Philanthropy, Education, Culture, Recreation, Social Services. For all ages, all beliefs. Every day of every year the Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara works with hundreds of local, national and international agencies to transform lives and deliver hope, dignity and comfort to millions of people at home, in Israel and around the world-ordinary people facing extraordinary needs even in ordinary times.
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Services Offered
Counseling
Professional counselors offer sensitive and confidential services regarding personal growth (self-esteem, anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties), child development (behavior, social and learning problems), professional and life cycle (career, employment, financial concerns) matters. From an initial call to sorting through difficult, painful issues, our staff at Jewish Family Service is available to respond to your questions and needs.
Eldercare consultation
JFS can help you, family, or friends assess a home situation. We can work with you to see that an environment supports the physical and emotional needs of an elder.
Fees and Payment
Jewish Family Service has a sliding fee policy for counseling services, and also accepts Medicare, some health insurance plans, and serves all ages, individuals, families, and couples. Please visit or contact our office for insurance and program eligibility inquiries.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
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 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.