Uwill is an addition to CAPS services that provides students with video, phone, chat, and message sessions with licensed mental health professionals at no cost. This additional counseling option offers students greater flexibility and allows CAPS to expand its service capacity.
Uwill is a National Association of Student Personnel Administrators Educational Partner.
What is Uwill?
Uwill provides students with access to a therapist of their choice via the mode of their choice - video, phone, chat or messaging. Teletherapy services are available during the day, as well as evenings, weekends, and holidays. Uwill has licensed mental health professionals available in all 50 states and providers in many countries of the world.
This service has been successfully used by other counseling centers, including in the Big 10.
Please see the information below for the situations in which Uwill is a good option for students. Because Uwill teletherapy may not be appropriate for all presenting concerns, please contact CAPS if you have any questions or to determine if Uwill is a good fit for you.
What is available to U-M students?
U-M students have access to six sessions and 180 credits with a Uwill counselor at no cost for students; insurance is not billed, and students can easily request additional free sessions (with the six free sessions renewing on July 1st). Students can:
- Choose a therapist based on their preferences, including issue, gender, language, and race or ethnicity. The student can change their counselor at any time.
- Choose a time that fits with their schedule, with day, night, and weekend availability.
- Choose the appointment mode that is right for them - video, phone, chat, or messaging.
- Use these credits to schedule the following supports: 30-minute video or phone appointment (30credits), 15-minute chat (15 credits), one 2-way message exchange (5 credits).
Who is eligible?
This service is offered at no cost to U-M students regardless of their location. However, licensed counselors are bound to state licensing rules. For example, if a student is seeing a Michigan-licensed counselor while living in the Ann Arbor Area, they may not be able to schedule with the same counselor while they are home in California.
Additionally, during the summer, students must be enrolled in the previous Winter semester and the subsequent Fall semester to utilize Uwill services. (The exception is doctoral students who are considered to be continuously enrolled.)
Who is it for?
Uwill is most appropriate for students whose concerns are a good fit for brief services and whose scheduling needs may not fit with available on-campus services. Uwill may also be an option for students who are enrolled but living outside of the state.
When choosing between CAPS and Uwill services, this may depend on the student's therapist preference, schedule availability, preferred modality (in-person vs. virtual), preference for U-M provider, etc.
When is it not a good fit?
There are some times when on-campus services are a better fit. These include: having thoughts of self-harm or thoughts of harming others, having an ongoing mental health concern, currently experiencing significant disruption in your tasks of daily living, or intense symptoms related to a diagnosed mental health condition, or needing long-term mental health support. Please call CAPS if you are experiencing any of the above.
Currently, Uwill does not provide relationship counseling at this time.
How do I get started?
To access the Uwill platform, visit app.uwill.com. From there, register with a University of Michigan email address. You will soon receive an email confirmation to complete the registration process. After confirming your address, you can select a counselor and schedule an appointment.
A Few Reminders:
- Regardless of enrollment status or where you are physically located, CAPS urgent / crisis services and consultation are available by calling 734-764-8312.
- When CAPS is open, a counselor on duty (COD) is available.
- When CAPS is closed, including breaks and holidays, CAPS After Hours is available (734-764-8312 and Press “0”).
- For additional assistance, Uwill provides 24/7 technical support by email: support@uwill.com or phone: 833.99.Uwill
Do Uwill services offer accommodations and an accessible platform?
The Uwill platform was developed per the UA Rehabilitation Act Section 508, The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and the Epub Accessibility Guidelines. Uwill video appointments occur over Zoom, so students can turn on CART/closed captioning or live transcription during the appointment.
Additionally, Uwill clinicians can complete accommodation requests, including disability and accommodations paperwork required by U-M SAAS, within their clinical scope.