How do you find affordable counseling in your area?

Question

I would like to start seeing a counselor individually, to help with some personal problems i've been having lately.
I am young, live on my own, and obviously, can't afford to pay the average $120 (or more!) an hour...
What are some options for finding affordable counseling?

i don't go to church.
i am not practicing any religion.

Answer 1

Community Mental Health Center

Answer 2

Looking in the phone book under "counseling". You'll find therapists in private practice along with bigger mental health centers. Give them a call and explain what you are looking for. Try a big place first because lots of times they can recommend an excellent therapist for you. By the way, if you have insurance, it should cover your therapy....and if you don't, most therapists will only charge about $75 per session at the most, and they will work out payments with you.

Answer 3

Check with your insurance carrier if there is a mental health option in your policy. Ask for a list of providers in your area. Also ask what a typical co-pay amount is for working with an in-network provider. (provider=professional)

If you don't have insurance, call your local county mental health office; should be able to locate it in the yellow pages of your area phone book. Ask for an application for your eligibility for services. You will have to know your income and what your expenses are. Start saving your paycheck and bill stubs so you can fill out the form acurately when it arrives. Most people don't realize that they DO qualify in many cases for FREE benefits covered by the state.

If you have decided on a particular provider, but you do not qualify for county mental health benefits and you do not have insurance with a mental health option: ask your provider's billing office if there is a "uninsured discount" that they offer. In the physical medical field, it is unlawful to give a discount to one group and not to another. Uninsured ARE a defined group per Medicare guidelines. (basically, they are the government on healthcare.)

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Most forms of psychological counseling are covered under major insurance provider's plans. For instance, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Other than that, you best bet would be to grab a phone book and start dialing. There are numerous free help-lines to help people through rough times.

Answer 5

Most communities or counties have some kind of Out Patient Mental Health Clinic that has a reduced charge. I suggest you start calling around and asking if they have some kind of sliding scale or reduced fee program. I am sure most Mental Health places will be able to give you a name right off.
Good Luck!

Answer 6

Try the phone book or the Chamber of Commerce in your city or town. Most places have some kind of community clinic that will base your payments on your income. If not, try calling a Catholic church, most have counseling available, regardless of you religion. Much Luck to you.

Answer 7

do you have a local college? usually you can get into counselling with an upper level grad student & the cost is much less. (in my area i found one that charges $5-50 per session, much less than a regular cousellor!! and i find that they are still very eager to help people, they still have that "passion" that brought them into counselling in the first place)

also, do an online search for "sliding scale fee counsellor [or therapy] [your city & state]"--you'll have some good results pop up.

Answer 8

Most medical insurance programs cover counseling. Contact your insurance company.

Answer 9

Talk to your priest or pastor.

Also, you may be covered if your employer has an employee assistance contact. Ask HR, they should know.

Merry Christmas. Keep being better than me.

Answer 10

The counceling centers usually go on a sliding wage scale. check with yours.