Mental Health Crisis Support (Non-Emergency): A Safe Harbor in the Storm

You’re feeling overwhelmed, on the edge, and the coping strategies that usually work just aren’t enough right now. This is a mental health crisis—a period of intense difficulty where you feel you can’t cope on your own. You know you don’t need the emergency room, but you also know you can’t wait weeks for your next appointment. This is the difficult middle ground where our non-emergency crisis support comes in. We provide a safe, same-day space to de-escalate, stabilize, and create a clear path forward, preventing a difficult moment from becoming a full-blown emergency.

What is Non-Emergency Crisis Support? Bridging the Critical Gap

Non-emergency crisis support is for individuals experiencing significant emotional distress, worsening symptoms, or a situational crisis that feels unmanageable, but where there is no immediate risk of harm to self or others. It is a proactive intervention designed to provide immediate support and stabilization, helping you navigate the crisis without the need for hospitalization.

This service is right for you if you are experiencing:

An intense surge of anxiety or a panic attack that won’t subside.
Overwhelming sadness, hopelessness, or uncontrollable crying.
Significant stress from a life event (a breakup, job loss, conflict) that is impacting your mental health.
Worsening depression or anxiety that makes it impossible to function in your daily tasks.
Feeling triggered or emotionally flooded, but you are able to stay safe.

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or others, this is an emergency. Please call or text 988, or go to your nearest emergency room immediately.

What to Expect During a Crisis Support Session

Our crisis sessions are structured, compassionate, and focused entirely on helping you regain your footing in the moment. We maintain a logical order in declarations to ensure we address the most pressing needs first.

Immediate Safety and Stabilization (The First 15 Minutes)

We begin by ensuring you are in a safe environment.
We use grounding techniques and breathing exercises to help regulate your nervous system and reduce the intensity of the moment.

Collaborative Problem-Solving and De-escalation (The Core of the Session)

We help you identify the specific trigger or stressor that led to this crisis point.
We work with you to break down the overwhelming problem into manageable parts.
We use a question and answer format to help you access your own problem-solving skills, which may feel temporarily out of reach.

Creating a Concrete, actionable Coping Plan

We don’t just talk; we build. Together, we create a step-by-step plan for the next 24-72 hours.
This plan includes specific coping strategies, people to contact for support, and ways to manage immediate responsibilities.
We expand evidence with variations, ensuring your plan has multiple tools to rely on.

Connection to Next-Step Resources

We ensure a warm hand-off to your regular therapist or psychiatrist, communicating with them about the crisis (with your permission).
If you don’t have ongoing care, we will help connect you with resources for follow-up treatment.

How to Access Same-Day Crisis Support

We reserve same-day appointments for current and new patients in crisis.

For Current Patients: Call our main line and state that you are experiencing a non-emergency crisis. Our team will prioritize your call and connect you with your provider or an available crisis clinician.
For New Patients: Call us and explain your situation. We will conduct a brief phone screening to ensure our service is appropriate and schedule a same-day virtual or in-person session.

How Our Crisis Support is Different: A Proactive, Preventative Approach

Many people are told to go to the ER or wait it out. We offer a third, more therapeutic option.

We Focus on Your Strengths, Not Just Your Symptoms

Even in a crisis, you have strengths. We help you identify and leverage them. What has helped you get through difficult times before? We help you reconnect with that inner resilience.

We Create a “Crisis Plan” for the Future

During a calmer moment after the crisis has passed, we help you develop a personalized crisis prevention plan. This plan includes your personal early warning signs, a list of coping strategies that work for you, and the names and numbers of your support team. This empowers you to manage future challenges more effectively.

We Reduce Stigma and Fear

By normalizing crisis as a part of many mental health journeys, we reduce the shame and isolation that often accompanies it. We avoid any E-A-T negativity by providing a non-judgmental, confidential space where your feelings are validated.

Answering Your Questions About Crisis Support

Is This a Replacement for Therapy?

No. This is acute, short-term support to stabilize a crisis. It is not a substitute for ongoing psychotherapy, which is essential for addressing the root causes of recurring crises. We will strongly encourage and help you connect with long-term care.

What If I’m Not Sure If It’s an Emergency or Not?

When in doubt, reach out. It is always better to connect with support early. If we determine during our initial contact that your situation is an emergency, we will guide you directly to the appropriate level of care (like calling 988).

I’m Scared I’ll Be Judged or Forced into Hospitalization.

Our primary goal is to help you stay out of the hospital by giving you the tools and support to be safe in your community. We use a collaborative approach; decisions about your care are made with you, not for you.

Our Commitment to Your Safety and Dignity

In a crisis support session, you will find:

A Calm Presence: A clinician trained in de-escalation who will not be alarmed by your emotions.
Unwavering Respect: Your feelings and experiences are treated with dignity and validity.
Practical Help: We focus on actionable steps, not just talk.
A Path Forward: You will leave the session with a clearer head and a concrete plan.

You Don't Have to Weather the Storm Alone

If you are in the midst of a difficult moment and feel yourself being pulled under, reaching out for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

We invite you to contact our practice to access our same-day, non-emergency mental health crisis support. Let us provide the safe harbor you need to find your calm and chart a course forward.