Answers
General
What do I do if I am in crisis?
Call the Crisis Clinic's 24-hour hotline at 1-866-427-4747 or (206) 461-3222. If you are already a client of Seattle Counseling Service, you may call us at (206) 323-1768 during regular business hours (Monday-Thursday 8am-8pm & Friday 8am-5pm). If you are looking for information or referrals for local low-income or homeless resources try www.crisisclinic.org or call tollfree 2-1-1.
What services do you provide?
We offer an array of mental health counseling and chemical dependency treatment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. See additional information here.
Does you have in-patient services?
SCS is out-patient only. If you need to go into an in-patient program we can help with a referral to another agency.
What does LGBT mean? What’s a ‘Sexual Minority’?
LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. We are mission-driven to provide services primarily to clients who self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, transsexual, genderqueer, intersexed, etc. and/or family and friends affected by LGBT issues. A sexual minority is any person who identifies as any of the above, falls outside the traditional binary system of heterosexual relationships, or leads an alternative sexual lifestyle. Being a person of sexual minority status is different than being a person identified as a sex offender. We are NOT equipped to meet the legal requirements of sexual deviance counseling for accused sex offenders.
What if I am not LGBT?
We provide treatment without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age or disability. However, since our mission is to meet the needs of the LGBT community and to provide a safe place for sexual minorities, it may be deemed by clinical staff that a referral to another agency may be more appropriate for you. We will not tolerate any actions, language, or attitudes that compromise this mission and the successful treatment of others.
How do I get services?
The first step to receiving services is to complete our Application for Services form. You can do this online or you may request a hardcopy to be sent via mail or fax by calling (206) 323-1768.
How long until I can start therapy after I apply?
It usually takes the Client Services Coordinator two to five business days to respond to an application after it is received. Your first appointment will generally be within two weeks, but wait times vary, subject to availability.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
As is applicable to you, please bring: payment, insurance card & co-pay, DSHS Medical coupon, income verification, a list of current prescription medications, and/or court documentation. It is helpful if you arrive 15 minutes prior to your first appointment.
Where are you located?
Our address is 1216 Pine Street. We are located on the corner of Pine Street and Melrose Avenue, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. See driving directions and map here.
What are your hours?
Our offices are open Monday through Thursday 8am-8pm and Friday 8am-5pm. We are closed on Saturday and Sunday.
What qualifications does your staff have?
Our agency is a state licensed community mental health agency and state licensed chemical dependency out-patient treatment facility. All clinical staff members hold master's level degrees or higher and are credentialed Mental Health Professionals. All staff members have training and experience in providing culturally competent services to LGBT clients.
I'm concerned for my privacy. How do you protect that?
We strictly adhere to all local, state and federal privacy laws. We will never release any information about you nor even acknowledge that you are a client at SCS to anyone without your express written permission.
Additionally, you may request that we do not leave phone messages for you and/or you may indicate that only certain phone numbers are to be used for communication.
How much do services cost?
Fees vary according to the type of service you receive. If you are low-income and do not have Medicaid or insurance coverage, discounts are available using our sliding scale to help you with costs. Even at the bottom of our sliding scale services unfortunately are not completely free. Our agency has limited additional grant funds which are subject to availability and qualifiying criteria. Payment in full is expected at the time of service. We accept cash, debit, and VISA/MasterCard. Please contact us at (206) 323-1768 for more information.
Do you accept insurance?
Yes, we accept payments from most insurance companies. Please note that we are "Out-Of-Network" to most insurance companies. This will typically affect the level of coverage (if any) that an insurance company is willing to provide at our agency and may increase the size of a deductible if applicable. If you'd like to verify what your allotted coverage would be at our agency, simply call the phone number located on the back of your insurance card to get a quote. Our agency will verify this information with your insurance company prior to scheduling your initial appointment. Co-pays and co-insurance are expected at the time of service. To help expedite your application please provide your insurance carrier information including your member ID and a company contact number. We request that you bring your insurance card to your initial appointment in addition to providing the information on your application.
Do you accept Medicare?
At this time we are not able to accept Medicare within our Addiction Services Program. Also currently, we are unfortunately not accepting any new Mental Health referrals using Medicare. It is unknown when this will change. If you wish to get services through Medicare we recommend services at Sound Mental Health.
Do you accept Medicaid?
Yes. Services covered are dependent on the type of coupon. Mental Health coverage is only available with a CNP or an LCP-MNP coupon issued within King County. SCS is not able to accept GA-U for Mental Health Services. Chemical Dependency coverage is available with CNP, LCP-MNP, GA or GA-U coupons. We request that you present a current Medicaid coupon each month for continued services.
What if I don't have insurance?
Luckily, we have a sliding fee scale that reduces the costs based on your family's income. Should your income change during the course of your therapy, the costs will be adjusted accordingly. Even at the bottom of our sliding scale services unfortunately are not completely free. Our agency has limited additional grant funds which are subject to availability and qualifiying criteria
What if I have a question about my bill?
