GW is Better With You Here
GW has many kinds of mental health resources available to students. Explore the options below to find which services best fit your needs!
GW Mental Health Resources
GW Mental Health Crisis Line
Call 202-994-5300 (option 3)
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call 988
Crisis Text Line
Text "TALK" to 741741
For emergencies, call 911.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- General Information
CAPS offers individual and group counseling where students can join a brief, goal-oriented individual counseling session, or participate in a 60-90 minutes group session facilitated by a counselor; affinity Spaces/drop-in spaces for students who share common identities, backgrounds, and experiences; and workshops where counselors explore anxiety, depression, and cultural forces that impact your wellbeing while guiding you through building skills on these topics.
CAPS uses a stepped care model that offers a wide array of services that take into account the type of concern, research evidence on best practices, student personality and preferences, and readiness for making difficult changes or engaging in complex therapeutic processes. CAPS counselors provide a safe and non-judgmental environment for you to discuss these concerns and discover ways to resolve them. The number of short-term individual counseling sessions will be individualized, based on your needs.
For intake purposes, students can speak with a counselor on a same-day basis with no appointment; Students can present to the SHC any day of the week during walk-in hours to be seen for an initial consultation. These services are available via telehealth.
At times, longer-term counseling or specialized treatment may be a better fit. If so, you will be referred to providers in the community who have experience working with college students.
- Cost
Free of charge, regardless of the insurance you have!
- Location & Hours
Foggy Bottom: University Student Center (Ground Floor)
- Monday, Thurs, Friday | 8:30 am - 5 pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday | 8:30 am - 7 pm
- Saturday | 12 - 4 pm
- CAPS Same Day Hours | Mon-Sat | 12 - 4 pm
Mount Vernon Campus: Merriweather Hall
- Tuesday | 10 am - 4 pm
- CAPS Same Day Hours | Tuesday | 12 - 4 pm
- Contact Information
CAPS Phone Number: (202)-994-5300
If you are in crisis, or concerned about a GW student in crisis, please call the 24/7 number at (202) 994-5300 (option 3) to speak with a counselor.
Student Health Center Psychiatric Services
- General Information
The Student Health Center (SHC) provides short-term psychiatric treatment and referral services to GW students. Services are provided primarily by telemedicine. Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who are actively enrolled in at least one course are eligible for psychiatric services. The psychiatrists and counselors in the SHC work closely together to provide mental health services for students. The initial appointment will be for 90 minutes. Please start the check-in process 30 minutes prior to your appointment time because you will be required to complete the symptom surveys. After the surveys are completed and reviewed by your psychiatrist, the psychiatrist will meet with you for up to 90 minutes. Students who need prescription refills will need to make an appointment with a SHC psychiatrist before refills will be written.
- Cost
Psychiatric Diagnostic Interview Examination - $80 per visit
Medical Evaluation and Management (Therapy) - $50 per visit
*All students enrolled on the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) are exempt from fees, except in the case of missed appointments or late cancelations.
- Location & Hours
University Student Center Ground Floor 800 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20052
Psychiatrists are only available by appointment during normal operating hours.
Monday, Thurs, Friday | 8:30 am - 5 pm
Tuesday, Wednesday | 8:30 am - 7 pm
- Contact Information
To book a psychiatric appointment, please call the case manager at (202) 994-1621.
- ADD/ADHD Evaluation & Management
If you are interested in ADHD/ADD Psychological testing and have no record of prior treatment, please seek a psychological assessment in the community for official diagnosis. See a list of referrals here.
If you have seen a psychiatrist/psychologist and were diagnosed with ADD/ADHD, the psychological/psychiatric evaluation should be emailed to the Psychiatric Case Manager in the SHC ([email protected]).
Before your appointment is scheduled, the Previous ADHD Treatment Form (pdf) must be downloaded and filled out by your doctor and emailed to [email protected]. Your previous provider must also submit their most recent progress notes and any diagnostic paperwork.
