The Lutheran Counseling Center (LCC) of the New York metropolitan and surrounding area is a (501C-3) nonprofit organization with nine mental health counseling sites that offer hope and healing by providing faith-based individual and family psychotherapy. LCC has licensed professional pastoral counselors, social workers and psychologists from a Christian background.
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Services Offered
Our professional, caring licensed counselors provide counseling for individuals, couples, children and families.
* Individual, couple, children and family counseling * Support groups * Parenting classes * Special programs * Depression/stress screenings * Seminars for churches and schools * In-service trainings for school staff * Ongoing counselor-in-residence at schools * Counselor-in-residence on one-time basis for conventions * Counseling consult for pastors and lay church workers * Conflict intervention for churches and schools * On-site grief counselors when unexpected death or tragedy occurs * Disaster debriefings * Materials and resources on health and healing issues
Fees and Payment
Charges for mental health counseling services are on a sliding-scale depending on income. LCC also provides subsidies for counseling for people who are unable to afford to pay the sliding scale charges through its Silent Samaritan Program which is funded by donors.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual Faith-Based
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
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Qualifying for assistance from New York's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to New York'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.