About the Mental Health Center
The Mental Health Center is an outpatient community mental health clinic which provides diagnostic assessment, therapy and consultation services to the residents of Scott County.
Mental health is as necessary as physical health. Mental health struggles can affect our life and the lives of those around us. There is help to increase positive Mental Health and live a mentally healthy life.
Making Appointments
Therapy or crisis appointments
- You may call Mental Health Center Intake at 952-496-8481 during business hours (8am – 4:30pm) to schedule an appointment. Same day crisis appointments are available.
- Before or after business hours, a message may be left on the Mental Health Center Intake team confidential voicemail at 952-496-8481. Your call will be returned the following business day.
Mental Health Crisis
- 8am – 4:30pm: Call 952-496-8481 for crisis appointment during business hours.
- 4:30pm – 8am: Call 952-818-3702 for Scott County Crisis Response mobile services.
- In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.
A mental health crisis can include but is not limited to:
- Talking about hurting self or others
- Self-injury, but not needing immediate medical attention
- Emotionally distraught, very depressed, angry or anxious
- Highly unpredictable or unusual behavior
We Stand with You
The Scott County Mental Health Center stands in solidarity with our communities of color and all historically marginalized groups against racism, hatred and injustice of all kinds. As your community mental health center we strive to be a place of healing, respect and safety for all. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that honors the diversity of all individuals, groups and families.
Local Behavioral Health Outpatient Care
When it comes to making progress in regards to mental health, outpatient counseling services of the RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health and Addictions services work closely with patients and their families to find new balance.
Our outpatient counseling services are delivered by licensed professionals and clinicians with extensive clinical expertise in all areas of child, adolescent, and adult behavioral health. These professionals and their specialties span from psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, certified addictions counselors, child and adolescent psychiatrists, and more.
Patients looking for outpatient counseling support can look into our following available behavioral health services:
- Psychiatric assessment
- Individual therapy
- Group therapy
- Marital / couples therapy
- Family therapy
- Psychotropic medication treatment
- Substance abuse counseling
These outpatient treatment services focus in the following areas:
- Marital problems
- Family issues
- Parenting concerns
- Gay & lesbian issues
- Sexuality issues
- Life transitions
- AIDS counseling
- Loss & bereavement
- Stress
- Domestic violence
- Physical & sexual abuse
- Chronic illness
- Eating disorders
- Trauma Recovery
NJ Intensive Outpatient Behavioral Health Support Available
Patients looking for outpatient mental health support can also look to our intensive outpatient program, such as the Stepping Stones Program available at our Behavioral Health Center in Toms River. This program is tailored to support all major psychiatric disorders, while also offering addiction / recovery groups for those suffering from co-occurring substance abuse disorders.
The intensive outpatient care offers a comprehensive approach to mental illness through an intensive treatment team approach aimed at addressing both the unique and broad mental health issues people face on a daily basis. Intensive outpatient treatment differs from typical outpatient care due to its use of a highly organized treatment team approach, involving both individual therapy and medication education and management.
If you’re looking to learn more about the available outpatient behavioral health care near you, you can call our Access Center. This is 24-hour consultative support to help you find the right mental healthcare support you need near you. Just call 1-800-300-0628 and learn more today.
What We Do – Mission/Vision
The Blue Earth County Mental Health Center is committed to improving the mental health of our community through accessible, compassionate and affordable services.
Welcome, We’re Here to Help
The Blue Earth County Mental Health Center is a true community safety net, serving approximately 1500+ patients each year. The Center features a multidisciplinary team including psychiatric providers, therapists, nurses, and many other specialized team members to meet the needs of those we serve.
The main purposes of the center are the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental illnesses. The center focuses on two core programs, Psychiatry and Therapy along with a strong emphasis on Medication Management. There is a strong emphasis on those with serious and persistent mental illnesses. These may include, among other diagnoses, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorders, Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder.
Our staff is dedicated to serving the mental health needs of the community and is here to answer any questions you may have.
To schedule an appointment or to speak to a nurse, please call 507-304-4319.
Who We Serve
The Blue Earth County Mental Health Center is located in Mankato however, its psychiatric service area includes the counties of Blue Earth, Brown, Faribault-Martin, Freeborn, Le Sueur, Nicollet, Rice, Sibley, and Watonwan. These counties make up the South Central Community Based Initiative (SCCBI) region.
The SCCBI was established in 1995 by the Minnesota Legislature. In accordance with Minnesota Statutes, and in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the SCCBI was established for the purpose of significantly improving availability and access to a comprehensive array of community-based mental health services. For more information about the SCCBI see their website www.sccbi.info. Psychiatry services are available to those residing in the SCCBI counties. Therapy services are available to the residents of Blue Earth County. BECMHC primarily provides services to adults however we do provide some therapy for children, as provider availability allows.
