Your students don’t have to face their challenges alone!
Welcome to Equity Associates, where we strive to provide top-quality online, counseling services for adolescents accessible with very little wait and delivered where a student is the often the most comfortable, in their school setting.
We acknowledge that students may find it difficult to seek mental health assistance. Therefore, we collaborate closely with school counselors, like yourself, to simplify the process. Our intake procedure is uncomplicated, ensuring that adolescents can complete it without difficulty. Once they finish their intake paperwork, we can typically link them up with a mental health specialist within three business days.
Students can get started with our counseling services in the following three ways:
Get Started Today
Still have questions or need more information? Get in touch and we will be glad to help make sure you have all the information you need. You can also call us at (866) 633-4288.
We understand that referring your students for counseling can be a daunting task, but at Equity Associates, we’re here to make the process as smooth as possible.
We specialize in providing specialized counseling services to adolescents and young adults, and we’re committed to helping your students achieve their mental health goals.
Our team of licensed counselors has extensive experience working with specific age groups, including adolescents and young adults. We also specialize in treating a range of mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and more. Our therapists use evidence-based therapies and interventions that have been proven effective in treating these specific issues.
We offer a variety of counseling services, including individual therapy, family therapy, and group therapy. We also provide specialized services, such as LGBTQ+ counseling and trauma-focused therapy. Our counselors work closely with each client to develop a personalized treatment plan that meets their unique needs and goals.
At Equity Associates, we understand the importance of building trust with your students and their families. That’s why we prioritize open communication and collaboration with our clients and their support systems. We believe that a strong therapeutic relationship is essential for successful treatment outcomes.
We hope that you’ll consider referring your students to our specialized counseling services at Equity Associates. We’re dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to each of our clients and helping them achieve their mental health goals. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or would like to learn more about our services
One of our specialties is the use of the Collaborative Care Model.
At Equity Associates, we understand that students face unique challenges and that mental health is a crucial aspect of their well-being. We’re committed to providing quality care and specialized services that meet the needs of every student.
In a study by Lyons (2016), it was found that collaborative care can improve the quality of care, enhance communication between providers, and ultimately lead to better outcomes for patients. That’s why we prioritize working closely with school counselors and other mental health professionals involved in a student’s care. We believe that collaboration is essential to ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed.
Our team of licensed counselors is experienced in counseling for specific age groups and mental health concerns, and we use evidence-based therapies and interventions to provide the most effective treatment. We’re dedicated to helping students achieve their goals and live their best lives.
We’re committed to keeping school counselors informed of their students’ progress, and we encourage regular communication to ensure that we’re providing the best possible care. We believe that by working together, we can make a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of every student.
Thank you for considering Equity Associates as a referral agency for your students. We look forward to working with you to support their mental health needs. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our collaborative care model, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
As a school counselor you know it’s crucial to understand that students don’t usually seek help for mental health issues on their own, and families might not know where to start when it comes to finding support.
That’s why it’s so important for you to take an active role in connecting your students with the resources they need.
According to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, “adolescents are often reluctant to seek help for mental health concerns due to a lack of knowledge about available resources and the perceived stigma surrounding help-seeking” (Crosby et al., 2019). As a school counselor, you can play a vital role in breaking down these barriers by providing information about available mental health services and helping to reduce the stigma associated with seeking help.
Another study in the Journal of School Counseling found that “families often lack knowledge about mental health services and may struggle to navigate the healthcare system on their own” (Chafouleas et al., 2020). This can be especially true for families who are new to the area or for those who are experiencing mental health issues for the first time. As a school counselor, you can help bridge this gap by providing families with information about available resources, including community mental health providers, and offering support as they navigate the healthcare system.
In summary, students often don’t seek help for mental health issues, and families may not know where to start when looking for support. As a school counselor, you have the opportunity to make a real difference by providing information about available resources, breaking down stigma, and helping families navigate the healthcare system. By taking an active role in connecting your students with the resources they need, you can help promote positive mental health outcomes for your students and their families.
Did you know that as a school counselor, you can help increase a student’s willingness to engage in treatment and improve their outcomes by giving them a “warm handoff” to an outside mental health provider?
This means that you can help them schedule a free consultation, and a staff member from your school or a family member is welcome to join them during the consultation.
According to a study by the Journal of Child and Family Studies, students who received a warm handoff from school-based mental health providers to community providers had higher rates of engagement in treatment and better clinical outcomes than those who received a referral and appointment information alone (Lee et al., 2020). So, it’s worth taking the extra step to make a warm handoff.
The National Institute of Mental Health reports that many individuals avoid seeking mental health treatment due to stigma and fear of negative social consequences (NIMH, 2021). However, when a student receives a warm handoff from a trusted school counselor to a community mental health provider, they may feel more comfortable seeking treatment because they have a personal connection to the provider and know that someone they trust is recommending the treatment.
In an article published by Psychology Today, clinical psychologist Dr. Suzanne Degges-White explains that students who trust their school counselors are more likely to seek out their help and to act on their recommendations (Degges-White, 2019). This trust can extend to outside mental health providers when a school counselor provides a warm handoff. The student may be more likely to trust the outside provider because they trust the school counselor who is making the referral.
In conclusion, a warm handoff from a school counselor to an outside mental health provider can help increase a student’s engagement in treatment, improve their outcomes, and overcome the stigma and fear associated with seeking mental health treatment. So, go ahead and make that warm handoff and help your students get the support they need!
What do school counselors, who refer their students to us, have to say about the referral process?
“These services are so needed for my students and so hard to find. Thank you for making them available to our kids!”
“Getting started was super easy. I really enjoyed sitting with my student during the “warm hand-off” it helped me know my student was going to get the care they needed and also know my student was connected and would follow through with getting services.”
“It is wonderful to find a community partner that shares the same values as I do about comprehensive school-based mental health and understands the unique and dynamic needs of schools.”
“I can tell they really understand what is like to help get kids services and where the breakdowns and disconnects occur. They have accounted for things and make me very hopeful my students will have less obstacles to getting the services they need.”
“I can count on Equity Associates to get my students connected with specialized services, quickly.”
