The Counselor Education Department, a unit within the Graduate School of Education at Portland State University, provides quality education to support the professional growth of educators, counselors, and human services professionals.
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Services Offered
The Counselor Education Program operates a Community Counseling Clinic that gives counseling students experience working with clients, while offering the community low-cost counseling services. The counselors working in the clinic are practicum students supervised by interns and faculty.
The PSU Community Counseling Clinic provides low-cost individual, couple, and family counseling. It is located in the Education Building and is open by appointment on both day and evening schedules. The Clinic seeks clients who are able to come on a weekly basis, at the same time, for up to ten weeks. The Clinic does not offer medication services or help during a mental health crisis. The cost is $15 per session.
The clinic provides individual, couple, and family counseling to community members, students, families, and others at affordable rates. The clinic is operated by graduate students in counselor education who are supervised by faculty and interns.
Fees and Payment
$15 per session.
Reduced fees can be negotiated in cases of financial hardship.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
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 Oregon's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to Oregon'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.
