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Private therapy is not the only kind of help.

Some people need a crisis line, a training clinic, or a community program instead of (or before) paying out of pocket here. The listings below include national directories, local organizations, and self-help tools—some for immediate crisis, others for longer-term or lower-cost care.

Crisis and warm lines

Open 24/7. Confidential. Staffed by trained responders.

If you need help right now
Affordable options

Directories and clinics

Ways to find lower-fee therapy and community mental health services.

National Directories
  • Open Path Collective

    Nationwide network of therapists offering roughly $30–$70 sessions for people without insurance or with high deductibles.

  • TherapyDen

    Filter by “Sliding Scale” to find providers who post flexible fees.

  • Inclusive Therapists

    Directory centered on BIPOC, LGBTQ+, neurodivergent, and disabled communities, with many clinicians offering reduced fees.

University Training Clinics

University clinics often charge about $5–$30 per session for care from supervised graduate students—real services, same ethics standards as licensed practice.

Santa Clara County — community organizations
  • AACI — Asian Americans for Community Involvement

    Culturally responsive, sliding-scale mental health and wellness services for diverse communities in San Jose.

    Phone (408) 975-2730 Address 2400 Moorpark Ave, Suite 300, San Jose, CA
  • Gardner Health Services

    Affordable, comprehensive behavioral healthcare across multiple locations in Santa Clara County.

    Phone (408) 457-7100 Fees Sliding scale
  • Billy DeFrank LGBTQ+ Community Center

    South Bay LGBTQ+ hub since 1981: peer groups, HIV testing, and referrals (not a substitute for ongoing therapy, but a useful starting point).

    Phone (408) 293-3040 Address 938 The Alameda, San Jose, CA
On your own time

Self-help tools

Tools for skills practice or reading while you wait for an appointment.

Mood check-ins
  • How We Feel

    App from Yale’s Center for Emotional Intelligence to name and track emotions.

  • Finch: Self-Care Pet

    Gamified mood and habit tracker. Basic features work without a paid plan.

Skills practice (CBT, DBT, sleep)
  • MindShift CBT

    CBT exercises from Anxiety Canada: thought logs, coping cards, and guided challenges.

  • DBT Coach

    Teaches DBT skills across four modules with short explanations and practice prompts.

  • CBT-i Coach

    VA-sponsored program for insomnia: sleep schedule, wind-down routines, and hygiene coaching.

Trusted articles
  • NIMH Health Information

    Plain-language overviews of anxiety, depression, stress, and related topics from the National Institute of Mental Health.

This page is for information only. Listing something here is not an endorsement or a clinical recommendation. We update the list when we can—if a link looks wrong, please contact us.