Appalachian Community Services provides Mental Health, Behavioral Health, Substance Use, and Developmental Disability services to individuals, families, and communities within the seven western counties of North Carolina.
Services Offered
Outpatient Therapy - Aimed at treating children and adolescents with behavioral disorders, trauma, anxiety, grief and loss issues and depression. Therapy may be provided at different sites including our offices, school, home and various community settings.
Family and Couples Therapy - Family and couples therapy are types of counseling that help family members or couples improve communication and recognize and resolve conflicts. Within family therapy, all family members may attend or only those that are able or willing to participate. The specific focus of both family and couples treatment will depend on the needs of the family or couple.
Individual Therapy - A collaborative, personal relationship between an individual and a counselor that takes place in an open, supportive, and confidential environment. Individuals will receive guidance and develop insight to help maximize their potential for positive growth and change. Individual therapy can assist with resolving an issue, recovering from traumatic experiences, exploring thoughts and feelings, examining beliefs and working toward making healthy changes in your life. The frequency and length of treatment varies depending upon the specific concerns.
Group Therapy - Unlike individual therapy where there is only a relationship between a patient and counselor, group therapy offers multiple relationships to assist the individual in growth and problem solving. Group members are encouraged to discuss the issues that brought them into therapy openly and honestly. The therapist works to create an atmosphere of trust and acceptance that encourages members to support one another. The number of sessions in group therapy depends upon the group's makeup and the goals.
Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient (SAIOP) - A structured service that is provided at an outpatient center designed to help adults begin their recovery and learn skills for recovery maintenance. SAIOP is offered at least 3 hours a day, at least 3 days a week, with no more than 2 consecutive days between offered services. Group counseling is provided each day SAIOP services are offered.
Jail Based Program - Substance use and mental health services are provided to inmates in their detention facilities rather than following their release.
Fees and Payment
No one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay and discounts (sliding scale) are available based on family size and income.
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.
