My think-meats hurt. Help me find a shrink.

July 13, 2009 12:20 PM

Short Version: I'm poor and I need therapy in the SF Bay Area.

Long Version: My job provides no benefits. I'm too poor to afford much out-of pocket, but I make too much to get county or state assistance, as near as I can tell. I just lost 15 hours a week, so, YAY! I have free time for some much needed therapy, but I'm also even less able to afford it than I was before.

I've tried finding info online, but my info-finding skills are weak.

So, MetaFilter, have you had any success finding low-cost therapy in the Bay Area? Have you found financial assistance in paying for therapy? Any hints, trick, pointers, advice, or recommendations?

posted by lekvar to health & fitness (8 comments total)

http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/

That is where to find info on low-cost/sliding scale mental health services for all areas in the U.S. -- you can also look at your county's Department of Mental Health. There will be MANY, MANY options in your area. Hopefully this gives you some leads as to how to look for those options. :)
posted by so_gracefully at 12:38 PM on July 13

I used the Marina Counseling Center , which charges on a sliding scale, starting at $25. Couldn't recommend it highly enough.
posted by poissonrouge at 12:46 PM on July 13

I was in exactly the position of knowing I needed therapy but not having insurance or much cash two years ago and went to the New Perspectives Counseling Center. I found a great therapist who started out at $25/hour and went up to $55 when she went to her next level of certification. It's a sliding scale, and while its not free, it's about as reasonable as it gets. I went every week at first and then cut down to every other week when I was a bit more stable to save a little more money.
posted by mostlymartha at 1:10 PM on July 13

The Integral Counseling Center (ICC) in San Francisco also does therapy on a sliding scale. They go as low as 20 a session for those on very low incomes.
posted by waylaid at 1:11 PM on July 13

I've never met a therapist who didn't have a sliding scale. They're out there, I assume, but they are the exception not the norm. Ask the therapist on the phone before you go and if they don't, ask if they know anyone who does. Also worth noting: group therapy tends to be cheaper.
posted by chairface at 2:10 PM on July 13

Sorry to be lazy and not look this up for you, but my break's over, so a couple leads I can quickly suggest you look into are in Berkeley, there's something like an "Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy" that somebody was telling me they'd been going to, and I'd guess they have sliding scale. And I used to walk past something on... Bancroft? Channing? near College Avenue, that trains would-be therapists and definitely has sliding scale options. If these leads are interesting but don't help you actually find the places, memail me and I'll ask around or look at the sign the next time I walk by.
posted by salvia at 3:19 PM on July 13

salvia: The Wright Institute on Durant?
posted by clorox at 12:56 PM on July 14

I just put together a similar list for a friend, so I'll copy-paste it here:

If you're a San Francisco resident, you'll probably qualify for the Healthy SF program - you just need to be making under $54k per year. Healthy SF actually covers mental health. Here's the info from the website:

Mental Health Care

Do you need someone you can talk to? As a Healthy San Francisco participant, you have access to confidential mental health care services, such as counseling for anxiety or help with other emotional problems. This help is available to you through either your Medical Home, or by contacting San Francisco Community Behavioral Health Services at:

* Local Callers: [phone]
* Toll-Free Callers: [phone]

Otherwise, the Mental Health Association of San Francisco has a lot of info.
Specific pages with listings:
http://www.mha-sf.org/assistance/referrals.cfm
http://www.mha-sf.org/assistance/counseling.cfm
http://www.mha-sf.org/assistance/therapists.cfm

And this is the SF Bay Area CBT Center's listing of sliding scale services.
posted by granted at 10:46 AM on July 15