A lot of staff changes have been made this year to the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) here at the University of Hartford.

Dave Albert was CAPS Director from 2007-2013. This past summer, Albert took a job at the University of Chicago. Though UHa was sad to see him go, Student Affairs administration is proud to note that UHa staff is being recognized all over the country for their excellent service.

Nicholas Pinkerton is the Interim Director for CAPS. He has been working in CAPS since 2010 and also teaches doctoral level courses at UHa on group therapy and foundational skills in clinical practice.

Pinkerton obtained both his doctoral and master’s degrees from the UHa Graduate Institute of Professional Psychology. He has trained at the counseling centers at Northwestern University, Eastern Conn. State College and Conn. College.

Of UHa’s counseling services, he says, “I am proud to say that the vast majority of students who receive services at CAPS report that their experience is positive and helpful in allowing them to achieve their personal goals, reduce their distress, and successfully stay in college.”

Two staff members, Stephanie Field and Sarah Hewes, started working in CAPS in September.

Field, like Pinkerton, received her master’s and doctoral degrees in Psychology at UHa. Since then she has worked at Conn. Valley/River Valley Services, the Institute of Living, Blue Hills Substance Abuse Services, Cedarcrest Hospital and the Middlesex Hospital for Behavioral Health.

She also served as the Legislative Fellow for the Conn. Psychological Association two years before joining CAPS. While working at UHa she continues to advocate a strong role of psychologists on both a state and national level.

Field has provided outpatient treatment of anxiety disorders and neuropsychological assessment of schizophrenia in the past. Her area of specialty in CAPS is alcohol and other drugs, a position that was added  to the department this year through Foundation of the Future.

Hewes, on the other hand, has a real interest in eating disorders and athletic performance. She is a licensed counselor in Conn. and Mass. and is currently in the process of completing her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami.

Before coming to UHa, Hewes had experience working at the University of Miami,  Northeastern University, Simons College, Barry University, Augusta State University and the Carson Center for Adults and Families in Westfield, Mass. She also completed research at Yale University’s Medical School.

Pinkerton noted the joys of working in CAPS. “I know that I speak for everyone at CAPS when I say how honored we feel to have the opportunity to work with so many wonderful students, staff, and faculty at the University of Hartford,” he said.

The various types of counseling that CAPS provides for the students range from individual counseling to group counseling to couples counseling for students who have relationship issues that need to be sorted out.

CAPS is located in Gengras Student Union room 313. Students can make appointments for free and all counseling is confidential. Psychologists are in the office Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.