Community-Based Counseling: Let's Talk
Our Community-Based Counseling is based on a model known as a “Meso Practice.” It’s a midpoint between a micro (individual) and a macro (public health) approach to providing mental health treatment.
In Community-Based Counseling, CAPS counselors are placed within departments, professional schools, and cultural centers throughout campus at set days and times. By embedding themselves in these spaces, counselors are able to build relationships, familiarity, comfort, and trust with the students, staff, and faculty within the community.
Community-Based Counselors can provide:
- Initial connection to CAPS services, including support and/or therapy based on an individualized action plan as well as referrals to other services
- Tailored workshops, group therapy, retreats and presentations
- Specialized assistance with critical incident response
- Consultations with concerned staff or faculty
- An assessment of that community’s needs
- Guidance and assistance with departmental guidelines and efforts focused on wellness
Let’s Talk
Let’s Talk is also available in-person or by phone. Conversations with CAPS counselors are private and confidential.
To schedule an appointment, call 848-932-7884 and choose option 2
“Let’s Talk” was developed by Cornell University’s, Gannett Health Services
Spring 2025 Hours Let’s Talk is currently, by drop in or by appointment, being offered at the following times and locations. Please note that drop in times might be filled, so consider making an appointment. Please call 848-932-7884, press #2 to schedule an appointment.
*Students dropping in must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the end of Let’s Talk Hours.*
Specialty: Students Connected to Rutgers Global - International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
Community Based Counselor: Mei-Ling Cheng, LPC
Day/Time: Mondays 2 pm – 4 pm until February 3 then Mondays 10-12 starting February 10, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: 180 College Avenue, College Ave Campus
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/91900564338?pwd=bMPKXajEW97smCcbBupd2hJJVfy664.1
Specialty: Students Connected to Honor’s College
Community Based Counselor: Shan Reeves, LCSW
Day/Time: Mondays 2 pm – 4 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: Honors College, 5 Seminary Place, First Fl., Room E125, College Ave Campus
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/96287469357?pwd=B72NB5IMK6zCSnXbYW8dYWbZhfGzuz.1
Specialty: Students Connected to School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS)
Community Based Counselor: Jessica Trusiani, LCSW
Day/Time: Mondays 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: Martin Hall, 88 Lipman Drive, Room 010B, Cook/Douglass Campus
Link: The Zoom link will be provided for virtual Let’s Talk appointments via secure message in the Student Health Portal.
Call 848-932-7884, option #2 to schedule an appointment.
*Students dropping in must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the end of Let’s Talk Hours.*
Specialty: Students Connected to Mason Gross School of the Arts (Downtown)
Community Based Counselor: Kia Alexander, LCSW
Day/Time: Tuesdays, 10 am – 12 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: 33 Livingston Avenue, Civic Square Building, Room 239, Downtown New Brunswick
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/91051549315?pwd=A9UvnXHZBLrHPWD8guWoGicEj9FDRf.1
Specialty: Students Connected to School of Engineering (SOE)
Community Based Counselor: Dana Simons, LPC
Day/Time: Tuesdays from 10 am – 12 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: Biomedical Engineering Building (BME), Reading Room 130A, 599 Taylor Road, Busch Campus
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/99204936276?pwd=ra7be7mH7i4xVU8pi3jEA0wn9Ob9QW.1 (Password: 501838)
Specialty: Students Connected to Asian American Cultural Center (AACC)
Community Based Counselor: Mei-Ling Cheng, LPC
Day/Time: Tuesdays 1 pm – 3 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: 49 Joyce Kilmer Ave, Livingston Campus
. Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/91900564338?pwd=bMPKXajEW97smCcbBupd2hJJVfy664.1Specialty: Students Connected to Mason Gross School of the Arts (Cook/Douglass)
Community Based Counselor: Reyna Dowling, LCSW, LCADC
Day/Time: Tuesdays at 1 pm – 3 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: Art History Hall, Room 212, 4 Chapel Drive, Douglass Campus
Link: The Zoom link will be provided for virtual Let’s Talk appointments via secure message in the Student Health Portal.
