Recommended Resources

Written By Halley Ray

Tools, Advocacy Platforms, and Additional Reading

DISCLAIMER: This isn’t intended to be a comprehensive list, but rather a curated set of standout resources tied directly to the themes we covered in the webinar.

We curated a shortlist of standout resources tied to the topics covered in the webinar—from practical tools and advocacy platforms to explainers and educational series.

If you or someone you know needs immediate support:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988. Available 24/7. Chat at 988lifeline.org.

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741. Free, 24/7 crisis counseling via text.

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357. Free, confidential, 24/7 referrals for mental health and substance use treatment.

Veterans Crisis Line: Call 988 and press 1. Or text 838255.

Postpartum Support International (PSI) Helpline: 1-800-944-4773. Text (English): 503-894-9453. Text (Spanish): 971-420-0294. Available 24/7.

Table of Contents

  1. Provider Search Tools

  2. Peer & Community Support

  3. Curated Reading List

  4. Complementary Tools & Wellness

Provider Search Tools

Where to actually look when you’re trying to find a provider, especially if you’re navigating insurance barriers, provider shortages, or cost constraints.

  • Provider Locators:

    • Find a Therapist with Grow Therapy | Virtual & In-Person Therapy: Search and book in-network therapists across most major insurers. Filter by specialty, insurance, session format, and cost. Billing is handled through the platform. Best for: Finding insurance-accepting therapists with streamlined booking when navigating in-network options feels overwhelming.

    • Headway & Alma: Both platforms connect patients with insurance-accepting therapists with streamlined billing. Headway often has shorter waitlists than insurer directories. Best for: Patients who want in-network therapy but are struggling to find available, accepting providers.

    • GLMA:LGBTQ+ Healthcare Provider Directory: Searchable directory of LGBTQ+-affirming physicians and mental health providers. Providers self-identify as affirming or as members of the LGBTQ+ community. Best for: Finding culturally competent care for LGBTQ+ individuals.

    • National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network: Vetted directory of therapists who identify as queer and/or trans people of color, centered on serving LGBTQ+ BIPOC communities. Best for: Connecting with therapists who share lived experience with intersecting queer, trans, and racial identities.

    • Psychology Today Therapist Finder: The most widely used therapist search tool. Filter by insurance, specialty, cost, telehealth availability, and provider identity. Best for: Initial provider search, especially when filtering by insurance network or specific specialty.

    • SAMHSA Treatment Locator: Federal database of mental health and substance use treatment facilities searchable by zip code. Includes sliding scale, Medicaid-accepting, and low-cost options across outpatient, inpatient, and medication-assisted programs. Best for: Finding facilities and treatment programs when individual providers are unavailable or unaffordable.

  • Reduced Cost & Sliding Scale Care Models:

    • Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs):  Federally funded centers offering sliding scale care regardless of ability to pay. Accept Medicaid and typically have psychiatrists on staff. Best for: Low-income patients, Medicaid enrollees, or anyone in a shortage area needing psychiatric medication management.

    • Open Path Collective: Network of therapists offering reduced-fee sessions ($30-$80) for individuals and families. One-time membership fee of $65. Best for: Uninsured or underinsured patients, or those whose insurer's low reimbursement rates have pushed providers out of network.

    • Telehealth Therapy Platforms like Talkspace: Connect patients with licensed therapists via video, phone, and messaging. Accepts many commercial insurance plans. Verify your specific coverage carefully before starting (billing practices and covered services vary by plan and state). Best for: Patients seeking flexible, accessible therapy — particularly those in shortage areas or with scheduling constraints.

Peer & Community Support

Organizations offering community connection, peer support, and advocacy resources.

Curated Reading List

The need to #FixInsurance is urgent. Below are key reports, analyses, and articles that ground the issue in data you can use. To advocate for systemic change, you need to arm yourself with facts first. Useful for advocates, patients, and anyone working to understand what’s broken and what’s being done to fix it.

On Big Picture Coverage & Parity: 

On Mental Health Innovation 


Visit NAMI’s Ask the Expert webinar library for more!

Complementary Tools & Wellness

Before paying out of pocket, ask your insurer or HR what’s already covered. Many plans include benefits that are never proactively shared, including:

  • Wellness reimbursements 

  • HSA/FSA eligibility for therapy-related expenses

  • EAP benefits (which often include free therapy sessions or subsidized app subscriptions)

  • Gym or fitness discounts that may extend to yoga or stress-reduction programs

Exercise: A Cochrane meta-analysis (218 trials, 14,170 participants) shows exercise reduces depression and anxiety symptoms comparably to medication for many patients. Insurance rarely covers prescribed exercise programs even when clinically recommended, but discounts may extend to certain wellness memberships.

Complementary & Integrative Therapies: Art therapy, music therapy, yoga, and other integrative approaches are increasingly recognized as clinically meaningful complements to medication and talk therapy — especially for patients who don't fully respond to standard treatments or face access barriers.

Patient advocacy organizations like Avery's Hope fund art therapy and complementary treatments for families navigating rare disease and chronic illness. Community mental health centers, nonprofit advocacy orgs, and hospital social work departments often know of local free or subsidized programs.

Wellness & Mindfulness Apps*: Wellness app coverage is expanding through employer EAPs and insurer wellness benefits.

*DISCLAIMER: The mental health app market is large and largely unregulated. These apps have published evidence-based or clinical studies behind them. They disclaim clinical use in their terms of service and do not replace clinical evaluation or treatment.

Further Reading & Resources:

Halley Ray
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Patient Protections