Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)
The CAPS Office provides confidential personal counseling to CIA students, free of charge. Services include individual counseling or "talk therapy," crisis intervention, support, and educational programs. Our office number is 845-905-4241.
Our office also provides referrals to specialized services off-campus, with coordination of care.
CAPS is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS).
Our office is staffed by licensed therapists who can assist students with personal, social, emotional, and substance-related concerns. Some examples of concerns students bring to counseling are:
- Adjusting to college
- Homesickness
- Relationship matters
- Building coping skills
- Improving self-confidence
- Loss of a loved one
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
Why seek counseling? Our mission is to help students succeed at CIA. We know the fast pace of student schedules and offer solution-focused interventions—such as cognitive-behavioral therapy—that can be beneficial. Even for students who have had prior counseling, we can help design strategies that reduce stress and help you to manage the new challenges of a college environment and deal with problems that arise.
Confidentiality and trust are very important to the counseling process. Therapists abide by New York State laws and professional ethics to ensure that students’ personal information is protected. CAPS visits are not part of a student's academic record.
The CAPS Office is located in the Student Commons, Room 218. Counselors generally work by appointment, in order to set aside sufficient time to talk with students and explore concerns. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Please note that our offices are closed during summer and winter break periods.
Consultations are available for students and parents to plan for a student's support and/ or treatment needs, prior to arriving on campus. Call 845-905-4241 to schedule a telephone consultation. If your son/daughter has been seeing a therapist and/or psychiatrist at home, you can call us to request a confidential consultation with one of the therapists. Or, if you are planning a campus visit, call CAPS in advance to arrange a meeting for you and your son/daughter to discuss the transition to college.
For parents who are sending a minor (under the age of 18) to CIA, please read our online form (available in both English and Spanish) and provide consent for your student to utilize CAPS while he/she is at school. Once your student turns 18 years of age, they will be able to sign their own informed consent and will no longer need a parent’s signature. We find that students benefit from having a confidential counseling service available to them when they need it, so we are providing this form in advance. Feel free to contact us if you have questions. Once filled out, it can be faxed or mailed to our office.
Meet Our Staff
Daria Papalia, PhD
Director
Licensed Psychologist
PhD, MA, University at Buffalo, NY.
BA, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT.
Nancy Bushinsky, LCSW, CASAC
Counselor/Therapist
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor
MSW, Fordham University, Tarrytown, NY.
BS, Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT.
Christie Mueller, LCSW
Counselor/Therapist
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
MSW, University of California, Berkeley.
BA, Bradford College, Haverhill, MA.
David Wapner, PhD
Counselor/Therapist
Licensed Psychologist
PhD, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY.
BA, University at Albany, NY.
Georgianna Chauvin
Administrative Assistant
BA, Saint Joseph College, West Hartford, CT.