A psychiatrist at the SHC will review your documentation before your initial visit is scheduled. Please call the Psychiatric Case Manager at (202) 994-1621 to confirm that your paperwork was received. ADHD prescriptions will only be given to patients if all adequate documentation has been submitted.
ADHD prescriptions will only be given on a monthly basis. A follow-up visit is required to receive a refill. Medical Services will not refill ADHD medications via telephone or fax.
All students receiving stimulant prescriptions are required to review and sign the Psychostimulant Medication Contract (pdf) on a yearly basis.
Students who need academic accommodations for ADD/ADHD must register with Disability Support Services.
TimelyCare
- General Information
TimelyCare is a virtual health and well-being platform available 24/7 for George Washington University students.
Services offered:
- Medical Now: On-demand support for common health issues, including cold, flu, and allergies.
- TalkNow: 24/7, on-demand emotional support to talk about anything, including anxiety, relationships, depression, and school-related stressors.
- Scheduled Medical: Choose the day, time, and medical provider that best works for you.
- Scheduled Counseling: Choose the day, time, and mental health provider that works best for you (9 visits per year).
- Health Coaching: Develop healthy lifestyle behaviors for nutrition, sleep habits, time management, and mindfulness.
- Psychiatry: Appointments are available through referrals from a GW SHC provider.
- Self-Care Content: Visit the Self-Care tab for 24/7 access to tools and resources, such as meditation and yoga sessions, helpful videos, and short articles from experts.
- Cost
There is no cost to enrolled George Washington University students. With TimelyCare, you will have free, 24/7 access to providers from anywhere in the United States, regardless of your insurance status. So, you’ll never have to spend time or money on care, whether you’re on or off campus.
- Hours
TimelyCare is available 24/7!
- Website
Visit the website or download the TimelyCare app to access care.
The Meltzer Center
- General Information
The Meltzer Center provides a wide variety of low-cost mental health services to adults, children, families and couples in the Washington, D.C., area. The Meltzer Center is a training clinic for students in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program. Doctoral student clinicians are supervised by adjunct and full-time members of the clinical psychology faculty, all of whom are licensed clinical psychologists. The center’s therapists and supervisors represent a range of skills and interests, and whenever possible will be matched to meet a client’s needs.
- Services Offered
Assessment: Intellectual, psycho-educational or comprehensive (psycho-educational and personality) assessments for a variety of client needs, including evaluations for diagnostic purposes.
Admissions Testing: In-person reduced-fee admissions testing services for families in need applying to independent and parochial schools in the DC metro area.
Child and Adolescent Therapy: Services target difficulties such as depression, anxiety, grief, disruptive behaviors, acting-out behaviors, school and peer-related problems and self-esteem and identity issues. Serve children and adolescents adjusting to life stressors such as divorce, adoption, single-parent family and remarriage.
Adult Therapy: Services target difficulties such as depression, anxiety, relationship problems, bereavement, social interaction difficulties, ethnic and cultural concerns, self-doubt and poor self-esteem, career problems and sexual identity and orientation concerns. Psychological services are also provided for adjustment problems that arise after divorce, relocation, job loss and other traumatic experiences.
- Costs
Fees are based on a sliding fee schedule and are scaled according to your family income and number of dependents. Payment can be made in the electronic payment system. The Meltzer Center does not bill insurance, but can provide you a receipt to submit for possible reimbursement. Alternative payment options can be discussed upon inquiry. If you experience financial difficulties and have trouble paying your balance, please notify your clinician as soon as possible so that we can discuss a payment plan.
*Please note that you must pay a non-refundable deposit fee to be added to our waitlist for services ($25 for Assessment/$10 for Therapy). And that the center is not able to provide medications or any form of medical care and does not take insurance.
