A non-profit organization serving San Luis Obispo and North Santa Barbara Counties, Transitions-Mental Health Association is dedicated to eliminating stigma and promoting recovery and wellness for people with mental illness through work, housing, community and family support services.
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Services Offered
- The Forensic Re-Entry Services (FRS) Team works with clients who are frequently in-and-out of jail incarceration and link them to community resources with the goals of engaging in mental health treatment and reducing client recidivism back to incarceration settings.
- The Behavioral Health Treatment Court (BHTC) Team is another multidisciplinary team structure made up of a Therapist, Medication Manager, Probation Officer, and TMHA Case Manager who work with probationary clients with mental health issues.
- Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) is a sustained and intensive court-ordered treatment program delivering services in the community for those who are most overcome by the symptoms of severe mental illness. This multi-disciplinary treatment program is only used until a person is well enough to maintain his or her own treatment regimen voluntarily.
- The Homeless Outreach FSP Team (HOT) is a multidisciplinary team of professionals who work within the community to engage homeless individuals struggling with mental health issues and link them to services and supports to address their mental, physical, and social health concerns.
Fees and Payment
Please contact us for fees, payment and how to qualify for our pro bono counseling program
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
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.
