Institute for Multicultural Counseling & Education Services (IMCES)
Institute for Multicultural Counseling & Education Services (IMCES)
IMCES is a nonprofit community clinic that is structured to provide clinical services, as well as clinical training and education. IMCES provides integrative mental health, primary care, substance abuse, and social services to help people of all ages, ethnicities, and cultures. Dr. Pir, based on our mission and philosophy, led the institute to become one of the few unique outpatient community clinics designed specifically to treat the varied needs of the underserved, culturally and linguistically diverse communities of Los Angeles.
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Services Offered
Adult Services
Our mental health services for adults include initial and on-going assessment, treatment planning, employment assessment, social advocacy services, life skills training, and group interventions. A reduction or resolution of symptoms or problems enables our clients to gain and maintain employment and appropriate housing and to live more fulfilling lives. IMCES's adult mental health services are contracted through the Department of Mental Health.
Children & Family Services
The Family Preservation Program is a broad, integrated, community-based, in-home program. The goal of the program is to increase safety, permanency, and the well-being of children. IMCES works with courts and the Department of Child and Family Services, ensuring protection of the child while keeping the family unit intact. Once at IMCES, families engage in a process of self-discovery and education, empowering individual family members to identify and resolve problems early and safely. Amongst the services included are mentoring, parenting training, in-home counseling, psychiatric assessment, multi-disciplinary case planning, family-specific referrals, and 24-hour crisis response.
Fees and Payment
This is a non profit agency.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare Medicaid
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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.