Business Details
43 Years
experience
Affordable Counseling and Clinical Training in Santa Barbara
Founded over 40 years ago by Patricia Cooper and Jaclyn Henretig, our organization was established to provide accessible mental health services to the Santa Barbara community regardless of financial circumstances. We specialize in low-cost counseling for individuals, couples, families, and teens through a unique model pairing clients with trained graduate student therapists and associates under expert supervision.Our clinical training program has become a respected institution for developing mental health professionals while maintaining a commitment to community well-being. With bilingual staff and specialized programs like SpeakOut for LGBTQ youth and Kids Rule! partnerships, we address diverse mental health needs through weekly sessions that build therapeutic trust and consistency. Our services are made possible through community donations that subsidize session costs, allowing clients to pay between $35 and $75 based on income.
Services
Individual Counseling
Family Therapy
Teen Counseling
Support Groups
Clinical Training Program
Details
- Year established: 1983
Highlights and features
- 40+ years of community mental health experience
- Bilingual counseling staff serving diverse populations
- Subsidized rates through community donations
- Specialized programs for LGBTQ youth and families
- Expert-supervised graduate therapist training model
What people say
Affordable rates
Bilingual staff
Specialized youth programs
Experienced supervisors
Community-focused mission
Services
Individual Counseling
Personalized mental health support for adults through weekly 50-minute sessions with supervised graduate therapists. Clients develop coping strategies for life transitions, emotional distress, and self-defeating patterns while building communication skills in a confidential setting. This service requires an eight-week commitment to establish therapeutic trust and consistency.
Family Therapy
Specialized interventions for family relationship challenges using trained therapists who address dysfunctional communication patterns and interpersonal conflicts. Sessions focus on improving family dynamics through structured therapeutic approaches that promote emotional understanding and healthier interaction patterns among all family members.
Teen Counseling
Targeted mental health services for adolescents including LGBTQ+ support through the SpeakOut program. Bilingual therapists work with teens on identity development, social challenges, and emotional regulation while maintaining appropriate confidentiality boundaries within the therapeutic relationship framework.
Support Groups
Community-based group sessions that provide shared learning experiences and peer support under professional guidance. Participants gain new perspectives on common challenges while developing social support networks through structured therapeutic activities and facilitated discussions.
Clinical Training Program
Graduate-level mental health training program that combines practical experience with professional supervision. Trainees receive comprehensive instruction in process therapy techniques while providing community services, creating a sustainable model for both therapist development and accessible mental health care delivery.
People
Mariela Marin
Executive Director
Mexican-Spanish heritage leader with Notre Dame and Antioch University education background. Oversees clinical training program development and community mental health initiatives while maintaining organizational mission alignment with founding principles.
Sarah Marin
Director of Operations
MBA professional specializing in nonprofit sustainability models. Manages organizational infrastructure and donor relations to support community mental health services, ensuring business operations align with social impact goals.
Patricia Cooper
Founder
Pioneering mental health advocate who established the center 40 years ago. Developed the original community-funded counseling model that continues to provide accessible mental health services to underserved populations in Santa Barbara.
Shannon Kennedy
Clinical Staff
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing direct client services. Specializes in pairing clients with appropriate therapeutic resources while maintaining clinical quality standards through supervision of trainee therapists.
Sonia Diaz-Ebadi
Clinical Staff
Bilingual LMFT offering Spanish-language counseling services. Focuses on cultural competency in mental health delivery and community outreach to underserved populations through the center's outreach initiatives.
Questions
What counseling services are available?
We offer individual, couples, family, and teen counseling through supervised graduate therapists with specialized programs for LGBTQ+ youth and family communication.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Start with a confidential phone intake through our office during business hours to match you with the appropriate therapist based on your needs.
What are session costs?
Sessions range from $35 to $75 per 50-minute session depending on income, subsidized by community donations to ensure accessible care.
How long is the wait for services?
Current wait time for placement is 6-8 weeks due to high demand for our affordable counseling services in Santa Barbara.
Do you offer emergency services?
We recommend calling 911 for mental health emergencies. Our regular counseling hours are Monday-Friday 9am-7pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
What training programs exist?
Our Clinical Training Program develops graduate therapists through supervised practice, offering professional development while providing community mental health services.
