Sydney Drug Education and Counselling Centre - SDECC
Sydney Drug Education and Counselling Centre - SDECC
SDECC is a not-for-profit, charitable organisation that specialises in providing free counselling and support for young people aged 12 -25 with problematic alcohol and other drugs (AOD) use, and their families. We have offices in Manly and St Leonards.
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Services Offered
If you are concerned about your drug and/or alcohol use, an SDECC counsellor can support you, wherever you are at. You might not want to make changes to your drug and/ or alcohol use, you might want to reduce your use, or you might want to stop altogether.
It is common for young people concerned about their alcohol and/ or drug use to be experiencing some mental health challenges. SDECC counsellors are trained to help you explore your substance use and mental health at the same time.
Substance use doesn’t just affect an individual, it affects the whole family. As a family inclusive service, SDECC offers support for parents affected by their son or daughter’s alcohol and/or drug use.
Fees and Payment
All services are free of charge.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
Online Counseling: Yes
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
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.