We ask that all billing inquiries first be directed to your therapist who can clarify any session charges and will communicate any needed adjustments on your behalf to our Billing Coordinator. Questions specific to a denied insurance claim should contact the Billing Coordinator directly at our main line (206)323-1768. Please have your most recent bill or insurance Explanation of Benefits (EOB) available for reference when you call.
What if I need to cancel my appointment?
We need to receive24 hour notice for any cancellations. Without such notice, you may be required to pay for the missed appointment in addition to your next scheduled appointment before services will be provided. A cancellation call should be directed to your therapist unless it is your initial visit, in which case please contact the Client Services Coordinator at our main line (206)323-1768. Late cancellations will be given lower priority for re-scheduling over new applicants.
How do I make a donation?
As a non-profit, we rely on the generous donations of community members to keep our services available and affordable. We accept donations via this website, through the mail, over the phone, or in person. Take a look at our donation page for more information.
Mental Health Programs
Can my partner and I receive couples counseling?
We do provide couples/family counseling. Each partner is required to submit their own application and intakes are conducted separately. On an individual basis to be determined by the therapist after intake, couples may be required to engage in individual therapy or drug/alcohol treatment to resolve their own issues before couples counseling may be provided. Please note that most insurance plans will NOT cover couples/family counseling.
What if I don't want individual therapy (or I'm getting it somewhere else) but there is a particular group that I'd like to participate in at SCS?
We are generally able to accommodate this. Rather than going through our typical intake evaluation process, you may meet with the therapist in charge of the group for a less formal intake to be sure that the group will be appropriate for you. Our sliding scale is only available to those engaged in individual counseling at SCS. For those who wish to solely attend mental health groups there is a flat rate of $20 regardless of income. The 7pm Wednesday evening Ingersoll Gender group is free of charge and no prior registration is required. Just show up.
Can I see a psychiatrist to get psychiatric medications prescribed?
We do have psychiatrists at our facility but their services are available solely supplementally to psychotherapy . In order to have access to a psychiatrist the client must be engaged in on-going therapy with a staff therapist with sessions meeting at least once a month. Psychiatric services are not able to private pay clients seeing interns. Psychiatric services are also offered on the sliding fee scale to those who qualify.
Do you have domestic violence services?
Yes, we offer individual and group therapy for survivors of domestic violence (also known as intimate partner violence). We do NOT offer services that meet any legal requirement for perpetrators of domestic violence.
Addiction Services Programs
I received a DUI. Does your assessment meet court mandated assessment requirements? What if I need an assessment for a non-DUI related charge?
Yes. Please tell the Client Service Coordinator at the time of initial scheduling that there are legal issues surrounding your need to get an assessment. Our agency will require that your provide documentation regarding your circumstances and the assessment will not be completed without it. For a DUI, you will need provide 3 documents 1. A copy of the citation of the evening in question or a copy of the police report. 2. Your driver’s abstract (available at the Dept of Licensing) 3. Any paperwork from the court in regards to your sentencing, court dates, charges, etc. For non-driving charges please provide 1. A copy of the citation or a copy of the police report. 2. A copy of your criminal record or evidence of lack-there-of. 3. Any paperwork from the court in regards to your sentencing, court dates, charges, etc.
Do you offer prescription opiate replacement therapy?
Subject to availability, we are currently accepting referrals to our Buprenorphine Program (AKA Suboxone). This service is not available on the sliding fee scale and there are no grants funds for this program, hence it can be quite costly. The client must be able to demonstrate the financial ability to pay for Buprenorphine services before it will be rendered. It is coverable by some insurance companies and by Medicaid, but not GA-U. Clients must also have an outside primary care physician for the medical needs of the program. Clients are also expected to engage in Addiction counseling at SCS while receiving Buprenorphine services.
Harm Reduction Program (Project NEON)
What is Project NEON? Who is it for?
Project NEON is a program that provides information and services to gay and bisexual men who use crystal methamphetamine to reduce health risks associated with use.
What does NEON stand for?
NEON is an acronym for Needle Exchange and sex education Outreach Network.
What is harm reduction?
Harm reduction is a set of practical strategies that reduce negative consequences of drug use, incorporating a spectrum of strategies from safer use, to managed use to abstinence. Harm reduction strategies meet drug users "where they're at," addressing conditions of use along with the use itself.
Do I have to quit using to participate in Project NEON services?
No, Project NEON is designed to give you unbiased, nonjudgmental information about taking care of yourself.
How much does it cost?
All Project NEON services are FREE to community members.
Where can I get more information about Project NEON?
You can get more information on the Project NEON page or by contacting us.
Professional & Education Services
Do you provide special populations (LGBT) consultations?
Yes, we provide special populations consultations for sexual minorities to other service providers. This service may be contracted on an on-going basis or for one-time only. Please contact us for more information.
What kind of professional training do you provide?
We can arrange trainings on mental health and/or chemical dependency treatment as it pertains to the LGBT communities. Specific trainings that are often requested include intimate partner violence (domestic violence) among same-sex partners, working with LGBT youth or elders, special issues of LGBT clients in recovery, and more. Please contact us for more information.
How can I become an intern?
We are proud to host interns from many area college and university programs. Check with your school's internship program or contact us for more information.