Where survivors of violence can find counseling and healing in the Bay Area

This page lists places to find counseling and support. It is general information, not medical or legal advice. DNLH is not a crisis line and does not provide counseling. If you are thinking about suicide or are in crisis, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. If you are in danger, call 911.

What happened was not your fault. Reaching out for support is a strong step, and it is never too late to take it.

Where can I get free counseling?

1. Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs). California funds centers that give trauma therapy, crisis help, medication management, legal advocacy and case management to victims of violent crime, at no cost (CalVCB). They serve victims of gun violence, sexual assault, domestic violence, trafficking and hate crimes, and family members of people who were hurt or killed. They also serve people who are afraid to report to police. You do not have to meet CalVCB rules to get care. Bay Area TRCs listed by CalVCB:

2. Survivor agencies. These nonprofits offer counseling along with safety help. They do not list immigration status as a requirement on their pages.

• CORA (San Mateo County): 24 hour hotline 800-300-1080. Crisis help, safe housing, mental health counseling and legal services for people affected by intimate partner abuse (CORA). Counselors speak Spanish and English, with interpreters for other languages.
• Rape Trauma Services (San Mateo County): 24 hour crisis line 650-692-7273. Crisis intervention, advocacy, and individual and group therapy. No insurance needed (San Mateo County).
• Next Door Solutions (Santa Clara County): 24/7 hotline 408-279-2962. Free and confidential domestic violence support, including counseling and children's services (Next Door).
• YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley: 24/7 bilingual support line 800-572-2782. Free counseling and therapy for survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and trafficking. Its North County center in Palo Alto serves the East Palo Alto area (YWCA).
• AACI (Santa Clara County): 24/7 domestic violence hotline 408-975-2739; main office 408-975-2730 (AACI).

3. California Victim Compensation. If you were hurt by a crime, CalVCB can pay a counselor for your sessions, and for children who witnessed a violent crime. Citizenship is not required. Ask the counselor whether they bill CalVCB before you start.

What about county mental health care?

County programs serve people with Medi-Cal, and some serve people with no insurance.

• San Mateo County BHRS ACCESS Call Center: (800) 686-0101, 24/7, TTY 711. Serves residents with Medi-Cal and people who are uninsured. Staff speak English, Spanish and Chinese, with free interpreters (San Mateo County). San Mateo County also says legal status is not required for county funded coverage; call 650-616-2002 (county).
• East Palo Alto Community Counseling Center: youth and adult services, 2415 University Ave, Suite 301, (650) 363-4030 (San Mateo County).
• Santa Clara County Behavioral Health Call Center: (800) 704-0900, press 1, 24/7. For residents with Medi-Cal, Medicare or no insurance, with interpreters in county languages. Most therapy programs are for Medi-Cal members, and staff can help you apply (Santa Clara County).
• Ravenswood Family Health Network: counseling for children and adults, 1885 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, (650) 330-7400. Ask about cost (Ravenswood).

If you have restricted (emergency only) Medi-Cal: routine counseling is not a listed benefit, but psychiatric hospital care in an emergency is covered (DHCS BHIN 23-046). Use a TRC, a survivor agency or CalVCB for ongoing counseling. For more on care without full coverage, see Mental health care without fear.

I am a teen. Can I get counseling without my parents?

Often, yes. In California, a young person 12 or older who is mature enough can agree to outpatient counseling on their own. A parent is usually involved unless the counselor decides that would not be right, for example if it would put you at risk. Medicine needs a parent's consent (DHCS BHIN 24-046).

• allcove (ages 12 to 25): free or low cost, no referral, most services without parent consent. San Mateo (650) 226-7030; Palo Alto (650) 798-6330 (allcove).
• School counselors keep most of what students 12 and older share private, with exceptions such as abuse reports and danger (Ed Code 49602).
• Dating abuse? See How to tell if a relationship is abusive: a guide for teens.

I survived torture or persecution in another country.

There are programs built for this. UCSF's Division of Trauma Recovery Services includes Survivors International, which serves survivors of torture who fled to the U.S., including asylum evaluations (UCSF). In Santa Clara County, AACI runs a Center for Survivors of Torture; call its main office at 408-975-2730 (AACI). If you have an asylum case, tell your lawyer you are in counseling. See Immigration options if you survived violence, abuse or trafficking.

Is what I say in counseling private?

Mostly, yes, with some limits you should know:

• Sexual assault counselors. You have a legal right to refuse to disclose, and to stop others from disclosing, what you told a sexual assault counselor (Evidence Code 1035.8).
• Domestic violence counselors. The same kind of right covers what you told a domestic violence counselor (Evidence Code 1037.5).
• Child abuse. Therapists and counselors are mandated reporters. They must report suspected child abuse (Penal Code 11165.7).
• Danger. Some counselors must act when someone is in serious danger. School counselors, for example, may share information when there is a clear and present danger (Ed Code 49602).

Ask on the first call: "What do you keep private, and what do you have to report?" A good counselor will answer plainly.

Immigration worries. None of the survivor agencies we checked list immigration status as a requirement. If you have an immigration case or fear one, talk with a free legal service. Counseling records sometimes come up in immigration cases, so ask a legal service before you sign any release of records. See Free legal help in the Bay Area.

What does healing look like?

There is no one right way. Survivors use:

• One on one therapy focused on trauma
• Support groups with other survivors
• Family counseling, including for children who saw violence
• Advocacy: help with safety plans, housing, court and paperwork
• Medicine from a psychiatrist, for some people

Some days will be better than others. That is normal. Healing is not a straight line.

How do I pick a place?

1. Start with what you can reach today: a 24 hour line or a TRC.
2. Ask about cost, language and location on the first call.
3. Ask if they have a waitlist. If yes, ask for a support group or a check in call while you wait.
4. Try a few sessions. If it does not feel right, you can ask for a different counselor.

Who can help right now?

• Crisis: call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. For Spanish, dial 988 and press 2, or text AYUDA to 988.
• San Mateo County residents: San Mateo County Crisis Line (StarVista), (650) 579-0350, 24/7 (county).
• Santa Clara County: dial 988 from a 408, 650 or 669 number, or (800) 704-0900 press 1 (county).
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233, or text START to 88788 (thehotline.org).
• RAINN sexual assault hotline: 800-656-4673, or text HOPE to 64673 (RAINN).
• Other California counties: find your county mental health line on the DHCS list.
• More hotlines: Which helpline to call and Survivor help.

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to report to police to get counseling? No. Trauma Recovery Centers and survivor agencies serve people who have not reported. CalVCB has its own rules about reporting; see Victim compensation.

It happened years ago. Is it too late? No. Trauma can show up long after. You can ask for help any time.

Can I get counseling in my language? Many programs offer Spanish or interpreters. Ask on the first call.

Can my children get help too? Yes. Next Door Solutions lists children's services, and CalVCB can pay for counseling for children who witnessed a violent crime.

I am a man. Are these services for me? Yes. Ask any program listed here whether it serves you. Next Door Solutions says it supports people of every gender and status.

We checked these listings on October 21, 2026. Programs change; call before you go.