How to Find Us – Location
The Blue Earth County Mental Health Center is located on the second floor within the county Government Center. There are two options. Enter through Door A on 5th street and proceed to the second floor via the elevator or stairs. The most direct access is through Door F at the top of the parking ramp with the entrance on 4th street. There is ample visitor parking available near both doors.
- Phone: (507) 304-4319 | Fax: (507) 304-4160
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday
- Address: 410 S. Fifth Street, Mankato, MN
Data Breach: For more information on our recent data breach notification, please click here.
Need Care? Call your provider’s office for a phone or video visit. MyChart offers e-visits and on-demand video visits for select conditions from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Virtual urgent care also available 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. For urgent care in person, visit MedCheck or Community Clinic at Walgreens. For other needs, call 317-621-2727 to be directed.
For Visitors: See our current visitation guidelines for seasonal flu and COVID-19. Masks are required for entry to sites of care.
COVID-19 Testing: MyChart users can check symptoms online and have an E-Visit if needed. Call your primary care provider office for testing options. Use Community Virtual Care to assess symptoms and get scheduled for a test. Testing available at MedChecks and Community Clinic at Walgreens (options may vary by location), including required return to work/school and travel testing. Find Indiana testing sites here. If you do not need emergency care, do not go to an ER for COVID-19 testing.
COVID-19 Vaccine: See our COVID-19 vaccine FAQ for how to get a vaccine or booster.
Close
I am a student dealing with personal problems. Can you help me?
Yes
Services are available through the Student Health Centers to all students currently enrolled at Mt. San Jacinto College (taking 1 or more credits) and who have paid the student health fee.
I need to see an academic counselor. Can you help me?
No
Student Health Services provides medical and mental health counseling only. To speak to a counselor regarding class schedules please contact General Counseling.
SPEAK TO AN ACADEMIC COUNSELOR
How soon can I meet with a personal counselor?
Dependent on availability
Telehealth appointments are available Monday – Friday. Sameday appointments available early in the semester. Most appointments can be scheduled within a 24-48 hour window.
Will my video telehealth appointments be private and secure?
Yes
Conversations with our counselors are strictly confidential, except under limited situations. Exceptions to confidentiality are explained further at the time of your first appointment and can be found in our Counseling Informed Consent located in the “Education” section of the Patient Portal.
You should also know that your counseling records are not shared with other school departments or staff and do not affect your academic record.
For live video telehealth sessions we use Doxy.me, a secure teletherapy video platform, to make your calls as private and secure as possible. According to Doxy.me, “all data is encrypted, your sessions are anonymous, and none of your information is stored. We adhere to HIPAA, PIPEDA, and GDPR data privacy requirements.” All you need to do is be in a private location where you feel safe to talk.
I feel nervous about seeing a counselor. What can I expect?
You are not alone.
Many students that come see us have not been in counseling before. We work hard to make sure you feel supported, listened to, and safe whether you see one of our licensed counselors or graduate level trainees. We are passionate about the work we do and made it our life and career goal to help people experiencing challenging life situations.
We know college students feel extra stress while going to school. Our student trainees in particular understand exactly what you are going through because they are students too! Each of our trainees is enrolled in an accredited Master program in social work and/or psychology and supervised closely by our experienced counselors to make sure you are getting the best quality of care.
How long are counseling sessions?
45 Minute Sessions
We offer 45 minutes individual therapy sessions using a Brief Therapy model that will help you feel supported without feeling rushed.
What happens during sessions?
Pre-Appointment: Prior to seeing your personal counselor we ask you to logon to your Patient Portal and fill out paperwork to help your counselor get to know you and your goals.
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Informed Consent – By digitally signing this form you are consenting to mental health services. This form is to be completed one (1) time per calendar year unless there have been updates.
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Therapy Goals – This form helps you and your counselor create a road map for your care. This form is to be completed when new objectives are made.
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Brief Mood Survey – This survey should be taken immediately before and after your personal counseling appointments. This form is used to assess the success of each counseling session.
Brief Therapy (6-8 sessions)
Brief Therapy session plans are evaluated on a case by case basis so long as the student is compliant and benefiting from therapy.
Therapy is for you. If at any time you have questions or doubts, share them with your counselor. Your input is important to your progress.
Session 1: In this session you will meet your personal counselor and go over pre-appointment documents (informed consent form, therapy goals, etc). Your counselor will answer any questions you have regarding these documents and/or the therapy process.
You and your counselor will discuss what brought you into therapy and your expectations for therapy. Your counselor will likely ask you several questions to gather information that will assist in creating a treatment plan to help you reach your goals.
Do not get discouraged if you do not get answers to your questions. The therapy process takes time and with time and effort you should begin to see results.
Session 2-6+: During the second session you and your counselor will identify what should be addressed first to help you begin to improve your well-being.
Your counselor will support you and guide you through the process of achieving your goals with each following session. They will offer a variety of methods that will be specific to your situation.
