Family Service Agency (FSA) provides hope, strength and stability to Santa Barbara County children, families and seniors.
You May Also Consider (Sponsored)
Quick Start Online Therapy: Tell Us a Little About Yourself and Get Matched With a Therapist Right for You
Take a simple guided quiz and let us know your preferences. Get matched to an online therapist right for you. Convenient and affordable online therapy from your phone, tablet or computer.
Have you been in therapy before?
Services Offered
Youth & Family Behavioral Health - FSA provides a wide array of mental health counseling services for children, youth, adults and families. These services result in positive, long-term improvements for overall quality of life, decreasing the likelihood of high-risk behaviors, and for students, improving academic success. Youth and Family Behavioral Health counseling professionals specialize in childhood issues including anxiety, depression, and behavior problems. FSA staff utilize play therapy methods when working with younger children.
Our Drug & Alcohol Treatment program in Santa Maria supports adolescents and their families through counseling, treatment, training and interventions. For families facing difficult issues like substance abuse or neglect, our Intensive In-Home Therapy team is specially trained in non-traditional counseling practices. Our goal is to prevent out of home placement such as juvenile hall and foster care.
School Counseling Services - Compassion Centers and Counseling are available for students at Santa Barbara High, Santa Barbara Jr. High, Cleveland and Cold Springs schools. If your student needs support, please encourage them to go to speak to their teacher or counselor. FSA's School-Based Counseling program delivers therapy, case management, home visits and critical incident response services. Available at K-12 school campuses in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Lompoc, our program provides a convenient, familiar and safe environment for children, adolescents and their families. The Intensive In-School Counseling program assists students with severe mental health needs. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists work collaboratively with school staff to provide parent education and individual, family and group counseling.
Senior Services - Family Service Agency offers older adults, age 60 plus, the tools they need to live meaningful, independent and healthy lives. Our Senior Mental Health services provide individual, family and couples counseling with an emphasis on direct, solution-oriented treatment strategies and well-defined therapeutic goals. FSA's Caregiver Mental Health & Support services help caregivers recognize, embrace and manage their role as a caregiver through individual, family and/or group counseling.
Youth Drug & Alcohol Treatment - Since 2002, the Santa Maria Alcohol and Drug Treatment Program has served adolescents and young adults struggling with substance abuse. We serve the whole family, engaging parents and guardians, as the youth journeys through the recovery process. Depending on medical necessity, teenagers may participate in either a three- or a six-month program. All youth new to the program will attend four individual sessions the first month, and as many as four group sessions per week. Treatment providers are certified Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Counselors, or registered interns working toward certification. Our staff forms strong relationships with the youth, allowing us to provide treatment that addresses family dynamics and needs. As evidenced by weekly drug tests, youth involved in our program stop using alcohol and drugs, learn healthier coping skills, and gain improved self-confidence.
Fees and Payment
At FSA, all services are provided free or on a sliding fee/donation scale and no one is denied assistance because of an inability to pay.
This is a non profit agency.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
Qualifying for assistance from California's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to California'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.
