Washington County Mental Health Services (WCMHS) is designated by Vermont Statute to provide a wide variety of support and treatment opportunities for children, adolescents, families, and adults living with the challenges of mental illness, emotional and behavioral issues, and developmental disabilities. These services are both office and community-based through outreach. The range of services offered includes prevention and wellness, assessment and stabilization, and 24 hours a day, 7 days a week emergency response. WCMHS is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit Community Mental Health Center.
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Services Offered
Adult Mental Health
WCMHS provides a full continuum of quality care to adults in the community who are experiencing stressors of daily life, acute emotional distress, serious and persistent mental illness, and co-occurring substance use disorders. This support is offered through both outpatient and community-based services that is tailored to each adult's needs. Adult Mental Health Services at WCMHS includes the Community Support Program, Outpatient Services (through the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services) and Crisis Services.
Counseling Services
Counseling Services include both individual and group counseling. These services focus on assisting individuals in working on life goals and challenges as well as strategies for coping with symptoms and stressors. Specialized area of focus include: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and group support for individuals with both mental illness and substance abuse or dependence.
Psychological Services
The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services provides outpatient services for adults and children. Outpatient staff is committed to working with people throughout their lifespan in times of severe challenges as well as through the stressors of daily living. Individual, couples, family, and group therapies, assessments, service coordination and community supports are offered in a variety of treatment approaches focused on meeting the client's needs. Services are offered both in the community and office.
Crisis Services
Mental Health Crisis Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Emergency Services Team can be reached at (802) 229-0591. The Emergency Services Team is a 24 hours, 7 days a week crisis intervention and assessment program covering all of Washington County and the towns of Orange, Williamstown and Washington in Orange County.
Fees and Payment
You need to be Medicaid eligible. WCMHS can help you apply for Medicaid, if you do not have it in place, and will work with you to access the services you may need. We are a non profit organization.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
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Qualifying for assistance from Vermont's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to Vermont'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.