The Gulf Coast Mental Health Center's objective is to promote better living for all citizens of Region XIII through mental health education, evaluation, and treatment.
Services Offered
Adult Outpatient Services - In outpatient care, the aim is to provide the professional services most suitable for the individual and to do so as quickly as possible. The therapist and client collaborate on the type of services to be provided.
Children/Adolescent Services - Recognizing that the overall adjustment for children involves the family, the school, and peer relationships, the Center has a specially trained, multi-disciplinary staff to provide a full range of services for children with adjustment, behavioral, and learning problems. Specialized services are also available for children and the families of children who are victims of sexual abuse.
Substance Abuse Services - Trained substance abuse professionals provide clinical treatment for alcohol and drug problems through a number of program components, to include: outpatient therapy, offering both individual and group treatment; an intensive outpatient program, which meets three nights a weeks for 12 weeks, followed by nine months of continuing outpatient individual and group therapy; a drug court partnership with the Second Circuit Court District; intensive chemical dependency therapy, which includes a four-week residential treatment program followed by 11 months of continuing outpatient care; and, for multiple-DUI offenders, a 20 hour State Certified program, consisting of assessment followed by individual and group therapy. Prevention services are also provided to local schools and community groups. The Substance Abuse Program combines the AA/NA model with psychotherapeutic techniques.
Fees and Payment
The fee for services is set at the time of the first appointment and usually is established according to a sliding scale that considers family size and income. Most all major insurance plans cover our services. For some specialized program activities, there is a standard rate not affected by the sliding fee scale.
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.
