Through its Downtown Oakland location, the Seeds of Awareness ( formerly JFK University Community Counseling Centers (CCC)) extend into Alameda County their mission of making much-needed mental-health services available to disadvantaged segments of the local community. By providing low-cost mental-health care close to home, the Oakland Community Counseling Center gives local residents a viable option for obtaining the care they need at a price they can afford.
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Services Offered
Conducted in both group and private sessions, these explorations involve dealing with issues as wide-ranging as:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Grief
- Post-Traumatic Stress
- Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery
- Youth Issues: Self-esteem, bullying, sexuality, and school-related problems
- Family Issues: Parenting, child-parent conflicts, blended families, violence prevention
- Veterans Issues
- Acculturation
- Life Transitions
- Relationship Poblems
- Spiritual Crises
- Sexual Abuse
- Chronic Pain and Illness
- Sexual Identity (all sexual orientations welcome)
Fees and Payment
Low-fee group sessions also are available.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Payment: Sliding Scale
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.