- Location and Contact Information
GWU Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences: 2013 H St. NW, 4th Floor Washington, DC 20006
Phone: 202-994-6320
Email: [email protected]
GW Art Therapy Clinic
- General Information
The GW Art Therapy Clinic is a training facility partnered with the GW Graduate Art Therapy Program providing confidential, quality art therapy services to children, teens and adults from the community. Our clinicians are students in their second and third year of the master’s program and are supervised by licensed, professional art therapists and mental health counselors. A typical art therapy session lasts 45–50 minutes, although occasionally the clinician may find extended sessions to be helpful. Most clients are seen in weekly 1:1 individual therapy sessions with a consistent student therapist throughout the academic year. The GWATC also offers group and family art therapy as needed.
- Costs
A fee-for-service clinic, meaning that you are responsible for payment in full at each session. Since they do not officially diagnose clients, they are unable to provide you with a statement or bill for your sessions, and they do not work with any insurance companies. Payments can be made by cash or via electronic portal. Fees for sessions are determined on a case by case basis, and are based on client need. This sliding scale allows them to cover the costs of materials and running the Clinic, while still providing affordable care.
Fees range from $10 to $75, depending on income and other circumstances. At the initial intake session, they will ask you to determine what you feel you are reasonably able to pay to maintain consistent services.
- Location and Costs
Location:
413 John Carlyle St.
Alexandria, VA 22314Phone: 202-994-2420
Email: [email protected]
Contact the email to set up a free intake meeting. In the initial screening, you will meet with the graduate student(s) and/or director to review your history and reasons for pursuing art therapy.
GW CARE Team
- What is CARE?
Students, parents, faculty, and staff can identify students that may need additional support through the CARE Team’s online form. The CARE Team is a cross-departmental support system that recognizes that student concerns are often multi-faceted. Students are connected to resources through inter-departmental collaboration to provide them with appropriate and personalized outreach. The Behavioral Intervention (BIT) is a multi-disciplinary group at George Washington University that is overseen by CARE.
This team meets regularly to coordinate timely interventions for students who might need help across multiple departments of the university. The BIT strives to prevent the occurrence of crisis situations on campus and to maintain the welfare of the campus community through individualized support to identified students in need. BIT includes the representatives from: Campus Living and Residential Education Disability Support Services GW Emergency Services Office of the General Counsel Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities Office for Student Success Student Support Team The reporting individual is not required to provide any identifying information in the report. The CARE process is not a disciplinary process, it aims to improve student well-being.
- Costs
No Costs!
- Location and Contact Information
University Student Center Ground Floor (next to the SHC)
800 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20052
Reports are monitored Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 am and 6:00 pm.
The Center Clinic
- General Information
The Center Clinic is a community mental health center housed within the George Washington University’s Professional Psychology Program. The nonprofit clinic is staffed by clinical externs who are advanced doctoral students in the Professional Psychology Program. Externs are supervised by licensed, highly experienced professionals. Provides short-term and long-term mental health services to patients in the Washington, D.C., area who may not otherwise have access to needed care. Offers a variety of treatment options, with specialties in psychotherapy and comprehensive psychological evaluations with children and adults. The clinic also provides consultation, assessment and therapeutic services free of charge to local community service agencies, such as public and charter schools, homeless shelters and addiction recovery programs.
- Costs
Affordable, reduced fee on a sliding scale based on income. Additional fee reductions are considered for individuals in multiple treatments (for example, individual and group therapy) or whose treatment recommendations include attending sessions more than one time per week.
We do not accept insurance. The fee per session provided by the Center Clinic is typically lower than many insurance co-pays. Some patients, however, may arrange to submit claims to their insurance providers in order to seek some reimbursement. As insurance providers vary in what they will provide coverage for, please contact your provider for more information.
- Location and Contact Information
Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Center Clinic 1922 F St. NW Suite 103 Washington, DC 20052
Phone: 202-994‐4937
Community Counseling Services Center (CCSC)
- General Information
GW’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development provides confidential, low-cost counseling and referral services and clinical screenings to community members and students in the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The centers are clinical training facilities for graduate-level students, working under faculty supervision. The center embraces diversity and celebrates the unique identities and experiences of our clients. They advocate for anti-racist and anti-oppressive counseling practices through collaborative counseling sessions and community outreach.
