Community Resources

Thriving campus: Access off-campus mental health care at bmcc.thrivingcampus.com

Counseling services in your community

There are many reasons a student may seek counseling outside the BMCC Counseling Center. Students seeking long-term therapy, specialized treatment, or those leaving the college shortly may choose to find a therapist they can see outside of school. Even if you are looking to start counseling somewhere else, the BMCC counselors can help you connect with a treatment provider.

Where and how to start

There is no doubt that these are difficult times. Feelings of anxiety and depression, struggles with following daily routines, interpersonal problems, or an inability to focus are among many of the normal emotions that people are experiencing. As a student, these difficulties and many others may be more challenging; moreover, there are immense pressures of keeping up with school within the context of a pandemic and the continuous exposure of police brutality as it perpetuates systemic racism.

Understanding that you might need support is a good first step. Therapy can be an important resource for you to consider if you are experiencing trouble coping or healing in any aspect of your life. Through therapy, you can meet with a therapist or a counselor in order to improve your relationships, process and resolve painful feelings, and work to change behaviors and habits that no longer serve you.

We continue to empower your choice to be the healthiest version of yourself.

Teletherapy vs. in-person counseling

Currently, most clinics offer therapy remotely, meaning meetings are held over the phone or via Zoom. Although it is different than meeting in-person, teletherapy can still be a useful and meaningful experience. It is also convenient for those that live far away and can now avoid the stresses of commuting through NYC. Some clinics offer in-person sessions (see referrals), with important safety measures taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Step by step guide to calling mental health providers for first visit

  1. If you get their voicemail instead of a team member, leave a message with the following info: name, phone # and let them know you’re interested in their services and would like to hear what the next steps are. If you are sure this is the place you want to receive services, you can let them know you’re calling to schedule an intake (first visit) appointment.
  2. If you connect with a team member when calling, inform them you’re seeking therapeutic services.
  3. Confirm if they’re accepting new patients. If so, ask what the next steps are and what the process will look like going forward. If not, you should ask how long the waitlist is and to be added to it if you feel comfortable with the amount of wait time.
  4. At this point, you may be asked a couple of quick questions over the phone, or you will be asked to schedule time for a brief phone call. These questions may gather some general information (name, contact information, insurance) as well as some insight into your motivation to start counseling. You can disclose some of the challenges you’d like support with (e.g., anxiety, relationships, etc.) as well as specify and preferences you have for therapy and your therapist. This brief phone call (whether done immediately when you reach out or at a later day and time) is usually the first step before setting up an intake (first session). Some clinics and clinicians may schedule you for an intake (first) session right away.
  5. Before you end the call, you can clarify how much of the cost your insurance (if you currently have health insurance) is expected to cover and how much you will personally have to pay for sessions. The team member on the phone may be able to give you the expected amount, but you may also have to follow up with your specific insurance provider to get those answers. Here are the three different options clinics and clinicians have in regards to insurance coverage:
    1. In-Network Insurance: If your insurance is in-network with the clinician or clinic you are talking to, it means they bill your insurance directly for the services. You will have a small co-pay amount in addition or costs will be fully covered.
    2. Out-of-Network Insurance: If your insurance is out-of-network, it means you will be charged the full costs for sessions up front, but you can turn in the superbill (documenting the sessions you attended and the charges of each session) to your insurance company afterward to get a certain amount (usually over 50 %) of the charge reimbursed.
    3. Insurance Not Accepted: If your insurance is not accepted, you will be expected to cover the full costs yourself if you receive services.
  6. Ask when the earliest time to schedule your Intake (first session) is and confirm who, when, and where you are going to meet. Try to clarify when you will begin to be charged for sessions (if you will be responsible for some or all of the charge).
  7. Ask to clarify any additional information/items needed before moving forward. You will likely be given some paperwork to fill out and return between the initial call and your first session.

