The mission of Contra Costa Behavioral Health, in partnership with consumers, families, staff, and community-based agencies, is to provide welcoming, integrated services for mental health, substance abuse, homelessness and other needs that promote wellness, recovery, and resiliency while respecting the complexity and diversity of the people we serve. Contra Costa Behavioral Health envisions a system of care that supports independence, hope, and healthy lives by making accessible behavioral health services that are responsiv
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Services Offered
Behavioral Health Services - brings together Contra Costa County's mental health, substance abuse and homeless services into a single system of care. This integration allows us to provide flexible, effective treatment for people with complex needs. We understand that people who come to us for one kind of assistance often need additional help in other areas of their lives. By combining our services, we make it easier for our consumers to get the right help and the services they need. In this way, Contra Costa Behavioral Health promotes wellness, recovery and resiliency while respecting the individuality and diversity of the people we serve.
Mental health services - Our Mental Health Services program serves Contra Costa residents with mental health needs. We work to instill hope and empower our consumers to manage their symptoms and reclaim their lives and relationships. Our services for our consumers and their families include prevention and early intervention programs, rehabilitation services, psychotherapy, group services, day treatment services, residential, crisis and inpatient. Mental health services including peer and family support are provided for children, adolescents, adults and older adults.
Alcohol & other drugs services - Our Alcohol and Other Drugs program offers a comprehensive approach to providing substance abuse prevention, treatment and recovery services for Contra Costa residents. Our continuum of care includes detoxification, outpatient counseling, residential programs, services for pregnant women and youth, and narcotic replacement therapy programs. We offer a broad range of community-based programs that are culturally competent and client driven.
Services For Children & Families - Children's Mental Health Services operates three regional clinics as well as offers home, school, and community-based services to meet the varied needs of children, youth, and their families.
* Psychiatric and medication assessments, consultation, and medication management * Individual, family, and group outpatient therapy * Case management to coordinate services * Family Partners, with lived experience caring for family members with serious mental illness, support families of participants and help them navigate services and resources * Wraparound services for children with serious emotional disturbances that involves each family's social network * Evidence-based practices, which are practices that have research showing they are effective treatments; practices include:Therapy for depression and anxiety * Therapy for self-harmful behaviors * Therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder and difficulties related to traumatic life events * Positive Parenting Program (Triple P) to increase parents' confidence in their parenting abilities * Family-based treatment of eating disorders
Other Services Offered: * Psychological evaluations to aid with placement planning and treatment of children in the child welfare system who have been removed from the home due to abuse or neglect * First Hope, a prevention program that provides diagnostic and treatment services for adolescents and young adults who are at risk for psychosis * Full Service Partnership (FSP) for participants who may need 24-hour services, including crisis intervention and stabilization, treatment, family support, and family education services * Intensive Home-Based Services (IHBS) provides intervention in the home and school for foster children and youth at risk of foster care placement * Mobile Response Team (MRT) travels to participants who are 18 and younger to provide immediate crisis intervention * Multi-Dimensional Family Therapy (MDFT) is family-based treatment for substance-abusing adolescents, or those with co-occurring substance use and mental disorders * Multi-Systemic Therapy (MST) is community-based, family-driven treatment for antisocial or delinquent behavior in youth * Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) for youth who are placed or being considered for placement in a high-level group home or locked treatment facilities for treatment
Fees and Payment
Insurance questions and referrals to low-cost and sliding scale services if uninsured. Be prepared to answer questions on your needs and provide your Medi-Cal or other insurance information.
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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.