Where to find affordable mental health care in San Diego

There are plenty of resources locally that prevent cost from being a barrier to seeking care.

Written by Maya Srikrishnan, Edited by Lauren J. Mapp

Author’s Note: This story includes resources for people experiencing mental health crises and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling, contact 1-888-724-7240 (San Diego Access & Crisis Line) or call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Line).

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and while learning how to support your mental health is an important first step, finding a therapist or other forms of care can oftentimes seem out of reach financially. 

There are several ways to access care within your budget in San Diego — from no-cost care to services that accept Medi-Cal or therapists who offer sliding scales based on your income. We’ve laid out several organizations and resources where you can find no- or low-cost mental health services.

If you are a witness to someone experiencing a mental health emergency or you or someone you know is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, use the following resources:

• If the situation is life-threatening, a medical crisis or there is an imminent danger of someone harming themselves or others, call 911. Here is some guidance on how to call 911 and what to expect from the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
• If there is extreme emotional distress, but no immediate threat of physical harm or violence, call or text 988 to connect directly with a trained counselor for mental health, substance use or emotional crises at the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or call 1-888-724-7240 to speak with a professional, access community resources or request a mobile crisis response team locally via the San Diego Access & Crisis Line.
• You can also visit one of the county's 24/7 Crisis Stabilization Units or the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital if you need an immediate, in-person urgent mental health screening.
• For crises that are not life-threatening, the Mental Health Association of San Francisco offers the California Peer Run Warm Line. Call 855-600-WARM(9276) or use the online chat widget to speak with a counselor on a range of topics, including anxiety, depression and substance abuse. 

There are also several databases you can use to search for local therapists or other mental health resources, filtering for certain demographics, insurances accepted, whether they accept payments on a sliding scale and more.

• 211 San Diego is a comprehensive free, 24/7 service that connects people to community groups, healthcare and essential services. You can search for specific mental health support programs using the 211 San Diego Resource Database.
• The Psychology Today Therapy Directory is the most robust tool nationally for finding mental health professionals. To find someone in San Diego, enter your ZIP code or city, and filter for your insurance or if they accept sliding scale payments out of pocket, specific issues or preferred therapy type. You can message providers directly through the directory or via their linked websites, emails or phone numbers.

Finally, if you have private health insurance you can call your member services or see if the company has an online tool to find providers to find a mental health care provider covered by your insurance. Member services online or by phone can also help clarify what your copay may be, what the referral process is and your deductible or the out-of-pocket minimum you need to meet before insurance starts covering your visits.

This is not a comprehensive list of resources, so if you know of an organization that we’ve missed, please email maya@daylightsandiego and we will update the guide.

San Diego County Mental Health Services: County-funded public mental health services are available for people who have a mental illness and require mental health services to function in school, at home or in the community, or people who are experiencing a mental health crisis, like depression, suicidal thoughts or extreme anxiety. People eligible for County services are those that cannot be appropriately treated within a primary care environment and who are insured by Medi-Cal or uninsured who have an income less than 200% of the federal poverty level, which in 2026 is $31,920 for a single individual, $43,280 for a 2-person household, and $66,000 for a family of four. 

Catholic Charities: Catholic Charities provides individual, couples, family and group therapy, as well as psychological and psychoeducational testing and referrals to a food bank and other needed social services. The clinic can assist with family or marital conflict, domestic violence, depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, trauma-related issues, relationship problems, stage of life adjustment and parenting skills. Fees are determined on a sliding scale based on household income and the number of individuals in the household. Services are also available in Spanish. 

Center for Community Counseling: A counselor training facility in City Heights operated by San Diego State University that provides individual, couples, family and group therapy. Fees are income-based sliding scale and group fees range from $5 to $20 per session, depending on the person’s ability to donate. Services available in Spanish and other languages based on therapists available.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center: The Center’s Behavioral Health Services Department offers individual, couples/family and group counseling to LGBTQ+ community members. The center provides support to assist people coping with trauma, stress, coming out issues, self-esteem, relationship problems, intimacy problems, bereavement, depression, anxiety, hate crimes, sexual concerns and addictions. People living with HIV and those who are victims of crime and/or hate incidents may qualify to receive no-cost counseling services.

Center for Mindful Relationships: The Clinic Corner is the center’s training clinic for Master’s-level clinicians in marriage and family therapy. Therapists in this program work under close supervision from experienced licensed clinicians. Fees are on a sliding scale and typically range from $40 to $100 per session. 

Opsam Health: This group of health centers provides mental health services to low-income families of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds throughout the county. Opsam accepts Medi-Cal and other insurances, but you can also apply for its sliding fee program. Translation in several languages is available upon request. 

Family Health Centers of San Diego: Provides individual, couples and group therapy; adult and child psychiatry; clinic, school and home-based services; psychological testing for children and adults; and a mobile counseling center. Accepts Medi-Cal and Medicare.

Center for Community Solutions: Specialize in providing counseling for survivors of sexual assault, sexual abuse, domestic violence and relationship violence. Therapy for children is also available. Services are free for eligible individuals and available in Spanish and English.

Family Justice Center - Your Safe Place:  A group of community partners and agencies that provide coordinated, free services for women, men, children and families who are survivors of family violence, including mental health counseling.

South Bay Community Services: Provides comprehensive outpatient, school-based, and early intervention mental health services for children, youth, and families in the South San Diego region. Accepts Medi-Cal and private insurance, but generally will not turn people away for their inability to pay. 

Union of Pan Asian Communities: Offers adult and older adult mental health programs, addiction treatment and recovery programs and children and adolescent mental health programs. The staff speaks more than 30 languages. UPAC accepts several insurance plans, but encourages you to reach out with questions if you don’t see your plan listed online.

La Maestra Counseling Center: La Maestra’s Comprehensive Community Behavioral Health and Wellness Clinic offers outpatient behavioral health, substance use disorder and co-occurring support services to promote brain health, healing and well-being to La Maestra patients including children, adults, and families. Those who don’t have insurance that covers the cost can apply for sliding scale eligibility based on federal poverty guidelines.

San Diego Youth Services: Provides prevention services and early intervention for kids and families, and intensive, outpatient mental health services, trauma-informed care and case management for youth who are experiencing homelessness or running away from home. SDYS also works with children and their families to improve adult-child relationships both at school and in the home. Youth and their families who are low-income or uninsured, full scope Medi-Cal beneficiaries or eligible for services through the Mental Health Service Act are eligible for these mental health services.

Institute on Violence, Abuse and Trauma: IVAT focuses on trauma-informed therapy, offering sliding scale therapy services priced based on income at their San Diego locations and virtually.

National Alliance on Mental Illness San Diego: Offers free, drop-in peer-led Connection Support Groups for adults living with mental health conditions. You can see the full list of schedules here.

Urban Restoration Counseling Center: URCC’s Therapy for All program provides no-cost or low-cost mental health support so people can connect with Black, Indigenous and other mental health providers of color who bring a culturally competent approach to their care.

SMART Recovery: Free, evidence-based mutual help groups for addiction recovery.

Alcoholics Anonymous: Free 12-step support meetings for people recovering from alcoholism. are available in the San Diego area. 

Elizabeth Hospice: Offers free grief support services, including specialized groups for traumatic loss, children and teens, in partnership with the County Medical Examiner.