Call 848-932-7884, option #2 to schedule an appointment.
Specialty: Students Connected to Douglass Residential College (DRC)
Community Based Counselor: Wil Vargas, LCSW
Day/Time: Tuesday 1pm – 3pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: Willets in Jameson Apartments, 11 Suydam Street, 1st Floor Room 103, Douglass Campus, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (Entrance is inside the courtyard of Jameson Hall.)
Link: The Zoom link will be provided for virtual Let’s Talk appointments via secure message in the Student Health Portal.
Call 848-932-7884, option #2 to schedule an appointment.
Specialty: Students Connected to The Center for Latino Arts and Culture (CLAC)
Community Based Counselor: Dominique Paz, LSW
Day/Time: Tuesdays 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: 172 College Avenue, College Ave Campus
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/91099537276?pwd=Z7j9yILxeu1FToOQVBaC0rRwcIzwrQ.1
Specialty: Students Connected to School of Arts and Sciences, EOF Program
Community Based Counselor: Dominique Paz, LSW
Day/Time: Wednesdays 2 pm – 4 pm – TELEHEALTH ONLY
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/95877313155?pwd=HKOzSl0dEfeHkoaAyrWihkyA6Co8Tk.1
*Students dropping in must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the end of Let’s Talk Hours.*
Specialty: Students Connected to Paul Robeson Cultural Center (PRCC)
Community Based Counselor: Kia Alexander, LCSW
Day/Time: Thursdays, 10 am – 12 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: 600 Bartholomew Road, Busch Campus
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/97523072211?pwd=Nj59Bh1pywutCTqsHaRyUKUZbDsTYA.1
Specialty: Students Connected to Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences
Community Based Counselor: Dana Simons, LPC
Day/Time: Thursdays from 10 am – 12 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine (CABM) Building, 679 Hoes Lane West, Room 240, Busch Campus
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/99204936276?pwd=ra7be7mH7i4xVU8pi3jEA0wn9Ob9QW.1 (Password: 501838)
Specialty: Students Connected to Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy
Community Based Counselor: Reyna Dowling, LCSW, LCADC
Day/Time: Thursdays at 1 pm – 3 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Room 108, Busch Campus, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Link: The Zoom link will be provided for virtual Let’s Talk appointments via secure message in the Student Health Portal. Call 848-932-7884, option #2 to schedule an appointment.
Specialty: Students Connected to Center for Social Justice and LGBT Communities (SJE)
Community Based Counselor: Wil Vargas, LCSW
Day/Time: Thursdays 1pm – 3pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: 17 Bartlett Street, College Ave Campus, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Link: The Zoom link will be provided for virtual Let’s Talk appointments via secure message in the Student Health Portal.
Call 848-932-7884, option #2 to schedule an appointment.
Specialty: Students Connected to School of Graduates Studies
Community Based Counselor: Shan Reeves, LCSW
Day/Time: Thursdays 2 pm – 3 pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: Chemistry Building, 123 Bevier Rd, Room 2105, Busch Campus
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/98156379094?pwd=R3pUZk5xVFN0Q0FnbmFML0pTaElCdz09
Specialty: Students Connected to School of Business (SOB)
Community Based Counselor: Jessica Trusiani, LCSW
Day/Time: Thursdays from 2pm – 4pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: North Tower, Room 5008, 100 Rockafeller Road, Livingston Campus
Link: The Zoom link will be provided for virtual Let’s Talk appointments via secure message in the Student Health Portal.
Call 848-932-7884, option #2 to schedule an appointment.
*Students dropping in must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the end of Let’s Talk Hours.*
Specialty: Students Connected to School of Graduates Studies
Community Based Counselor: Shan Reeves, LCSW
Day/Time: Fridays 11am – 12pm, IN PERSON OR TELEHEALTH
Location: West Academic Building, 15 Seminary Place, Room 5050, College Ave Campus, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Link: https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/99964889730?pwd=MGdoTlI5M1hDcmdxQ2lpVzloWndmdz09
