The Best Therapy in Los Angeles for Low-Income People

Center for the Wokring Poor has been in partnership with and referred many mental health centers and clinics to many of the working poor and people in need in our community. We’velearned quite a bit about who we think provides very good services for little money. Here is our recommendation of the best services that are low-cost in Los Angeles.

If You Have Private Insurance (Blue Cross, United Health, Optum, Aetna, etc):
1. Silverlake Psychology features experienced therapists with a wide range of specialties. Staff therapists have advanced training in cutting edge therapies. Therapy will be tailored to your specific needs and is both artful and rooted in sound, research-based techniques. They are always accepting new clients. Appointments are available on weekdays, evenings and weekends. Skype sessions available upon request. They offer flexible schedules, weekly, bi-weekly and monthly session options. No wait lists.
2. The Los Angeles LGBT Center is one of the largest and most experienced providers of LGBT health and mental healthcare, supported by a research team working to advance the care and treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. They accept Medi-Cal, Medicare, most major insurance plans, and some HMOs. If you are uninsured, they can help you get insurance through Covered California or determine your eligibility for medical and drug assistance programs.

If You Do Not Have Insurance
Most people who believe they don’t have insurance actually have some kind of Medicaid or Medi-Cal should call them, and keep on calling, and find the therapists that are covered under your insurance. It is better to get coverage under Medi-Cal then having to pay any other therapy centers if it can get covered. If you cannot get covered through Medicaid or Medi-Cal, we recommend:
1. The Relational Center provides some of the lowest cost mental health services in LA County. Excellent service, but waitlists are 1-4 months long.
2. Southern California Counseling Center is non-profit counseling center and training facility where pre-licensed therapists provide counseling under the supervision of volunteer licensed professionals. Waitlists can also be 1-4 months long.
3. Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS) is a nonprofit, community based mental health clinic that serves the LAX, South Bay and Westside areas of Los Angeles. The mission of AMCS is two-fold: to provide affordable, community based mental health services, and to train mental health therapists. AMCS offers comprehensive therapeutic services to individuals, children and families, couples and older adults, many of whom would otherwise have little access to counseling. Open seven days a week, Airport Marina Counseling Service provides an array of successful programs, both at the Clinic and off-site, to meet the needs of people of all ages. Sliding scale fee.
4. Antioch University Counseling Center is a community counseling center providing psychotherapy and counseling services to individuals, couples, families, and groups, serving adults, adolescents and children. $10 minimum sliding scale fee.
5. Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services has 11 locations across Southern California.
6. The Maple Counseling Center. All services are provided under the supervision of licensed clinical staff members, who also coordinate the Center’s programs. The primary goal of The Maple Counseling Center remains providing low fee counseling for those in need, where no one is turned away for lack of funds.
7. Southern California Health & Rehabilitation Program has 8 locations across Southern California and a wide variety of programs.