Counseling in Jacksonville, FL. Find the Right Therapist.

Related Sites:
City of Jacksonville
Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy & Mental Health Counseling

Therapy Jacksonville Florida

Counseling Downtown Jacksonville, Brentwood, Fairfield, Hogans Creek, LaVilla, Longbranch, Midtown, Springfield, Tallyrand

The city of Jacksonville has become a very popular location for those wishing to retire and enjoy the heat and the bristling blue ocean. With its location in the Northern part of Florida, the area is warm, yet not as consuming as the southern areas like Miami. There is great diversity here in Jacksonville, with people from all walks of life and beliefs calling the area home. According to the Census Bureau, the racial mixture of the city is 55% Caucasian, 31% African American and the remainder is a mix between Native American, Asian, and Hispanic.¹ The city also has the 10th largest Arabic concentration and overall, has a highly diverse ethnic population. The city is home to Jacksonville University and the University of North Florida, making the city a great college town and a thriving part of the city's economy. The city is also rich in cultural heritage, providing many historic sites to visit. Festivals and music are part of the culture, including the Jacksonville Jazz Fest, the Jacksonville Film Festival, and of course, the fireworks celebration every 4th of July.

Mental Health in Jacksonville

While many citizens in Jacksonville enjoy the warmth, sun, and laid-back Florida lifestyle, many other residents struggle with depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and other behavioral health problems. It is estimated that approximately 22 percent of Jacksonville's residents have a diagnosable mental disorder and 5.4 percent have a severe mental illness.²

The City of Jacksonville, in cooperation with the Department of Children and Families, the Circuit 4, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Office, provide many mental health services to citizens. The Behavioral and Human Services division provides funding to four area agencies that offer outpatient counseling services, crisis care, case management, supportive housing, and rehabilitative services. The Mental Health Center of Jacksonville is one of the city's cooperating agencies that provide care for people with behavioral health issues. The center may be reached at 904-695-9145.³

Current Education

The University of North Florida offers a graduate program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling for those who are interested in becoming effective counseling practitioners. The program includes 60 credit hours of coursework, as well as 1,000 hours of clinical experience in practicum and internship settings. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.⁴ Graduates of the program are eligible to apply for licensure as a Mental Health Counselor with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling.⁵

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References

1. United States Census Bureau. (2017). State and County Quickfacts - Jacksonville, FL. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/1235000.html
2. Adult Mental Health Task Force. (2006). Adult Mental Health Strategic Plan - Jacksonville, FL. Retrieved from http://www.hpcnef.org/files/health-needs-assesments/AdultMentalHealthStrategicPlanNov20061.pdf
3. The City of Jacksonville. (2017). Mental Health Services. Retrieved from http://www.coj.net/departments/special-services/behavioral-and-human-services/mental-health-services.aspx
4. The University of North Florida. (2016). Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Retrieved from http://www.unf.edu/graduateschool/academics/programs/Mental_Health_Counseling.aspx
5. Florida Department of Health. (2017). Licensing and Regulation - Mental Health Professions. Retrieved from http://www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-and-regulation/mental-health/

Jacksonville is located in Duval County, Florida. It has a land area of 747.44 square miles and a water area of 127.19 square miles.  The population of Jacksonville is 868,031 people with 318,575 households and a median annual income of $46,764. .

Therapy Affordability Meter for Jacksonville, FL

Some budgeting needed

While counseling can certainly be an expense for individuals and families in Jacksonville, with proper budgeting, it is entirely do-able and the risk/reward is worth it. For some families, it may be difficult to sustain a commitment to therapy without proper insurance coverage. If this is you, ask your therapist about low cost options as practitoners in and around Jacksonville may have flexibility or sliding scales. Low cost counseling and affordable therapy are also sometimes offered by listed city and university level clinics, check with your local Jacksonville public health department.