Family & Children's Service of Ithaca, is a leading provider of mental health care and related social services for people of all ages in Ithaca and surrounding towns and villages. Our dedicated staff help to heal traumatized and hurting children, strengthen individuals and families, and provide hope and recovery for those battling mental illness.
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Services Offered
Children and Families
F&CS is the place to turn when your child's problems seem too overwhelming to handle alone. Our clinical program offers high-quality, trauma-informed counseling services in a warm and caring environment. Counseling Services for Children & Families may include: - Assessment & treatment - Crisis management - Family & individual therapy - Play & creative arts therapy - Psycho-education
Counseling Services will often respond to issues related to: - Abuse, neglect & trauma - Anxiety, Depression & Stress - Attachment, grief & loss - Parent & child relationships - Separation & divorce
Students and Teens
Many teens struggle as their mind and bodies change, or after being given greater independence. Support from an F&CS therapist can help you and your teen gain a clearer perspective.
COUNSELING SERVICES FOR TEENS & STUDENTS WILL OFTEN RESPOND TO ISSUES RELATED TO: - Alcohol, drug use and/or experimentation - Bullying and/or social isolation - Depression and/or anxiety - Difficulty with loss or other life transitions - Gender identify and/or LGBTQ issues - Onset of mental illness - Relationship concerns and/or sex choices - Unhealthy body image social media habits
Adults
F&CS is the place to turn when your problems seem too overwhelming to handle alone. Our clinical program offers high-quality, professional counseling services in a warm and caring environment.
Counseling Services for Adults often respond to issues related to: - Anxiety, depression & stress - Drug use, alcohol & addiction - Grief, loss, separation & divorce - PTSD & other past traumatic life experiences - Step-parenting, blended families & relationship conflict
Fees and Payment
This is a non-profit agency. Fees for service are reimbursable through Medicaid, Medicare, and private health insurance. This practice serves all patients regardless of ability to pay. Discounts for essential services are offered based on family size and income. We do so through generous support from the United Way support and private individual and corporate donations.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
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One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
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.