Shine a Light Counseling Center is a 501(c) non-profit counseling center offering services on a sliding scale and free therapy for Medi-Cal clients. We have two purposes. The first is to provide therapy to those who would not otherwise be able to afford it. The second is to be a training facility for mental health clinicians in the Santa Cruz, Monterey and Watsonville areas.
You May Also Consider (sponsored)
Quick Start Online Therapy: Tell Us a Little About Yourself and Get Matched With a Therapist Right for You
Take a simple guided quiz and let us know your preferences. Get matched to an online therapist right for you. Convenient and affordable online therapy from your phone, tablet or computer.
Have you been in therapy before?
Services Offered
Counseling Services
Shine a Light Counseling Center offers therapy in all formats (Family, Couple Individual, Child and Group) for a wide variety of life's challenges. Some of our specialties are listed in the menu to the left, but we are happy to help you with whatever you may be struggling with.
Our counselors all share a deep respect for each person's inner wisdom. We support you to find your own answers, build your relationship skills, and cultivate greater compassion toward yourself and the people you care about.
Sliding-Scale Counseling We have Counselors ready to help you with therapy at a fee you can afford. Our sliding scale is based on your income. And we offer free services to Medi-Cal clients. So you can get the counseling you need in Santa Cruz, Watsonville or Monterey.
Medi-Cal Therapy We accept Medi-Cal for counseling services with no co-payment. That's right. Free therapy! Don't get bounced around by therapists who don't take your insurance. If you have Medi-Cal, we can help you. Our counselors are contracted wth Beacon Health Services, our central coast Medi-Cal insurance provider.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono Medicare
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?
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.