Finding A Counselor

Please note that I cannot control or be responsible for third party links. Nor can I guarantee that what a provider charges will be affordable for you. I am just trying to share my knowledge of the mental health care system and hopefully make the search easier for you. 

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Tips

• Generally, you need a provider licensed in the state that you are physically located in. Some providers may be licensed in multiple states. If you have questions, please ask before making an appointment.

• Please ask about any eligibility restrictions. Agencies may offer financial assistance, but it may be based on your residency (ie: county you live in) or other criteria.

• If you are wanting telehealth, ensure that you select that as a search option. Please ask if they require any in person visits or if you can do 100% of your sessions via telehealth (teletherapy).

• Registered Interns (RMHCI, RMFT, RCSW) may charge less. While they have their Master's Degree, they do not have full independent licensure yet and so they work under a licensed supervisor. Therefore, in some circumstances a person may want to see a fully licensed independent provider instead.
   

If You Want to Call for Additional Assistance in Finding a Provider

• Mental Health &/or Substance Abuse Treatment: 1-800-662-4357 - Provided by SAMHSA

• Call 211 - Can provide information for counseling and other community services in your area.

• National Eating Disorder Association: 1-800-931-2237

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Finding a Provider That Offers Financial Assistance

• Find Mental Health &/or Substance Abuse Treatment - Provided by SAMHSA

  • Enter the area that you are searching and click to show the search results​

  • On the search page, under the Filter By section, Click the "show more>>" symbol, scroll down, use the v button to expand the "payment assistance available" section, then you can select payment assistance and/ or sliding fee scale. They usually list agencies. 

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Finding a Provider That Offers Lower Cost Sessions

• Open Path Collective - Starting at $30 per session for those who qualify. Requires a $65 one time lifetime membership fee that seems to help offset Open Path Collective's administrative costs.

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Finding a Provider That Offers Sliding Scale​

• Find Mental Health &/or Substance Abuse Treatment - Provided by SAMHSA

  • Enter the area that you are searching and click to show the search results​

  • On the search page, under the Filter By section, Click the "show more>>" symbol, scroll down, use the v button to expand the "payment assistance available" section, then you can select payment assistance and/ or sliding fee scale. They usually list agencies.

• Psychology Today* - they generally list professionals with their own private practice 

  • Select "price" and then "sliding scale" to filter the search by those who offer sliding scale

• Good Therapy* - this is another option, but I would start with the others first due to the extra steps needed to find a provider who offers sliding scale

  • Click on the provider to see the pricing and if they offer it, it will say "sliding scale available"

* Those Outside Florida: these links are showing Florida providers, so if you are in another state you will need to change the search options for your state.

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Additional Resources for Finding a Provider in the Central Florida Area

• UCF Community Counseling Clinic - free counseling services offered by supervised Master's Level Students.

• UCF Marriage & Family Research Institute - free relationship education, possible counseling services offered depending on availability. 

• Jewish Family Services - sliding scale counseling in Central FL.

• Aspire Health Partners - sliding scale or grant funded counseling depends upon program. In Central FL.

• Central Florida 211 - Can provide information on counseling services in Central Florida.