Many times on this program, we talk about the importance of therapy. However, we acknowledge that therapy is a privilege, and is not always accessible or affordable to those of us that need it the most. I’ve invited some of my previous guests to talk about access to care: where to find affordable therapy, and the tools and resources that are available, should therapy not be accessible.
Resources from therapist Lisa Gajda Maiolo:
Find an intern to work with
Advanced Clinical Interns who are fully trained and completing their hours are available at a significantly reduced cost. In New York City, Equity Therapy, where Lisa practices, currently has two interns that are accepting new patients.
The Actors Fund offers free short term therapy and a referral service to affordable therapy for those looking for long term therapy.
The NIMH website has a list of crisis hotlines as well as resources for anyone considering therapy, in addition resources for friends and family of those struggling with mental illness.
Mindfulness Apps
Grounding Exercises
Lisa is a fan of 5,4,3,2,1. Click here to have Anxiety and the Artist guest Audrey Grubb guide you through this exercise.
Create a Support Group
Lisa suggests creating a small group of friends who meet on a weekly basis and offer support and solutions. She recommends that group create rules and guidelines to establish a safe space and a healing focus. More guidelines can be found at Mental Health America's Support Group Facilitation Guide.
Resources from counselor Patty Martin:
Many colleges today are more and more committed to exploring and implementing more effective and innovative ways to enhance the delivery of health care services to students. There are a variety of convenient services that are designed to increase and improve access to care for students. First students should go to their college’s mental health office and make an appointment to see a counselor or to receive referral information for local providers.
These are national mental health services that may have local or on-line referrals and hot-lines:
24-Hour Hotlines
Suicide Prevention Center (877) 727-4747 (toll free)
Haven House (shelter & counseling for family violence) (323) 681-2626
(Hotline) Peace Over Violence (rape & battery hotline) (626) 793-3385 (Eng/Span)
Center for the Pacific Asian Family (800) 339-3940
Emergency Outreach Bureau (800) 854-7771
National Domestic Violence (800) 799-SAFE (7233) https://www.thehotline.org/
Crisis Text Line Text: “COURAGE” To 741741
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 1-800-787-3224 (TTY)
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender National Hotline Hotline: 1 (888) 843 – 4564 Youth Talkline: 1 (800) 246 – 7743 Email: help@LGBThotline.org Hours vary, available via phone and online chat. The LGBT National Help Center serves gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people by providing free and confidential peer support and local resources.
SAMHSA National Helpline Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline 1-800-662- 4357
National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673)
Alcoholics Anonymous 1-800-923-8722 Al-Anon 1-800-356-9996
National Eating Disorders Association Helpline 1-800-931-2237
Co-Dependents Anonymous Hotline 1-888-444-2359
Sexual Addiction Anonymous 1-866-424-8777
Additional resources with covered with health insurance or sliding scale/minimal fees;
LiveHealth Online (our new telemedicine service that uses HIPAA-compliant video conferencing)
Therapy Assisted Online (TAO Self-Help)
ULifeline: Mental health resources for college students or call Need help now? Text "START" to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Resources from Mike Zhao:
Below are resources that are NYC specific. However, if you are outside of NYC, Mike recommends finding the nearest university with a psych program and seeing if they have a clinical intern program.
Resources from Chris Smith:
Text: START to 741741
888-843-4564