Accessing Mental Health Services - The City of Berkeley
Mental Health Services • Berkeley, CA • Since 1878 • Multiple (Adult Services Clinic and Family/Youth/Children’s Services; additional access points at Berkeley schools) locations
About
Summary: The City of Berkeley provides a broad set of municipal services, including a dedicated Health, Housing and Community Services Department that delivers public health, mental health, and environmental health services to residents. The City operates its own solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal, and its Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront Department runs programs such as summer camps and manages a 1,000-berth marina. For mental health specifically, Berkeley supports mental health services through its health department and related disaster mental health initiatives, including Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) disaster mental health resources. If you are seeking access to mental health services, start with the Health, Housing and Community Services Department and look for CERT-related resources or disaster mental health information on the City’s official site. Key paths to explore: - City of Berkeley Health, Housing and Community Services Department pages for mental health programs and services - CERT Unit information and disaster mental health resources on berkeleyca.gov - Any program-specific guidance or contact points for accessing mental health support through city services
Clinic Type
Mental Health Services
Address
Adult Services Clinic: 2640 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94704; Family, Youth, and Children’s Services intake: 1521 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703
Phone
(not provided in excerpt)
MentalHealth@berkeleyca.gov
Opening Hours
Adult Services Clinic: Monday–Thursday, 10:00 am–3:00 pm; Intake appointments: Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm; Youth services intake and clinic hours: Monday–Thursday 11:00 am–4:00 pm; High School Health Center availability as noted at Berkeley High/Tech Academy
Telehealth
Not specified on page
Emergency Care
Mental Health Crisis, Assessment, and Triage (CAT) information provided; contact via email or phone
Services Offered
Technology & Equipment
Insurance & Payment
Fees are sliding scale based on income and may be free of charge depending on insurance and income qualification. Medi-Cal accepted.
Sliding scale, Free (based on income/insurance)
Languages Spoken
Pricing
FAQs
Who is eligible for mental health services?
Adults: Berkeley resident or unhoused in Berkeley, over 18, diagnosed with a severe mental illness, functional impairments, Medi-Cal. Youth/children: Berkeley resident or student, under 21, Alameda County Medi-Cal, meet Medical Necessity for Specialty Mental Health Services.
How to access services?
Call or walk in to the appropriate clinic during open hours for intake and initial screening; after intake, may be referred to a mental health resource or program.
How can I access adult mental health services?
Call or walk in to the Adult Mental Health Clinic during open hours; after initial screening you may be connected with a mental health professional for treatment or referred to another provider.
What are the intake hours for youth/children services?
Intake appointments are available Monday–Friday, 10:00 am–4:00 pm. If you are calling on behalf of a child, you must be their legal guardian to arrange treatment services.
Where is the Adult Mental Health Clinic located?
2640 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Berkeley, CA 94704.
Where is the Family, Youth, and Children’s Mental Health Services Clinic located?
1521 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703.
How can I contact Mental Health Services for questions?
Email MentalHealth@berkeleyca.gov or call the provided clinic numbers.
What services are offered under Mental Health Services?
Individual and Family Therapy, Full-Service Partnership (WRAP Services), Psycho-Educational classes, Group Therapy, Medication Support, Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (with YMCA).
Awards & Accreditations
Social Media
Photos
What Patients Say
Overall sentiment across review platforms: mixed
- Recovery.com (Berkeley City Mental Health): 4.3/5 (4 reviews)
- Birdeye (Evergreen Counseling): 4.2/5 (25 reviews)
Patients praise
- Knowledge of existing crisis options in the community
- Instances of warm, professional, and trauma-informed care reported at some specific private practices
- Ability of fire department to link patients to resources
Common complaints
- Inadequate and overworked staff resources
- Long wait times and limited availability of crisis response services
- Confusion over service hours and program changes
- Concerns regarding billing practices and professional ethics at some private providers
- Traumatic experiences reported by some patients
- Lack of 24/7 crisis response coverage
"Mental health care in Berkeley is often described as inadequate, citing overworked staff, poor treatment, and lack of follow-up care."
— Facebook group discussion (2026)"All of my experiences with the staff at Evergreen have been positive. I have found the Evergreen team to be warm, welcoming, helpful, and responsive."
— Birdeye review (Evergreen Counseling)Synthesized from public review platforms as of Jul 10, 2026 — sources: [1][2][3][4].
In the News
- Behavioral Health Services Act Community Input Meeting (Virtual) | City of Berkeley — Feb 4, 2026
- Where training meets care: Berkeley Psychology Clinic supports East Bay residents plus Cal students | Letters & Science — Apr 13, 2026
- City of Berkeley Secures $6.9 Million for New Adult Outpatient Mental Health Clinic | California City News — May 13, 2026
- Facing $30M deficit, Berkeley eliminates Mobile Crisis Team, reduces shelters, wellness services | Housing | dailycal.org — Jul 10, 2026
- Berkeley budget proposal eliminates mental health response team, unhoused services amid $30 million deficit | Housing | dailycal.org — Jun 12, 2026
Information sourced from the clinic's website as of July 10, 2026.
More mental health services clinics in Berkeley
University Health Services (UHS) Tang Center at UC Berkeley provides student-focused medical and mental health care. Key points: - Services: Primary care, urgent care, medical services, and mental health support for UC Berkeley students. Staffed by licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nutritionists, and nurses. - Location: 2222 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA (Tang Center), with 2 offices in Berkeley. - Access and contact: Phone options 94720-4300, (510) 642-2000; emails telltang@berkeley.edu, hpromo@berkeley.edu. - Availability: Fully accredited university health center with ongoing wellness and education programs. - Focus areas: Medical care, mental health services, sexual health education, and student wellness resources. If you’re specifically seeking mental health support, UHS Tang Center offers counseling and mental health programs for students, alongside general medical services.
Berkeley Therapy Institute (BTI) is a private mental health care organization based in Berkeley, California, operating four offices in the Berkeley area. It positions itself as a nonprofit-oriented clinic focused on mental health services, social justice, equitable access, and outreach to marginalized communities. Key details: - Industry: Mental health care; services outpatient therapy - Location: Headquarters in Berkeley, CA, with four Berkeley-area offices - Ownership: Private (nonprofit-leaning mission emphasis) - Size: About 15 employees; evidence of positive YoY growth - Leadership: Executive Director Joe Chernick; Director of Finance Eric Pierson; Director of Clinical Training Chehrzad Shadman - Focus themes: Health equity, systemic oppression, social justice, and expanding access to care - Contact: office@bti.org; 510-841-8484 - Website: bti.org Notes: - Web metrics show moderate traffic with a high bounce rate being low (0.4%) and an average of 2.3 pages per visit. - Services and partnerships emphasize community-based mental health support, with staff drawn from diverse educational backgrounds and connections to local universities.
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