Free online therapy platforms do not exist, but some platforms may include free support groups or texting with volunteers. For example, Monument, an online therapy platform for alcohol use disorder, offers online support groups monitored by a therapist.
Who Can I Talk to Right Now for Free?
To speak with someone without a fee, 7 Cups provides anonymous messaging between you and a volunteer listener. The site also offers support forum boards and chat rooms where you can speak with others. Both of these options are available for free.
The 7 Cups community forums have numerous options to choose from:
- Mental illness support groups for anxiety, depression, eating disorders, psychosis, and schizophrenia
- Peer groups for members of the LGBTQ+ community, students and young career professionals, young people of color, and people age 35 and older
- A group called the Hobby Zone where members can talk about their favorite pastimes, with options such as gaming, arts and crafts, gardening, and cooking
The Crisis Text Line is another option you can use. Text HOME to 741741, and you can connect with a volunteer crisis counselor. Speaking with the counselor is free, and if you have a cell phone plan with T-Mobile, AT&T, or Verizon texting with the Crisis Text Line is also free. For other phone networks, you’ll be charged standard messaging rates.
Volunteer listeners are trained in “reflective listening, collaborative problem solving, and crisis management.” Listeners are not free online counselors or therapists. Licensed therapists and counselors train and study for many years to earn their accreditations, and a listener may not have the same level of experience or qualifications as a licensed professional. In fact, 7 Cups explains that if a volunteer believes someone is a danger to themselves or others, the volunteer is required to recommend therapy or a crisis resource and terminate the chat.
Where Can I Find a Free Therapist or Counselor?
Some organizations, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), can help you find affordable or free psychotherapy near you. These resources may be available in-person or online.
Beginning in 2020, therapists through the Therapy Aid Coalition have offered low-cost or free online counseling services to healthcare workers and first responders, even if they are currently unemployed. Therapy Aid Coalition also provides free online mental health counseling after national crises.
from Ketone Blog https://ketone2013.com/where-can-i-find-free-online-therapy/
via Keto News
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