Now, more than ever, it is critical for people who need mental health services to have access to the help they need. Because of the coronavirus quarantine, Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS) is now offering counseling via telephone and video.
Those who wish to speak to a therapist can call the clinic at (310) 670-1410 for an initial consultation.
"With the COVID-19 pandemic and related financial hardships, we know that, now more than ever, Los Angeles residents are coping with stress and anxiety that can result in a mental health crisis," said Eden Garcia-Balis, Chief Executive Officer of AMCS and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. "We are now able to serve clients regardless of how far from our Westchester-based clinic they may be! We are piloting a new intake procedure to make things move smoother and faster, even online."
Coincidentally, May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Garcia-Balis said online counseling offers many benefits for those seeking help:
It is convenient. Online therapy takes less time since there is no need to travel miles to meet up with your therapist. Dial a number or log in to a site, and the session can happen wherever you are comfortable.
It is comfortable. Online communication is very comfortable for many people, especially younger adults or those who use technology often.
It is easy. It can provide access to those who can't get to an office, and not just because of the quarantine. Some people with chronic illnesses or disabilities may not be able to drive or easily able to leave their home. In these situations, web- or telephone-based therapy may be their only option for help.
What is even more important during these times of financial uncertainty, online counseling services with one of AMCS's 60 trained therapists are offered on a sliding-scale basis. Garcia-Balis added that in addition to one-on-one counseling, AMCS is offering a variety of online therapy groups covering everything from "Grief and Loss" and "Mindfulness for Stress, Pain and Sadness" to groups for emerging adults like "Navigating Your 20s."
"We hope everyone who needs help, regardless of where they live, takes advantage of our new services and gets the help they need from a trained therapist," she said.
If you or someone you know needs help, please call AMCS at (310) 670-1410 today! For more information about the clinic, please visit http://www.AMCShelps.com.
About AMCS
The mission of Airport Marina Counseling Service (AMCS) is two-fold: to provide affordable, community-based mental health services and to train mental health therapists.
AMCS is a nonprofit, community-based mental health clinic that has been serving the greater LAX region since 1961. From its opening in 1961 to now, AMCS has continued to grow and expand it programs and services. Today, we serve hundreds of individuals, children and families and couples weekly, and our services are provided on a sliding-scale basis.
As affordable mental health resources become more difficult to find, more people living further away from AMCS depend upon its services. Though we have no geographical boundaries, the Clinic currently serves the greater LAX area including Westchester, El Segundo, Culver City, Hawthorne, Inglewood, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey and Venice, Santa Monica, Torrance, South Los Angeles and extended areas of Los Angeles County. AMCS offers comprehensive therapeutic services to individuals, children and families, couples and older adults, many of whom would otherwise have little access to counseling. Open seven days a week, Airport Marina Counseling Service provides an array of successful programs, both at the Clinic and off-site, to meet the needs of people of all ages.
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