Referral updates or questions may be shared with the Counseling Center Team
**You can always contact the counseling center if you have additional questions regarding outside treatment. **
Tel. (212) 220-8140 | Email counselingcenter@bmcc.cuny.edu

RESOURCES BY BOROUGH:

Manhattan

Institute for Family Health – Center for Counseling

Saint Mark’s Place Institute for Mental Health – UNITAS

LifeStance Health

Blanton-Peale

Metropolitan Center

Community Counseling & Mediation

  • Contact Info: (212) 564-6006
  • Web Link: https://ccmnyc.org/
  • Location: 115 West 31 Street, 5th Floor New York, NY 10001

Puerto Rican Family Institute

  • Contact Info: (212) 229-6942 Ext 1972
  • Web Link: http://www.prfiorg.com
  • Location: 145 West 15 Street, 5th floor New York, NY 10011

Karen Horney Clinic

Comprehensive Therapeutic Services

  • Contact Info: (212) 658-0977
  • Web Link: http://www.cts-nyc.com
  • Location: 450 Lexington Ave, 4th For NY NY 10017

The Fifth Avenue Counseling Center 

  • Contact Info: (212) 989-2990
  • Website Link: https://www.tfacc.org
  • Location: 5 East 17thStreet, 2nd Floor New York, NY  10003

Brooklyn

New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center

  • Contact Info: Bushwick location Tel. (718) 602-1000 | East NY  location Tel. (718) 235-3100
  • Web Link: http://www.nypcc.org
  • Locations: 102 Pilling Street Brooklyn, NY 11207
    2857 Linden Boulevard Brooklyn, NY 11208

Interborough Developmental & Consultation Center

City Therapy

Community Counseling & Mediation

Puerto Rican Family Institute

  • Contact Info:  (718) 963-4430
  • Web Link: http://www.prfiorg.com
  • Location: 28 Debevoise St, 5th floor Brooklyn, NY 11206

Comprehensive Therapeutic Services

Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services

  • Contact Info: (718) 722-6001
  • Web Link: https://www.ccbq.org/
  • Locations: 67-29 Myrtle Ave 2nd Floor Glendale, NY 11385
    1623 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11210

Brooklyn Center for Psychotherapy

Institute for Family Health – Center for Counseling

  • Contact Info: (718) 822-1818
  • Web Link: https://institute.org/
  • Location: 300 Cadman Plaza West, 17th Floor (One Pierrepont Plaza) Brooklyn, NY 11201

New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Outpatient Psychology Services (Methodist Hospital)

Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center Adult Outpatient Clinic 

Bronx

Comprehensive Therapeutic Services

  • Contact Info: (212) 658-0977
  • Web Link: http://www.cts-nyc.com
  • Location: 2855 3rd Ave 3rd Floor Bronx, NY 10455

Morris Height Health Center

Postgraduate Adult and Child Clinic  

Puerto Rican Family Institute

Institute for Family Health – Center for Counseling

New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center

  • Contact Info: (718) 485-2100
  • Web Link: http://www.nypcc.org
  • Location: 579 Courtlandt Ave. Bronx, NY 10451

Mosaic Mental Health

  • Contact Info: (718) 796-5300 ext. 117
  • Web Link: https://mosaicmh.org/
  • Location: 5676 Riverdale Ave. Suite 202 Bronx, NY 10471

Sun River Health

Queens

Social Work Counseling Services

Comprehensive Therapeutic Services

  • Contact Info: (212) 658-0977
  • Web Link: http://www.cts-nyc.com
  • Location: 27-01 Queens Plaza North Queens (WeWork Building) Queens, NY 11101

Aristotle Psychological and Biofeedback Services

Center for Psychological Services, St. John’s University

Jewish Board

  • Contact Info: (844) 663-2255
  • Web Link: http://www.jewishboard.org/
  • Locations: 97-77 Queens Blvd Rego Park NY 11374
    243-02 Northern Boulevard Queens, NY 11362

Long Island Consultation Center

Resolutions – Counseling and Family Services

Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services

  • Contact Info: (718) 722-6001
  • Web Link: https://www.ccbq.org/
  • Locations: 18-47 Mott Avenue, 2nd Floor Far Rockaway, NY 11691
    91-14 37th Avenue Jackson Heights, NY 11372
    161-10 Jamaica Ave., 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11342