Important: This page provides general information, not medical or legal advice, a diagnosis, or a guarantee of services, coverage, cost, availability, or a particular privacy outcome. Policies and benefits can change. Consult a qualified professional for personal guidance and verify coverage and costs with the provider and health plan. Do not delay emergency help to check coverage.
Getting Started
How to Find a Therapist in Southern West Virginia
Finding a therapist in rural West Virginia can be challenging. Here's a practical guide to help you navigate the process.
Finding a therapist in Southern West Virginia isn’t as simple as it is in bigger cities. There aren’t therapists on every corner. Drives are long. Options are limited.
But help is available. This guide walks you through how to find a therapist when you live in a rural area.
This is a guide to finding and reaching care. It isn’t medical advice, and it can’t tell you what kind of treatment you need. That’s what an evaluation with a clinician is for.
Start with what you need
Before you start calling around, think about the practical side:
What are you looking for?
- Individual counseling for yourself
- Family counseling
- Services for your child or teen
- Help with substance use
- Crisis support
What are your practical constraints?
- How far can you drive?
- What times work with your schedule?
- Do you need telehealth because of transportation or work?
- What insurance do you have, or do you need a sliding fee scale?
Knowing this upfront saves time on the phone. You don’t need to have anything else figured out.
Where to look
Community mental health centers These can be a useful starting point in rural areas. Many participate in Medicaid and Medicare, may participate with commercial plans, and offer a sliding fee scale for qualifying uninsured patients. Network status, coverage, and patient cost vary, so give the center the exact plan shown on your card and ask it to verify the service you need.
Southern Highlands is the community mental health center serving Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming counties. They have clinics in Princeton, Welch, Mullens, and Rockview. The number to call is (304) 425-9541.
Private practices There are some private therapists in the area, but they’re limited. Many don’t take Medicaid. Some have long waits.
Telehealth options If you can’t find someone local, telehealth expands your options. You can see a provider elsewhere in West Virginia by video or phone.
School-based services If you have a child who needs help, ask whether their school has behavioral health services. Some schools in Southern West Virginia have services available on site.
Provider directories SAMHSA maintains a national treatment locator at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/, where you can search by zip code and filter by what payment a provider accepts.
How to call and what to ask
Calling a therapist’s office can feel intimidating. Here’s what to expect.
You’ll likely talk to a receptionist first. They’ll ask basic questions:
- What kind of help are you looking for?
- What insurance do you have?
- What days and times work for you?
Questions you should ask:
- Do you accept my insurance? Or: what does it cost if I don’t have insurance?
- Do you have a sliding fee scale, and what do I need to bring to qualify for it?
- How soon can I get an appointment, and do you have a cancellation list?
- Do you offer telehealth, and does phone work if my internet is bad?
- What locations do you have, and which is closest to me?
- Do I need a referral?
- What do I need to bring to the first appointment?
Most community mental health centers don’t require a referral. You can call and schedule.
The wait
In rural West Virginia, waits happen. You might call and be told the next opening isn’t this week.
If you’re in crisis and can’t wait:
- Ask about walk-in crisis services
- Call the Southern Highlands 24/7 crisis line: (800) 615-0122
- Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or visit https://988lifeline.org/
- Call 911 if you or someone with you is in immediate physical danger
If you’re not in crisis but the wait feels long:
- Ask to be put on a cancellation list
- Ask whether telehealth appointments are available sooner
- Ask whether another location in the same organization has openings
- Ask what else they offer that might be available sooner
What if you don’t have insurance?
No insurance doesn’t mean no options.
Medicaid — West Virginia expanded Medicaid, and income limits are set by the state and change from year to year, so it’s worth applying even if you were turned down before. Apply online at wvinroads.org, by phone at 1-877-716-1212, or in person at your local DHHR office. You don’t have to wait for a decision to call a clinic.
Sliding fee scale — Community mental health centers set fees based on household income and household size. You’ll need to show proof of income, such as pay stubs, a tax return, an unemployment statement, or a written statement if you have no income. Payment plans are available, and ability to pay isn’t a condition of being seen.
Free resources — Crisis lines, support groups, and some community programs cost nothing.
The transportation challenge
Getting to appointments is one of the biggest barriers in Southern West Virginia. Clinics are far apart. Public transit is limited. Winter roads make drives dangerous.
