Lily's story as a child mental health patient at Austin Child Guidance Center.
Lily visited ACGC's walk in clinic to address her anxiety and depression. What she found was care, support, healing and so much more.
Our Mission to Provide Mental Health Treatment for Children
Austin Child Guidance Center is a nonprofit that provides accessible, high-quality mental health services to children and their families to empower them to thrive in childhood and beyond.
Child Mental Health Services
We provide a variety of mental health services to support children and their families all across Central Texas. They include Individual and Family Therapy, Group Therapy, Psychological Assessments, Psychiatric Services, Caregiver Workshops, and a Walk-In Clinic. Our clinical services are offered in English and Spanish and provided both in-person and via tele-therapy.
We Offer a Sliding Scale
Here at ACGC, we don’t want the cost of treatment to be a barrier to mental health care or add to the stress of families seeking care. As part of our effort to serve all families, especially those with financial needs, ACGC offers a sliding fee scale. We consider circumstances such as household income and family size and regular/standard living expenses to calculate the percentage of service fees qualified clients will be responsible for paying.
Who We Are and How We Work
Our clinical staff of licensed therapists, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists are dedicated to providing high quality, evidence-based treatment to your child and family regardless of ability to pay. Our therapists work with each family to help determine your goals and develop a treatment plan. Together, we identify your desired changes, ways to achieve those changes, and set goals.
Psychological Assessments
CGC offers Psychological Assessments to help gain a better understanding of your child's mental health. In addition to helping parents and professionals better understand your child, psychological assessments are used to diagnose ADHD, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, and other emotional and behavioral difficulties.
Individual & Family Therapy
Individual & Family therapy helps family members better understand each other, support one another and work through difficult situations. With your therapist, we will work together to support both you and your child. We also provide group therapy in Austin to provide additional counseling and support for families. Free caregiver workshops are available as a resource as well.
If your child has immediate needs, we offer an in-person Walk-In Clinic every Tuesday from 3:30-5:00 PM. Parents or guardians can schedule an appointment with or without their child to consult with a therapist about problem behavior, seek advice, and explore solutions. Please note that our clinic is not for emergencies or crises.
It is crucial to remember that our own mental and physical health are equally important to our children. Caregiver burnout is a very real and common situation that many parents, grandparents, and caregivers of all kinds experience. It's normal to feel overwhelmed, but there are ways to manage caregiver burnout. Start with small, manageable steps that feel right for you. By taking care of yourself, you'll be better able to support your child and your family.
Featuring a released transcript of one of our most listened-to podcast episodes.
Join us for ACGC's annual fundraiser with an intimate and exclusive rooftop performance featuring Scott Strickland! Together, we will be raising funds to support accessible mental health care for children and families of Central Texas
Explore the benefits and challenges of social media usage and learn practical tips for caregivers to foster a healthy relationship with technology for their children. From open communication and setting boundaries to promoting offline activities and responsible digital citizenship, this blog post provides a short comprehensive guide to navigate the digital world with confidence and mindfulness.
Gender plays a large role in shaping who we are and how we interact with the world. It is important for parents and caregivers to understand the distinction between sex and gender, as they are closely related but not the same. One of the most important roles of the caregiver is to serve as a source of support for children. Sometimes children may be facing conflicts between societal gender expectations and their own gender identity. They may feel like they don't fit in because of their gender identity or needs. These conflicts can have a negative impact on a child's mental health.
Our community partners help children thrive.
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of youth have a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.
20%
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therapy sessions provided to 612 children and individuals in 2023
3,412
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Pays for a co-pay for a lower income client
$30
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Of funding comes from grants and fundraising
96%
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“Our family has come to ACGC at different times over the years. Each time we work with our therapist, our entire family begins to feel better. It has made a world of difference to all of us. Thank you!”
