Community Resources

Off-campus private and agency providers of mental health and substance abuse treatment services

This listing of practitioners is provided by the SUNY Oneonta Counseling Center, as a convenience for our students. It does not mean that we endorse any specific practitioner, group, or agency.

When contacting these professionals understand that many have small offices, with no secretary and only an answering machine. Be prepared to leave a message and they will call you back. When you speak with the person, be prepared to say a little about the kind of problems you have been experiencing, and ask if they work with that kind of problem. You should ask what their fee is, and what kinds of health insurance they will accept if you are planning to use health insurance. It will help if you find out beforehand, with your parent, partner, or employer, what the name of your health insurance is, and whether there are specific procedures you must use to get mental health or substance use treatment covered (For example, do you need "prior approval"?). If you do not have insurance and will need to pay for this yourself, some practices have a "sliding fee scale" which sets a fee based upon your income and other variables. The Otsego County Mental Health Clinic and Catholic Charities are two agencies that have sliding fee scales. There may be others, and some practitioners are willing to negotiate a fee when you are paying cash and not relying on health insurance reimbursement.

Find out how soon you can have an appointment. Also, a large amount of research suggests that the most important variable is the "client - therapist match", that is, finding someone you feel you can trust, and who you feel comfortable relating to. It may not be the first person you talk to, and that's OK. If you want help in deciding where to start, contact the SUNY Oneonta Counseling Center at 436-3368.

For more helpful information and tips about accessing services from community providers, see the California Polytechnic State University Counseling Center Website or George Washington University Counseling Center Website.

Contact information is provided for
Emergency Services
Alcohol and Drug abuse treatment services
Mental Health Agencies
Sexual Assault Services
Psychiatrists
Nurse Practitioner of Psychiatry
Psychologists
Private Practice Clinical Social Workers

Emergencies

 Alcohol and Drug Abuse Treatment Services

Mental Health Agencies

(Resources in the community that provide mental health services on a sliding fee, including psychotherapy).

Sexual Assault Services

 Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are people who have first undergone training as medical doctors, then specialized in the treatment of mental health problems. They can do psychotherapy and also prescribe medications.

Nurse Practitioner of Psychiatry

Psychologists are people who have completed a Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychology, then have completed an internship, and other requirements to be licensed by New York State.

Private Practice Clinical Social Workers:

Social workers are people who have a Master's degree in Social Work (MSW), with a specialty in clinical social work. Most have received additional training and supervision in the practice of psychotherapy. Social workers are certified by New York State (CSW).