CAPS Chat Logo

CAPS Chat provides informal, free, thirty-minute consultations for students with counselors from Penn State Altoona's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). Students can schedule a same-day appointment by calling the Health and Wellness Center at 814-949-5540.

Students can use a CAPS Chat session to discuss specific concerns in a one-on-one environment, learn more about what counseling might be like, understand how to help a friend, de-stigmatize mental health concerns, and get mental health questions answered.

CAPS Chat is not an alternative for formal therapy, crisis services, or severe or longstanding concerns. For these services, students should contact the Health and Wellness Center at 814-949-5540 during normal business hours or consult the Emergency and After Hours Care page on the Health and Wellness site.

Coffee with Kennedy

Looking for some extra support this semester? Schedule a meet-up with Kennedy Morrison, a new mental health counselor based in the Belonging Center, located in room C112 of the Smith Building.

These informal and confidential chats can offer mental health support, solution-focused problem-solving, and resource referrals. Free coffee and tea will be available. Drop-in hours on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays will vary from week to week and will be posted in the Belonging Center.

Email [email protected] with questions.

Additional Resources and Programs

Click on an item below to reveal more information.

General Online Mental Health Screenings are anonymous screenings on several areas of mental health, including depression, anxiety, academic distress, eating concerns, frustration level, family stress, and alcohol use.

When someone close to you has a problem with alcohol or drugs, you may need support.

This is a group of Penn State students helping one another, offered by Penn State Student Affairs. Feel free to drop in.

  • Wednesdays from 12:20–1:10 p.m.
  • 105 Pasquerilla, University Park campus
  • Zoom identification: 460 300 2051

WellTrack Logo

WellTrack Boost is an online therapy platform for managing anxiety and depression. It can be used as a self-help (stand-alone) tool or in conjunction with counseling. WellTrack is HIPPA compliant, easy to use, mobile-friendly, and has a companion app called MoodCheck. It is free to all Penn State students and available on the WellTrack Boost site. Students may also download the app on Google Play or the App Store. Register for an account with your Penn State email address for full access.

WellTrack Boost includes an initial self-assessment as well as structured sections on managing anxiety and depression, which provide tools and resources to deal with these issues, including guided relaxation exercises, simulated situations to deal with specific phobias (including public speaking), and a "Zen Room" to assist with meditation. The Moodcheck app allows students to monitor their mood throughout the day and connect to what influences their mood.

The CAPS Virtual Library includes informative videos about various mental health topics. Some videos serve to inform, validate, and support, while others offer a basic introduction to strategies for coping with specific concerns. Perhaps you have tried some of these strategies before? You can also refer back to these videos for a refresher at any time!

Penn State Counseling and Psychological Services provides short-term individual services. We often refer students with ongoing or chronic conditions to local providers. To find a private practitioner in the local community, visit the Thriving Campus site for Penn State Altoona.

JED foundation logo

The Jed Foundation promotes mental health and suicide prevention with a focus on college students.

Join the Connect community to gain access to more virtual wellness programs!

Go to Connect now.

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