- Home
- California
- Orange
- Chapman University Frances L. Smith Community Clinic

Each year we grant Top Non-Profit Badges to agencies based on these criteria:
- Consistently accepting clients
- Offering a wide range of services e.g. marriage counseling and child counseling as reported by our users.
- Our users reporting affordable services.
Our aim is to guide our users to agencies most likely to be able to help. In addition to the above criteria we also exercise editorial discretion with our choice based upon our experience. We take our responsibility and objectivity seriously. We don't accept any form of payment from providers for this honor.
Accepting new clients (reported by our users)
Chapman University Frances L. Smith Community Clinic
Established in 1968 by faculty and students concerned about helping families and individuals affected by the Vietnam War, the Frances Smith Center for Individual and Family Therapy (also known as the Chapman University Community Clinic) has grown into a well-respected training facility offering psychological treatment services to the local community.
The Center operates as a non-profit clinic for individuals, couples, families, and children. The dual mission of the Center is to provide high quality and affordable mental health services to the local community and to provide an excellent training and research environment to the graduate students in the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at Chapman University.
At the Center, therapists treat a wide range of issues which include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Adult survivor issues
- Divorce recovery
- Pre-marital counseling
- Stress management
- Relationship loss
- Stepfamily issues
- Behavioral problems
- Infertility issues
- Parent-child issues
- Couple conflict
- Family stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bereavement
- Trauma
- Chronic illness
- Parenting skills
- Self-esteem
Fees are established according to a sliding scale, based on the individual or family's monthly gross income (employment, unemployment, disability, SSI/SSA, worker's compensation, alimony/child support, etc.).
Fees may range from $15.00 to $60.00 per session. These fees cover only a small portion of the cost of providing services. Payment is due at the time of the session, cash or check only. The Center has a 24-hour cancellation policy or the full fee will be charged for the late cancellation.
NOTE: Because graduate students provide services, insurance plans including Medicare, Medi-Cal, CalOptima, Healthy Families, etc., do not cover these services.
The Center operates as a non-profit clinic for individuals, couples, families, and children. The dual mission of the Center is to provide high quality and affordable mental health services to the local community and to provide an excellent training and research environment to the graduate students in the Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program at Chapman University.
You May Also Consider (Sponsored)
LIFE IS HARD
So we made it easy for you to GET HELP FAST
Get started with online therapy by taking this quick quiz:
Have you been in therapy before?
Services Offered
- Adult survivor issues
- Divorce recovery
- Pre-marital counseling
- Stress management
- Relationship loss
- Stepfamily issues
- Behavioral problems
- Infertility issues
- Parent-child issues
- Couple conflict
- Family stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Bereavement
- Trauma
- Chronic illness
- Parenting skills
- Self-esteem
Fees and Payment
Fees may range from $15.00 to $60.00 per session. These fees cover only a small portion of the cost of providing services. Payment is due at the time of the session, cash or check only. The Center has a 24-hour cancellation policy or the full fee will be charged for the late cancellation.
NOTE: Because graduate students provide services, insurance plans including Medicare, Medi-Cal, CalOptima, Healthy Families, etc., do not cover these services.
Services Offered To:
Adults
Couples
Teens
Children
Special Groups:
LGBTQ
Adults
Couples
Teens
Children
Special Groups:
LGBTQ
Payment:
Sliding Scale
Medicare
Medicaid
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.
