- Medi-Cal - (also referred to as Carleton and previously Partnership)
Mild-moderate concerns: visit a private practice provider in the community.
- Go to https://shs.santarosa.edu/sites/shs.santarosa.edu/files/documents/Medi-Cal%20Finding%20a%20Partnership%20Provider%207.23.pdf, which details the way you can do an Internet search to find lists of a large number of providers.
- You can filter your search in a variety of ways, such as male vs female provider, if they have openings, if they speak a certain language
Moderate-severe concerns (including Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, extensive suicidal thinking, extensive case management):
- Make an appointment at a community health clinic, listed at https://aliadoshealth.org/enrollment/
- You will first see a primary care provider who can then arrange for you to see mental health therapist.
- Kaiser
- Make an appointment with your Primary Care Provider (PCP) or new PCP at Kaiser.
- If you've never been in contact with anyone at Kaiser, make an appointment for a general check-up.
- Once you meet with the provider, explain your mental health concerns, and make sure to indicate that they are significant and meeting with an individual therapist weekly is really needed.
- The PCP should explain the referral process, and a member of the referral team will contact you.
- Many patients are then offered the option to meet with someone through an external, contracted agency.
- The co-pay when visiting an external provider will be the same as what you pay at Kaiser.
- Commercial Insurance - (eg Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Cigna, Aetna, GeoBlue and a bunch more)
- Your insurance company can give you a list of par8cipa8ng providers. To obtain this information, call the Member Services number listed on the back of your insurance card or log into the company’s online portal.
- You can also use search engines and filter by this insurance, on the Internet sites such as Headway, Two Chairs, Grow Therapy, HelloAlma, Psychology Today, Redwood Psychological Association, and RECAMFT.
- The first four of these will give you 8mes when a provider has openings. For the last three, you will need to call many providers, 10 at a time, to get a call back from someone who has an opening.
- Another local option is www.psychstrategies.com a local group practice with many providers.
- No Insurance
- First, consider if you are eligible for MediCal, and if so, start an application: https://aliadoshealth.org/enrollment/
- Meanwhile, while waiting for MediCal, remote therapy is available at several places. For 10 sessions of free therapy, contact www.jewishfreeclinic.org (available to anyone).
- Longer free (or extremely low cost) remote video therapy therapy is available at https://www.liberationinstitute.org and www.onthemargins.us/new-client.