Options:
Medicaid transportation — If you have Medicaid, non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) may cover rides to appointments. Call 1-844-549-8353 and schedule several business days ahead. Book the ride when you book the appointment.
Telehealth — If you can’t get to a clinic, ask about phone or video appointments. Even if your internet is spotty, a phone call works. Ask which appointments can be done remotely, because it isn’t the same for every service.
Pick the closest location — Ask what’s offered in Welch, Mullens, or Rockview before you commit to driving to Princeton every week.
Family or friends — If you have someone who can drive you, ask. A lot of people are willing to help if you let them know you need it.
Plan around weather — In winter, schedule appointments on days when roads are clear. Call and reschedule if conditions are bad rather than just not showing up. Most clinics understand.
What if you don’t know what kind of help you need?
That’s okay, and it’s normal. You don’t have to figure it out before you call.
When you call, just say what’s going on: “I’ve been feeling really down and I think I need to talk to someone.” Staff will schedule an evaluation, and the evaluation is where the question of what kind of care fits actually gets answered.
Sorting that out is a clinician’s job, not something to settle from reading online.
Choosing a provider
If you have options, which isn’t always the case in rural areas, here’s what’s worth weighing:
What services do they offer? Ask the clinic directly what services and specialties they have. Some organizations offer counseling, psychiatry, substance use services, and case management in one place. Others offer only one of those.
Do they take your insurance? For a lot of people, this decides it.
Can you actually get there? A great provider an hour away might not be realistic if you can’t make the drive every week.
Do they offer telehealth? If transportation is an issue, this might be the deciding factor.
Do you feel comfortable talking to them? This matters. If you don’t feel like you can talk to the person, say so.
What if it’s not a good fit?
It’s okay to ask for someone else. Not every provider is right for every person, and clinics deal with this routinely.
Call the clinic and tell them rather than quietly dropping out. They can talk with you about your options.
The “everyone knows everyone” problem
In small towns, privacy is a real concern. “What if I see someone I know at the clinic?” “What if word gets around?”
Health information is protected under HIPAA and other applicable law, and qualifying substance use disorder records may have additional federal protection. Information may be used or disclosed with authorization and for treatment, payment, health care operations, safety, reporting, court orders, and other purposes permitted or required by law. Ask for the provider’s Notice of Privacy Practices and any applicable Part 2 notice.
Even in small towns, your information is private.
If you’re worried about running into someone, ask about:
- Telehealth appointments
- Appointments at less busy times
- Clinics in a neighboring county
What to bring to your first appointment
- Photo ID
- Insurance card, if you have one
- A list of medications you currently take
- Proof of income, if you’re asking about the sliding fee scale
- Contact information for other providers, if you want your care coordinated
The first appointment is an intake and evaluation rather than a therapy session. It takes longer than a routine visit. Tell scheduling staff about work hours, childcare, and transportation so the schedule gets built around your life from the start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral to see a therapist?
Not at community mental health centers. You can call and schedule directly. Some private practices require a referral from your doctor.
How long will I have to wait for an appointment?
It varies by provider and by time of year. Ask about cancellation lists and telehealth when you call. If you’re in crisis, ask about walk-in services, which don’t require an appointment.
What if I can’t afford therapy?
Community mental health centers may use a sliding fee scale based on household income and household size. Medicaid covers many medically necessary behavioral health services, subject to eligibility, network, service, authorization, and cost-sharing rules. Ask the provider and plan to verify both.
Can I see someone if I work during the day?
Ask about the earliest and latest appointment times available, and about telehealth for follow-ups.
What if I don’t have reliable internet for telehealth?
Phone appointments work too. You don’t need video.
Where can I read general information about mental health?
The National Institute of Mental Health at https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ and SAMHSA at https://www.samhsa.gov/ publish plain-language, non-commercial information. For anything about your own situation, talk to a clinician.
To request an appointment in Southern West Virginia, call Southern Highlands at (304) 425-9541. The center serves Mercer, McDowell, and Wyoming counties with clinics in Princeton, Welch, Mullens, and Rockview. It participates in West Virginia Medicaid and Medicare and may participate with commercial plans; ask staff to verify network status, coverage, authorization, and cost-sharing for your service. Qualifying uninsured patients can ask whether the sliding fee scale applies. You can contact the clinic directly, but a health plan or particular service may apply referral or authorization rules. For 24/7 crisis support, call (800) 615-0122.