Student Affairs › Counseling & Psychological Services (CaPS) › Services › Let's Talk

Let's Talk

Let's Talk is a drop-in service that offers an informal, confidential conversation with a CaPS counselor at various campus locations and on Zoom*. Let’s Talk counselors can listen to specific concerns, offer support, help explore solutions, and introduce you to what it’s like to speak with a member of our staff. Let’s Talk is not a substitute for therapy and does not constitute mental health treatment.

Let’s Talk meetings are:

Free for CMU students
Confidential
Typically about 20-25 minutes in length
Offered first-come, first-served (no appointment required)
Informal and not a substitute for therapy
Not intended for urgent concerns or mental health emergencies

Let's Talk Fall 2024 Schedule

Wednesdays & Thursdays, 1-3pm

Campus Map

*Zoom available by request
Zoom ID: 944 6933 5805
Must be signed in with CMU Zoom account

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
28	29	30 Posner 277 & Zoom 1-3pm	31 Hamburg 2108 & Zoom 1-3pm	November 1
4	5	6 ANSYS A11 & Zoom 1-3pm	7 Tepper 4001 & Zoom 1-3pm	8
11	12	13 Doherty 2313 & Zoom 1-3pm	14 Gates-Hillman Center 4007 & Zoom 1-3pm	15
18	19	20 CANCELED	21 CANCELED	22
25	26	27 Thanksgiving	28 Break	29 ---
December 2	3	4 Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion (CUC LL75) & Zoom 1-3pm	5 CANCELED	6 Last Day of Classes
9 Finals Week	10	11 CANCELED	12 CANCELED

Let's Talk Counselors

Abigail Cruz (she/her) is a licensed psychologist and the Let's Talk Coordinator for Counseling and Psychological Services at CMU. She is a Filipino-American child of immigrants and was a first-generation college student. Abigail is passionate about supporting mental health through decreasing stigma, increasing access to care, and using an intersectional and social justice oriented lens in her work. She hopes to empower students to explore, reclaim, and connect with their culture(s) and embrace an identity that is uniquely and authentically theirs.

Kym Jordan-Simmons (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist more than 20 years of experience at multiple university counseling centers. Kym's clinical interests include co-creating space with students for deeper understanding and healing from racial, family and relational trauma; anxiety; and sexual violence as well as supporting students’ meaningful connection with themselves and others. She is passionate about group therapy and co/facilitates groups for Black Women, PhD students, and students diagnosed with chronic illness. Spending time with family and friends, engaging in public service with her sorors, hula hooping, gardening, and narrating audio books is where she often finds joy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Let’s Talk?

Let’s Talk is a program that provides easy access to informal conversations with counselors from CaPS. It is a drop-in service (no appointment required; first-come, first-served) that is free to CMU students.

Who should visit Let’s Talk?

This service is open to all CMU undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Let's Talk is the best fit for the following people:

Students who have never been in counseling before, are not sure if it’s right for them and wonder what it's like to talk with a counselor;
Students who are not interested in ongoing counseling but would like the perspective of a counselor;
Students who have a specific problem and would like to talk it through with someone;
Students who are interested in learning more about what campus resources are available to them and how to access them.

I think I have a problem that would benefit from counseling, but I don't know anything about counseling. Would going to Let's Talk help me figure out what to do?

Absolutely. The Let's Talk counselor will talk through your issue with you and help you determine the best way to get help. If you feel comfortable with the counselor, it is sometimes possible to meet with them at CaPS in an ongoing way.

I scheduled a CaPS appointment for a week from now. Can I stop by Let's Talk in the meantime?

If you believe you need to be seen sooner and you no longer can wait for services, it’s best to call CaPS directly (412-268-2922) and explain your situation. CaPS will help you get into appropriate services as soon as possible which may include getting connected to an outside provider in your area.

I called CaPS and spoke with a counselor. They recommended a referral to an outside counselor. Can I go to Let's Talk instead?

Since regular counseling appointments are not available at Let’s Talk, following up with the referral is a good idea. If you have questions about your referral please contact CaPS.

I'm currently seeing a counselor at CaPS, and I would like to talk with someone sooner than my next appointment. Can I go to Let's Talk?

If your next appointment is not soon enough, it's best to contact your counselor to ask if they can see you sooner.

I'm currently seeing a counselor at CaPS, and I'm not happy with how things are going. Can I go to Let's Talk instead?

The best thing to do in this situation is to talk directly with your counselor. Counselors are eager to get your feedback, positive or negative. Oftentimes, an open conversation about your concern helps smooth out any wrinkles. If, after talking with your counselor, you prefer to transfer to someone else, you can let your counselor know directly or discuss this with your initial consultation counselor or CaPS administrative staff.

What happens at a visit to Let's Talk?

Let's Talk visits are typically 20-25 minutes, and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Usually, there is no wait. During your session, the counselor will listen closely to your concerns and provide support, perspective, and suggestions for resources.

How is Let's Talk different from counseling at CaPS?

Students who access counseling through CAPS schedule appointments to meet with a counselor, and sometimes participate in ongoing counseling through scheduled weekly or bi-weekly appointments.

In contrast, Let's Talk is not formal counseling and is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment. Rather, it is a convenient drop-in service where students can have an informal consultation with a counselor.

Let’s Talk visits are confidential. Are there any limits to confidentiality?

Conversations with Let's Talk counselors are confidential, with a few very rare exceptions. Counselors may need to share information in an emergency when there is an immediate threat of harm to self or others. Counselors are required by law to report when a minor, elderly person, or someone otherwise incapacitated and unable to act on his/her own behalf is being abused.

Let's Talk counselors keep brief written notes of their contacts with students, and in the event that there is an emergency or a student is referred to CaPS, other CaPS staff may see these notes. Finally, these notes can be released in the unlikely event of a court order. Let's Talk visits are never noted on a student's official university record.

We don't want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a Let's Talk counselor.

What else do I need to know?

Although Let's Talk counselors are professionals, Let's Talk is not a substitute for therapy and does not constitute mental health treatment. Let's Talk counselors provide informal consultations to help students with specific problems and to introduce them to what it's like to speak with a counselor. Your Let's Talk counselor can help you determine whether formal counseling at CaPS would be useful for you and, if appropriate, assist you in scheduling an appointment.

Student Affairs