West Alabama Mental Health Center is a regional mental health center located in the Blackbelt area of West Alabama serving Choctaw, Greene, Hale, Marengo, and Sumter counties. WAMHC is a comprehensive community mental health center providing services to people with mental illness, intellectual disabilities, substance abuse and children with serious emotional disorders.
Services Offered
Mental Illness Program
Adult Outpatient
Therapeutic services provided in an outpatient setting to adult individuals within the M-10 catchment area (Hale, Sumter, Choctaw, Greene, and Marengo counties) by mental health clinicians that are assigned to each of the counties. It is the responsibility of staff within each county to provide mental health services to adults who seek the services of the mental health center, as well as individuals who were formerly institutionalized. Within each county, clinicians are expected to provide individual counseling, consultation and education services to the general public, and referral services to other mental health providers when appropriate. Additionally, clinicians may provide diagnostic services to consumers as long as such services fall within their area of training and expertise.
Child & Adolescent Program
Individual, Family and Group Counseling; Consultation; Psychiatric Assessment; Mobile Access for Children's Services (MACS); and Case Management.
Substance Abuse Program
The Outpatient Substance Abuse Program (SAP) at West Alabama Mental Health Center is designed to serve clients who are suffering from substance abuse/addiction as they remain in the community. These services are available to all residents of the M-10 Catchment area who meet admission criteria established for the programs.
Fees and Payment
The Mental Health Center's services are not free. However, fees for Center services are discounted based on family income and number of dependents. Payments from third party payers are accepted.
The Mental Health Center accepts all types of insurance. However, it depends on your individual policy whether your insurance will cover the services the Mental Health Center offers. We will be glad to contact your insurance company for you regarding your coverage.
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.
