San Diego Youth Services is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization that has helped improve the lives of more than 700,000 homeless, runaway, abused and at-risk youth and their families. Founded in 1970 as one of the nation's first shelters for homeless youth, we now provide services to more than 19,000 children and their families each year at 80 locations throughout San Diego County.
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Services Offered
Mental Health Services
-Camp Mariposa: offers a traditional, fun, camp providing counseling and emotional support, while teaching problem-solving and self-care strategies to help youth facing the challenges associated with an addicted or co-dependent family member.
-Counseling Cove: offers mental health services to support runaway and homeless youth struggling with emotional, behavioral and learning difficulties who seek support exiting street life.
-East County Behavioral Health Clinic: offers a full-service child and adolescent mental health clinic with individual, group and family counseling, treatment, crisis intervention, psychological testing and medication evaluations and oversight.
-East County Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Program: prevents serious mental illness and behavioral problems in elementary school-aged children by working with children, their parents, the community and the school to raise awareness and help prevent these challenges.
-Family Resource Center: provides self-sufficiency and supportive services to youth and families in the El Cajon Valley School District who are experiencing a range of needs.
Our Safe Place Mental Health Services and Drop-in Center: offers mental health services, support groups, case management, community building and other services for LGBTQ youth and their families in a "Safe Zone."
Fees and Payment
San Diego Youth Services receives donations and other gifts through a variety of ways to help make our vital work possible. We are proud that 86.5 percent of all funds go to serve youth directly.
San Diego Youth Services is a nationally recognized, non-profit organization.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
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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.