North Country Community Mental Health's mission is to ensure the provision of behavioral health services that improve the quality of life in our communities. We serve the counties of Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Kalkaska and Otsego.
Services Offered
Child & Family Services - North Country Community Mental Health has developed a continuum of services intended to support and empower children and families. Maintaining the family unit is the primary goal of child and family services. The continuum of services includes: outreach therapy, counseling and therapy, and residential and crisis respite services.
Adult Counseling/Therapy - Available in all six counties through the NCCMH Community Consultation and Treatment Services offices. Service includes brief, individual, group or family therapy.
Older Adult Services - The Older Adult Services program is designed to meet the mental health needs of the elderly population. Service includes therapy to nursing home residents.
Assertive Community Treatment - Provides intensive, community based services designed to foster independent living. Service includes specialized mental health training and treatment.
Fees and Payment
It is the policy of North Country Community Mental Health to charge a fee for all services rendered, except those services that are solely training or educational. The fee charged for services is based upon the actual cost of providing those services and will not exceed that cost. No individual will be refused services due to an inability to pay for those services. Recipients of service may request a fee reduction based upon established income and expense guidelines. The Board has adopted guidelines developed by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
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.
