Spring cleaning of the brain.

March 11, 2009 8:23 PM

I need help finding resources for free/cheap therapy in Pittsburgh.

I'm a 23 year old female who suffers on/off from depression, anxiety and pretty much non-existent self-esteem. This past month has been particularly hard and a recent break-up has proven to me that I can't do it on my own.

I'm really not interested in being prescribed something, only in a last-case scenario, but I guess talking to someone won't hurt.

I'm no longer a student (taking time off), I don't have health insurance, and only a part-time job (less than 20hrs a week) but live on my own so I can only do something very very cheap, preferably free.

Also, I'm an atheist, so someone who will tell me to pray, etc. is not going to work well, though I guess I'm not really opposed to something in a church setting.

Oh and I realize I probably wouldn't be able to be seen this week, but I also feel it would be in my best interest to see someone at least next week.

Thanks in advance.

posted by thisisnotkatrina to health & fitness (7 comments total)

If you don't mind being treated by people who haven't quite left academia yet, you can try the Psychology Clinic at Duquesne University for nearly free psychology treatment. They are a specifically catholic university, but I'm friends with one person going there as a psych grad student that is less than faithful, and not just in the "God doesn't let me drink, therefore I do not believe" variety. Best of luck to you, in any case.
posted by ayerarcturus at 8:42 PM on March 11, 2009

Yeah. Check the local schools. They are an excellent resource for this.
posted by Ironmouth at 9:22 PM on March 11, 2009

Oh wow, I didn't even think that colleges would have resources for non-students, that opens up many places. Thank you both!
posted by thisisnotkatrina at 9:39 PM on March 11, 2009

Another good option is to google your county and "department of mental health". This will likely give you a list of 'family services' or 'clinic' type sites with sliding scale fees, which are often staffed by incredibly hardworking, great therapists.
posted by so_gracefully at 9:39 PM on March 11, 2009

Also anyone with further resources, feel free to comment, I'm guessing this will be something I need to stick with for a while so I may need to "shop around."
posted by thisisnotkatrina at 9:40 PM on March 11, 2009

This is my old therapist from Pittsburgh, Rachael Rosen. She doesn't do sliding scale any more, but she's part of a larger practice of therapists, so I would call them and ask if they do anything for clients with financial needs.

Rachael was very attentive and non-religious in her approach, and I expect the rest of her practice is as well. (I had a shrink in Shadyside who was a pastoral counseling sort and that failed to work for my Pagan ass, so I was wary about that sort of thing too.)

If nothing else, their billing folks may know of other options in the Pitt/ CMU area, which may be cheaper due to the preponderance of college kids.
posted by fairytale of los angeles at 10:49 PM on March 11, 2009

i have an appointment with the duquesne university clinic next week. it took them more than a month to fit me in, and i'm in a much better place now, but i've decided to go through with it anyways.

it's a 20$ intake fee and a 1 per 1k$ you make sliding scale, with a max of 10$/session i believe.

thanks again!
posted by thisisnotkatrina at 3:23 PM on May 4, 2009