sTREET SMART BLOCK
Finding a counselor is no small task. Learning how to navigate the world of health care and mental health professionals will feel overwhelming at first. Mastering the skill of finding affordable, quality care is a crucial skill in building a more sustainable future for your generation.
211 works kinda like 911. It is a local call center that connects you with a referral specialist.
211 provides quick information and referrals to health and human services inside of your community
This is a FREE government resource. Available in Canada/United States
Types of Referrals they offer:
They can connect you to resources in your community.
Call your insurance companies main number. Tell them that you are in a desperate state and you need to find a therapist immediately. Prepare yourself to be sent through the ringer. You will be transferred multiple times. You will have to call multiple times – be mentally prepared for that. Keep being honest and vulnerable.
Companies and schools have EAP programs.
If you are employed by a medium to large company they will have a program called “EAP” – ask you supervisor for their number.
Almost every EAP will offer you 3-5 counseling sessions for free.
EAP programs are confidential. The means whatever you discuss with the EAP program remains private, unless theirs a legal obligation to disclose it.
EAP programs are on contract with your HR department. It is an outside resource that your company or school offers to you as a benefit.
Typically available 24/7 through a toll-free number – you just gotta get that number.
I started my counseling journey by going to the 3 free EAP sessions. I ended up staying with that counselor for 2 years. She changed my life.
If the person you get paired with in the EAP program is unable to keep you on as a client – that’s okay. Spend the 3 sessions asking them how to get into a different therapist, they will know how to beat the system better.
This a non-profit organization that connects with you counselors that are offering sessions at a lower rate.
It is $75 for the membership fee.
After you pay the membership fee you will be connected to a large network of therapist. You can see how much they charge, what they specialize in, and if they are taking on new clients.
The highest single session is $80 on OpenPath. Significantly lower than a typical counseling session.
The lowest single session is $30 with an intern
All of their therapist are professionally qualified. If you have complex trauma or have experienced intense trauma – this a great resource to find a more experienced therapist.
Your primary care doctor can give you resources on how to beat the system and get to a therapist. In a perfect world they write you a referral that will get you right in – but this is not always how it happens. They will give you pamphlets and resources that can help you
Search for therapist near your location. You can find their qualifications, phone numbers, and ratings. There is also an “Insurance check” search engine for each therapist. You can input your insurance and find all of the qualifying therapist
A US based company that provides information about physicians, hospitals, and healthcare providers.
Search for therapist near your location.
You can see what type of trauma a therapist specializes in, how much a session is, if they accept insurance, and what kind of counseling they offer.
Psychology Today is an American media organization that lists clinical professionals, psychiatrists, and treatment centers that provide mental health services.
Note: A psychiatrist must pay a pretty penny to be listed on this site. Meaning they are not going to show every therapist.
988 is a suicide and crisis lifeline.
You know those “fees” that are added on to your phone bill? Specifically the FCC fees (federal communications commissions). These fees are distributed to states to support call centers like the “988 Lifeline”
They provide immediate support for people in crisis AND they are trained in connecting you with mental health resources inside of your community.
This is a free resource that can connect you to the help that you are searching for. If you have more questions visit their website. It is a thoughtful website that even lays out what they do and what the phone call will be like.
741741 is a GLOBAL non-profit crisis text line.
Because it is a global organization they are not going to be as equipped to connect you with local resources BUT they are immediate resource that you can use to get through your current crisis.
“I deeply understand the struggle of surviving. I survived the foster care system, homelessness, and even won a court case at 17 that secured the safety of my eleven siblings. This exhaustion and confusion is personal to me. Building this library is my life’s fight“