Services offered include:
- individual counseling
- families and couples counseling
- child and adolescent counseling
- play therapy
- career assessment services
- consultations and referrals
Ways their mission as a training center can impact services:
- Counseling interns work in the CCSC for two semesters. Your counseling intern could conclude their work in the CCSC before you conclude your work with the counselor. In that case, you could work with another intern, if they have an available counselor, or they can help you find other counselors in the community.
- We follow GW’s academic calendar. That means a break of several weeks between semesters and a brief break during each semester.
- Counseling interns are supervised. They prioritize attentive supervision and guidance of our counseling interns by faculty and supervisors.
Since the CCSC is a training facility, all counseling sessions are digitally recorded so that students can review and reflect on the session to improve their skills, as well as receive supervision of their work. This also allows supervisors to ensure you receive quality services. Supervisors who view these recordings are ethically obligated to protect your confidentiality.
- Costs
The CCSC uses a sliding scale, from $10.00 to $40.00 per session.
- Location and Contact Information
Alexandria Location:
Monday - Saturday
Phone: (703) 299-9148
Email: [email protected]
Address: GW's Alexandria Graduate Education Center, Suite 250
1925 Ballenger Avenue (Garage Entrance)
413 John Carlyle Street (Street Entrance)
Alexandria, VA 22314
Foggy Bottom Location:
Monday - Thursday
Phone: (202) 994-8645
Email: [email protected]
Address: GW's Graduate School of Education & Human Development
2134 G Street, NW Basement Level
Washington, D.C. 20052
*Enter at the side-walk level entrance on the right side of the building
Non-GW Mental Health Providers
Sterling Group
- General Information
Therapy designed for young adults by counselors who have been in a similar boat. They specialize in:
- ADHD and executive function
- Anxiety and stress
- Boundary setting
- Couples therapy
- Dating and relationships
- Depression
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
- Individual therapy
- LGBTQ+ Affirming therapy
- Life transitions
- Self-discover and identity
- Self-esteem
- Trauma
- Costs
Licensed Therapists: $225 for individuals, $250 for couples. Intake sessions are an additional $25.
Associate Therapists: $200 for individuals, $225 for couples. Intake sessions are an additional $25.
Graduate Therapy Interns: $95 per session. Intake sessions are an additional $5.
EMDR session fees start at $260.
They offer a sliding scale fee on a limited, as-needed basis. Please inquire for more information.
Accept all major credit cards, HSA/FSA accounts, cash, and personal checks. They require a credit card on file to book sessions, and payment is due at the time of service.
The Sterling Group offers courtesy billing to help clients maximize their out-of-network benefits. This means full session fees are paid upfront, and can then file a claim on your behalf, as a courtesy, to have your insurance company reimburse you directly. Reimbursement can rage from 30-80% of session fees. The Client Care Coordinator, Lexi, can instantly check your benefits for you during your phone consultation! Also accept Health Saving Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards for payment.
- Location and Contact Information
Offer online therapy as well as in person therapy in DC at 1200 G Street NW, on the southwest corner side of G Street NW and 12th Street NW.
Email: [email protected]
Call or Text: (202) 964-8495
Arbit Counseling
- General Information
Arbit Counseling is more than a psychotherapy practice; they are a sanctuary of nurturing and transformative care. Their mission is shaped profoundly by their core values of compassion, collaboration, equity, and excellence.
Arbit Counseling offers a variety of services for children, adolescents, adults, relationships, and families. See a list of counseling specialties here. Sensory coaching and psychiatry services are also available.
Both in person and virtual options are available.
- Costs
Arbit Counseling is an “out of network” provider but can provide a monthly receipt for insurance reimbursement. They offer sliding scale fees to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in partnership with the Network for Victim Recovery of DC (NVRDC). Families in need are eligible for reduced fees.
