The Child Trauma Research Program (CTRP) is a program within the University of California, San Francisco, Department of Psychiatry. In existence since 1996, CTRP is located at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) in the heart of the Mission District. Since 2001, CTRP has been the lead program of the Early Trauma Treatment Network, a center of the federally-funded National Child Traumatic Stress Network.
Our team of multi-cultural, multi-lingual staff is dedicated to helping young children and families who experience traumatic events. We develop and research effective treatment models, provide training across settings and disciplines, and offer direct service to children and their families.
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Services Offered
Our mission is to develop, evaluate, implement, and disseminate science-based, relationship-focused, family-centered, culturally-informed interventions for trauma-exposed young children and their families, starting during pregnancy and through age 5 for children who witness or directly experience violence in their homes or communities; the death of a loved one; or life-threatening accidents, illnesses, or disasters.
We provide mental health services to families from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, with special commitment to low-income ethnic minority families, immigrant groups, and those who might otherwise lack access to services. Treatment is provided free of charge. Bilingual services in Spanish are available.
Qualifying for assistance from California's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to California's program.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.