Timely mental health treatment that’s tailored to support your lifestyle and your unique needs as a college student is more accessible than you might think. Students in California can access Virtual Services with no waiting period through UC SHIP. Lightfully’s Virtual Day Program (vPHP) and Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP) offer comprehensive treatment that works around your class schedule. 

Whatever symptoms and challenges you’re dealing with, you don’t have to face them alone. In this article, we’ll explain how UC SHIP helps students like you get immediate access to mental health treatment.

What is UC SHIP and how does it work? 

UC SHIP is an affordable health care plan available to UC students and their eligible dependents. UC SHIP covers medical, pharmacy, dental, vision, and mental health and substance use services. Some plans have a deductible, and some don’t. Once you pay this amount for services, you’ll pay a percentage, called coinsurance. When you’ve met your out-of-pocket maximum, your treatments for the rest of the calendar year will be covered at 100%. You can view your plan details and benefits in the Sydney Health app. 

Lightfully programs vs. traditional campus counseling

Most campus counseling services are limited to weekly one-hour sessions. You’re limited to the staff that’s available, which means you may not end up with a counselor who’s a great fit. It also means you may have to be placed on a waiting list for several weeks. With Lightfully, you have access to our network of licensed clinicians at several locations in the state of California. We’ll match you with licensed clinicians with the experience and cultural sensitivity to support you effectively.

Our programs go beyond traditional outpatient therapy — we combine individual treatment with group and family therapy sessions. Our licensed clinicians use an approach called Precision Care Model (PCM) to create treatment plans for the whole person using evidence-based modalities. We make mental health conversations approachable and relevant. You’ll work on skills for managing your thoughts, emotions, behaviors and relationships.

Levels of care available to UC students

At Lightfully, wee offer two levels of virtual services and in-person Residential Treatment, as needed. All programs include a personalized treatment plan, and a Short-Term option is available at all levels.

Here’s a bit more about each level of care: 

• Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP) — vIOP is the middle ground between outpatient therapy and higher levels of care. You’ll attend treatment for three to six hours a day, up to five days a week. This level gives you plenty of time to practice your new skills in your school and home environments.
• Virtual Partial Hospitalization Program (vPHP) — vPHP is our Virtual Day Treatment Program. It includes five full days of treatment, including therapy and psychiatry, each week. It’s helpful for students who have difficulty with everyday self-care tasks due to mental distress. Most students will attend vPHP first and then taper down to vIOP before transitioning to outpatient therapy.
• Residential Treatment (RTC) — RTC is helpful for recovering after a mental health crisis, especially for students whose symptoms are significantly affecting their ability to function. Our residences are peaceful, private homelike environments where you can focus on your mental health.
• Short-Term Option — You can make the best use of breaks from school or avoid missing too much class time with our Short-Term Option. Attend any level of treatment for two weeks and create a plan to transition to a lower level of treatment. This is a flexible option for students seeking intensive care without long-term commitment.

Your next steps: How to access Lightfully services through UC SHIP

When you’re struggling, navigating care can feel overwhelming — especially on top of college life. We’ve made the process of starting treatment as simple as possible for students using UC SHIP. We provide immediate access to mental health treatment instead of waiting weeks for traditional campus counseling appointments. Our Admissions Concierge Team is here to help you through the process. Learn more about the partnership or visit myucship.org for assistance with your insurance.

These are the steps you’ll need to take to get started with treatment at Lightfully:

1. Find your UC SHIP coverage information (precertification may be required for some services).
2. Reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team to schedule an assessment.
3. Take an in-depth assessment with a licensed clinician.
4. Discuss and finalize your treatment plan with your Lightfully clinician.
5. Confirm insurance coverage and budget for your care costs.
6. Begin treatment.

Ready to start exploring your UC SHIP options? We can help. Reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team or contact us with any questions.