Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley, a division of Caminar, has been empowering individuals and families to move toward greater wellness, resilience, and independence. We are here for the entire community and dedicated to offering safe, inclusive, and affirming programs for all.
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Services Offered
Individual and Family Counseling Services - We are here for children, teens, and adults with emotional and mental health needs. Through individual and family counseling services, we strengthen parent-child relationships. We prevent child abuse and neglect by addressing family issues and empowering parents to end cycles of violence and abuse. We assist individuals coping with depression, anxiety, and mental illness. Our therapists apply evidence-based, proven practices and strategies to address a range of emotional and mental health needs, including grief and loss, anxiety, depression, peer and family relationships, co-occurring disorders (dual diagnosis), mood disorders, and the effects of trauma (including witnessing or experiencing violence or abuse). We can provide psychiatric services and medication monitoring as needed.
Services are provided in Palo Alto and San Jose. Specialized services are available for foster youth, LGBTQ youth and young adults, students, and children and adults who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing. We also offer youth and adult substance use recovery and treatment services. We also bring mental health, case management, and co-occurring disorder treatment services to the Santa Clara County Mental Health Court. We are credentialed for the military's health coverage (TriWest) and bring services on-site to veterans' centers.
On-Campus Counseling Services - We provide individual and family counseling services for students on school campuses. Using evidence-based practices and strategies, our therapists assist children and teens with a wide variety of concerns, including bullying, depression, anxiety, stress, home life issues, and behavior. We have expertise supporting the emotional and mental health needs of students who are in special education (including therapeutic special day class programs), who have complex needs (including trauma and home-life issues), or who are at-risk of truancy, gang involvement, and other risk factors. We offer comprehensive mental health assessments for students, which may be used for developing Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
Fees and Payment
We accept most insurance plans and also receive referrals through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Sliding scale fees are available for clients who do not have health coverage. Children may be eligible for free services. (Individual and Family Counseling Services)
Services at school campuses are provided at no cost to students and their families. (On-Campus Counseling Services)
This is a non profit agency.
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:
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One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
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.