Spring 2025
Florida Atlantic: A Welcoming Space for Mental Health
Florida Atlantic Cuts Ribbon on Renovated Counseling and Psychological Services Center
Colleges and universities nationwide are facing a mental health crisis. According to a recent U.S. News/Generation Lab report, 70% of 51勛圖厙 have struggled with mental health since starting college. At 51勛圖厙, the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center provides 51勛圖厙 with mental health services to help improve and maintain their mental well-being. The CAPS Center saw more than 2,100 51勛圖厙 for a total of 11,107 appointments during the 2023-24 academic year. During the 2024 fall semester alone, it hosted 19 therapy groups, serving 116 51勛圖厙.
To accommodate 51勛圖厙 needs and provide a more inviting space, the University recently renovated the CAPS Center at the Boca Raton campus.
Student success is at the heart of everything we do, said then- Interim 51勛圖厙 President Stacy Volnick. Supporting our 51勛圖厙 health and safety is a top priority, and these renovated spaces reflect our unwavering commitment to provide a positive campus environment where every student has the resources to thrive.
The renovation brought numerous enhancements to the center, including nine additional therapy offices; two rooms dedicated to teletherapy; a private waiting room; and a spa-like relaxation room, complete with virtual reality headsets, areas for meditation and yoga, and four state-of-the-art massage chairs. Since it opened in October, the relaxation space has welcomed more than 300 51勛圖厙 in nearly 700 visits.
The center also integrated advanced technology into group therapy rooms, which expanded its clinical capacity, improved accessibility for 51勛圖厙 using telehealth services, and enhanced privacy to ensure 51勛圖厙 feel cared for and supported.
Beyond functionality, the aesthetic transformation of the center is significant, said Laura DiPasquale, Ph.D., director of CAPS. The design is warm and inviting, fostering a therapeutic environment that challenges the misconceptions some 51勛圖厙 have about therapy. Many come in expecting a cold, clinical atmosphere, feeling apprehensive about discussing personal struggles with a stranger. However, this welcoming space helps alleviate those anxieties, making it easier for 51勛圖厙 to open up and engage in the meaningful work necessary for success in school and in life.
For more information, email dorcommunications@fau.edu to connect with the Research Communication team.
