Does UC SHIP Cover Therapy? A Guide for UCSB Students
College can be an exciting time, but it can also come with significant stress. Academic pressure, relationships, family dynamics, anxiety, depression, trauma, identity exploration, and uncertainty about the future can all become difficult to manage, especially when several of these challenges happen at the same time.
If you're a student at UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) and have the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), you may be wondering whether your insurance covers therapy and whether you can see a therapist outside of UCSB Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS).
The good news is that UC SHIP includes mental health benefits, and UCSB students may be able to use their insurance to see a therapist in the community.
There is one particularly important step to know about before starting therapy off campus: you generally need a referral from CAPS for your UC SHIP coverage to apply.
Here's what to know about using UC SHIP for therapy.
Does UC SHIP Cover Mental Health Therapy?
Yes. UC SHIP includes coverage for mental and behavioral health services, including outpatient psychotherapy.
Depending on your needs and your specific benefits, therapy may address concerns such as:
Anxiety and chronic stress
Depression
Trauma and post traumatic stress
Relationship difficulties
Grief and loss
Life transitions
Family concerns
Academic stress and burnout
Self esteem
Emotional regulation
Your exact coverage depends on your current benefits, the provider you see, and the type of service you receive.
Because insurance benefits and requirements can change, it is always a good idea to confirm your current UC SHIP benefits before beginning treatment.
Can UCSB Students See a Therapist Outside of CAPS?
Yes. While UCSB Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) provides mental health services on campus, students can also receive therapy from community providers.
Working with an off campus therapist may be a good option if you're looking for:
Ongoing or longer term therapy
A particular therapeutic approach
A therapist with experience in a specific area
Consistent weekly appointments
Trauma focused treatment
A therapeutic relationship that can continue over a longer period of time
UCSB specifically identifies community therapy as an option for students seeking consistent, longer term individual therapy.
Do I Need a CAPS Referral to Use UC SHIP for Therapy?
Yes. If you have UC SHIP and want to see an off campus behavioral health provider, getting the appropriate referral is an important step before beginning services.
UCSB states that students with UC SHIP must receive a referral from CAPS before beginning services with an off campus behavioral health provider. Without the required referral, your care may not be covered by UC SHIP.
Fortunately, getting a referral does not necessarily mean you need to start therapy at CAPS first.
One option is to schedule a Brief Assessment with CAPS. During the assessment, a CAPS clinician can discuss what you are looking for, help identify community therapists who may be appropriate for your needs, and provide the referral needed to use your UC SHIP benefits.
If you already know that you want to see a community therapist, UCSB states that you can also bypass the Brief Assessment and request a referral directly from CAPS.
This means you can find a therapist who accepts UC SHIP, request the necessary referral from CAPS, and then begin the process of scheduling with that therapist.
It is important to obtain the referral before beginning off campus therapy so that you do not unexpectedly discover that your sessions are not covered.
What Does Therapy Cost With UC SHIP?
Your out of pocket cost depends on your current UC SHIP benefits and the type of care you receive.
UCSB CAPS currently states that long term individual therapy with a community provider through UC SHIP has a $0 copay. Insurance benefits can change, however, so students should verify their current coverage before beginning treatment.
Before scheduling your first appointment, you can ask the therapist or practice whether they accept UC SHIP and whether they can help you understand the insurance information needed to begin services.
You can also confirm your benefits directly through UC SHIP.
What If I'm Looking for Trauma Therapy or EMDR?
Some students seek therapy because they recognize that current anxiety, relationship difficulties, or emotional reactions may be connected to previous experiences.
Trauma doesn't always look like constantly thinking about a specific event. It can sometimes show up as feeling overwhelmed, shutting down during conflict, avoiding certain situations, experiencing intense emotional reactions, or feeling as though your body remains on alert even when you know you're safe.
One treatment option is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy.
EMDR is a structured psychotherapy approach used to treat trauma and other distressing experiences. Rather than relying exclusively on talking through an experience repeatedly, EMDR uses specific procedures designed to help process distressing memories and reduce the intensity associated with them.
Not everyone who comes to therapy needs EMDR, and trauma therapy should not follow a one size fits all approach. A therapist can help determine which treatment approach makes sense based on your experiences, symptoms, and goals.
Finding a Therapist Near UCSB
For students living in Isla Vista, Goleta, or Santa Barbara, location can make a significant difference in whether therapy realistically fits into an already busy schedule.
When looking for a therapist, consider more than whether they have an office nearby. You may want to ask:
Do they accept UC SHIP?
Do they work regularly with college students?
Do they have experience with the concerns I want help with?
Do they offer in person therapy, telehealth, or both?
What therapeutic approaches do they use?
Do I feel comfortable talking with this person?
The last question matters. The therapeutic relationship is an important part of successful psychotherapy. Finding someone you feel comfortable with may take some time, and it is reasonable to ask questions before deciding whether a therapist feels like a good fit.
Therapy for UCSB Students at Rise Healing Center
Rise Healing Center provides therapy for adults and college students in the Santa Barbara area, including UCSB students.
Our therapists work with concerns including anxiety, trauma, relationships, life transitions, stress, and other challenges that can arise during college and young adulthood. Our approach is individualized rather than based on the assumption that one type of therapy works for everyone.
Depending on the therapist and your treatment needs, therapy may incorporate approaches such as EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, attachment based therapy, parts work, and somatic approaches.
Rise Healing Center accepts UC SHIP with eligible providers, allowing many UCSB students to use their insurance benefits for therapy with our practice.
Before beginning services, students using UC SHIP should obtain the appropriate CAPS referral so their insurance coverage is in place.
Looking for a Therapist as a UCSB Student?
You don't have to wait until things become unmanageable to start therapy.
Whether you're dealing with anxiety, trauma, relationship difficulties, academic stress, a major transition, or simply recognize that something in your life isn't working the way you'd like it to, therapy can provide a place to better understand what's happening and work toward meaningful change.
Contact Rise Healing Center to learn more about therapy for UCSB students, current therapist availability, and using UC SHIP for mental health services.
Insurance benefits and referral requirements can change. Coverage is subject to eligibility, plan requirements, and the terms of your individual insurance plan. Students should confirm their current benefits and referral requirements with UCSB CAPS or UC SHIP before beginning services.