- Location and Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 240.863.2618
Location: 4545 42nd Street Suite #214, Washington, D.C. 20016
The Dorm
- General Information
The Dorm offers in-person Intensive Outpatient Program offers integrative, evidence-based mental health treatment to young adults (18-30) that blends therapy, groups, coaching, health and wellness services and community support.
The strength of the services lies in the unique balance between individualized treatment and the integration of a supportive peer-based community. Find a list of programs here.
There is no minimum length of stay as each client’s treatment is individually tailored to their clinical and life goals. After an initial assessment and engagement, the clinical team will be able to provide an estimate on the recommended duration of treatment at The Dorm.
- Costs
The Dorm Washington, D.C. is in-network with Aetna®, the nation’s largest collegiate healthcare provider.
- Location and Contact Information
At less than a 5 minute walk to Dupont Metro Station, The Dorm, D.C., welcomes clients coming from all corners of the city and beyond.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (877) 996-2326
Address: 1814 N St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
Monday-Friday, 9AM – 7PM
Act Now for Mental Health (ANMH)
- General Information
Provides free telehealth therapy services for young adults ages 17-32 residing in Virginia, Maryland and DC.
ANMH utilizes and trains Master's level graduate students in various therapy treatments including CBT, DBT, ACT, Internal Family Systems, Psychodynamic, Art Therapy, and Trauma Informed Care.
Student therapists have historically been with ANMH from August to May, allowing clients to access services for an average of 36 weeks! On occasion, student therapists will be available for less time, however, all new potential clients are informed of this before they begin services so they may make an informed decision on whether they would like to begin services or wait for a new cohort of interns with greater availability.
ANMH is best suited for individuals who may be struggling with:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Relationship Issues
- Identity Issues
- Life Transitions
ANMH is not best suited to serve those who require:
- Continued inpatient care
- Treatment related to current legal issues
- Consultation for educational planning (e.g., learning disability accommodations)
- Assistance with substance misuse, abuse or dependency
- Psychological evaluation or testing for the purposes of accommodations or special education privileges in schools, or any legal situations, under any circumstance.
ACTNow for Mental Health is offering free, weekly mental health support for and by the queer community. Our support group is open to anyone ages 18 and over nationwide and takes place on Wednesdays at 7PM EDT. They are always accepting sign-ups!
All services are offered virtually on Zoom.
- Costs
Services and support groups are provided at no cost. You do not need insurance – ANMH will not charge you for seeking or receiving mental health care. Having insurance may be helpful if you need to get connected to more acute care outside of ANMH, however, you do not need insurance to talk with a therapist.
- Location and Contact Information
Mental Health Student Groups
- Capital Peers
The vision for the Capital Peers is to be a preeminent group of student leaders who influence and inspire GW students to prioritize health and wellness within themselves and the GW student community. GW Capital Peers are a diverse group of students whose mission is to educate, promote, and inspire GW students to live healthy lives. Through education and outreach on various college student health topics, Capital Peers equip their peers to practice healthy living to help them achieve success in college.
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Student Group
AFSP GW’s goal is to bring together members of GW’s community who share a similar desire to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide. This organization will serve to educate members of the GW community on suicide prevention and awareness, and to build an enduring culture on campus that is conscientious of mental health. AFSP GW will also work to give those affected by suicide a community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP GW will work closely with the AFSP National Capital Area Chapter to foster community engagement and involvement in events around the D.C. area.
- Active Minds
Active Minds GW is a student organization dedicated to fighting mental health stigma through awareness and increasing accessibility for self-care and mental health services for students! Our activities and initiatives look to spread happiness throughout campus. We serve as an advocate for mental health issues that may affect the lives of college students. We empower and support students in times of need and create an anchor for those who feel as if they have nowhere else to turn to. We are an all-inclusive organization open to any student who wants to make a difference in the overall atmosphere of GW.