Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles is an extended family of compassionate social services that enriches the community and improves the lives of countless men, women and children of all religions, ethnicities and ages. For over 160 years, JFS has counseled families, fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless and protected the vulnerable. As Los Angeles' oldest and most dynamic charitable organization, JFS is a trusted source of care and support, meeting the diverse and changing needs of a diverse and changing city.
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Services Offered
Professional JFS therapists provide counseling and support for adults, children, and families dealing with a wide range of issues. Services include one-on-one counseling and psychotherapy, consultation and referral, parent education, support groups, school-based counseling, workshops on a variety of topics and collaboration with synagogues and other Jewish institutions. At various JFS locations, counseling is available to the English, Russian, Hebrew, Farsi and Spanish speaking communities.
Fees and Payment
Services are provided on a sliding fee scale and some insurance is accepted.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens
Special Groups: Bilingual Faith-Based
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
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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.