“Daily Yoga”– guided yoga sequences with video (free, iOS and Android compatible)
“Gratitude Diary”– positive things in your life (free, iOS compatible)
“Headspace”– mindfulness meditation tool (iOS and Android compatible)
“Insight Timer”– time tracker for meditation (free, iOS and Android compatible)
“Lotus Bud”– for reminders in the form of mindfulness bells and timers to practice mindfulness (iOS compatible)
“Sleep Cycle”– tracks sleep and sets alarm ($0.99 for iOS, Android compatible)
“Stop, Think Breathe”– Checking in with your brain body (free, iOS, Android and web compatible)
“ACT Coach” Offers exercises, tools, information, and tracking logs
“My3” A safety planning app
“Virtual Hope Box” Helps with emotion regulation and coping skills
“Booster Buddy” A free behavioral activation focused wellness app
“Breathe2Relax” A free app for deep breathing
“Sanvello” CBT-based app for anxiety, stress, and depression; free with in-app purchases
“Happify” science based activities and games to address negative thoughts and stress”

Crisis Hotlines:

National Suicide Hotline: 1-800 SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
National Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Didi Hirsch 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-877-727-4747 (for Spanish, dial 1-800-628-9454)
LGBTQ – The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
Trans Crisis Line: 1-877-565-8860
Crisis Text Line: Text HELLO to 741-741
Students of Color Crisis Text Line: Text STEVE to 741-741

Nutrition Services Resources:

Nutrition Services at The Claremont Colleges
Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center

Training Programs

Post-Doctoral Fellowship

Additional Support Services

Video Overview

Upcoming Events

7C Health

7C Health

Gender Affirming Care