In a 2023 survey, only 40% of college students reported that their institution provided adequate mental health support. As mental health concerns continue to rise on campuses nationwide, students are grappling with increasing pressures from academics, personal challenges, and social stressors. At The George Washington University (GW), the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) team is at the forefront of offering vital support to students, and working with outside partners to bring them the best care. This month, we spoke with Laura Finkelstein, Ph.D., Director of CAPS, about how her team is advancing student mental health and how The Dorm’s programming complements on-campus resources to keep students on track for graduation.
Thank you for your time, Laura!
To get us started, can you share more about what CAPS is at GW and the on-campus services that are offered to support students with their mental health needs?
Laura Finkelstein, Ph.D. (LF): CAPS is the primary mental health clinic on campus, available to all students enrolled in at least one credit. Our team of licensed clinicians helps students tackle a broad range of issues, from roommate conflicts to early symptoms of serious conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We are a part of the student health center on campus, which also has psychiatrists on staff to assist with medication management.
We use a stepped-care model, beginning with an initial consultation through our same-day appointments. During this first meeting, we assess a student’s needs and then tailor our recommendations. Most commonly, this leads to short-term therapy, which includes an hour of therapy per week, however if more is necessary, we are ready to make referrals for long-term options, like The Dorm’s IOP*.
To complement therapy, we also offer a workshop series called “Resilient Minds” and a variety of groups which are adapted based on student population needs. Our most consistent offerings include our Healthy Relationships Group, Grief and Loss Group, and Survivors of Sexual Assault Group, and we also hold support groups for international students, graduate students, and our LGBTQIA+ community. This semester, we also started to run “Chill Skills,” an open group that teaches emotional regulation skills—an in-demand program that has quickly become popular.
Finally, I’ll add that we host many one-off presentations and processing groups, often in response to specific classroom or student group needs. Students, faculty, or staff will reach out and share that their group might be dealing with something and ask if we can process events with them, and we’re always ready to step in to support.
You mentioned that sometimes students need more intensive support than what’s available through CAPS. Can you share what is involved in this decision-making and what this process looks like?
LF: When it comes to supporting students, CAPS offers short-term therapy and some students definitely require more frequent or intensive support than we can provide. To address these high-need cases, we have the Behavioral Intervention Team, where we discuss students who may require additional care. If we’re particularly concerned about a student’s depression, suicidality, or any situation that necessitates more frequent monitoring than our weekly sessions allow, we act quickly. We coordinate with external providers and depending on the severity that may require hospitalization or inpatient care, or a referral to a community-based Partial Hospitalization (PHP) or Intensive Outpatient (IOP)* program like The Dorm.
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In your experience, why is The Dorm a good partner and fit for GW students who might need extra support?
LF: Partnering with The Dorm is a natural fit for us because they truly understand this age group and excel at collaborating with our team. They know what good coordination of care looks like to ensure everyone stays informed. This collaboration allows our team to continue supporting students’ academic needs while they receive extra care. Students and families also appreciate that The Dorm is local, enabling students to stay connected to campus life while being surrounded by peers in a dedicated young adult environment. Now that The Dorm is in-network with Aetna, it’s a real game-changer —they are one of the largest providers of collegiate healthcare. This partnership will make college life and essential mental health support much more accessible to a wider range of students.
How has demand for mental health support changed since you’ve been in this field?
LF: I’ve worked in this field for 14 years, and during that time, I’ve witnessed a significant shift in how students perceive and seek on-campus and off-campus mental health services.
At GW, for instance, we saw a 15% increase in service usage from last year prompting us to hire six additional clinicians. This year is already trending at 18% higher utilization than last year. This rise in utilization stems from both our proactive outreach efforts and a broader cultural shift toward greater openness around mental health. These changes reflect larger societal trends, including the influence of social media platforms like TikTok and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which placed mental health at the forefront of public discussion.
Are there any new or evolving mental health challenges among college students that you’re noticed?
LF: A trend we’re noticing at GW, which is also reflected in national data and news, is the growing number of students reporting symptoms of PTSD and experiences of trauma. While there is no one reason for this, it’s clear that as a society, we have faced—and continue to face—significant trauma from world events and the pandemic, impacting students on many levels.
Another observation, though anecdotal, is an increase in concerns about social anxiety. The pandemic forced many students to adapt to virtual communication, limiting face-to-face interactions during a crucial developmental period. Now those high school students are in university and we see them at GW. This might explain why our “Chill Skills” group, which focuses on teaching emotion regulation and social skills, has been of such interest. Students are actively seeking support in this area, and the program addresses this need in an approachable, low-pressure way.
These are definitely trends we are seeing at The Dorm as well. Before we finish, what do you wish more students and families understood about mental health resources and support before starting their collegiate journey?
LP: I wish more students and families were aware of the variety and breadth of mental health support options available on campus, from workshops and group sessions to individual counseling. At the same time, it’s important to understand the limitations of these services and know that we can help connect them to external partners, like The Dorm, if needed.
I also wish there was more pre-planning for students with pre-existing mental health conditions. We’re seeing more students reaching out earlier in the academic year because they’re struggling and perhaps didn’t anticipate the level of support they would need. College is an exciting time, but it can also be incredibly overwhelming. If you’re already dealing with certain challenges, adjusting to college life can be tough.
If these conversations started in high school or before the academic year began, with plans and support systems in place, more students would begin college from a position of strength. That preparation would and can make all the difference.
Through CAPS, GW is fostering a supportive environment that recognizes the complexity of student experiences. Finkelstein’s insights serve as a reminder of the value of mental health services and the ongoing effort to make support accessible. As she stated, “We can always find the right fit for a student and what they need.”
With evolving programs and a culture that increasingly normalizes mental health care, the future looks promising for students seeking help during their college years both on and off-campus.
Thank you, Laura, for taking this interview and being part of the solution with us. To learn more about CAPS and the work of Laura’s team at GW, please visit their website here. To learn more about The Dorm’s PHP and IOP mental health services in Washington, D.C. please reach out to our team.
*In New York State, The Dorm operates as a Group Practice.
