Community Resources
General Information
If you require services beyond the scope of what we can provide or would prefer to receive treatment off campus, we will refer you to community providers. There are several well-regarded mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, counselors, social workers, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners) within walking distance of campus and in the local community who often work with Vassar students.
If you are looking for individualized referrals for off-campus therapy, psychiatry, and/or intensive therapy programs, you can also contact the Vassar College Case Management, Advocacy, Resources, and Education (CARE) office. The CARE office is available to provide holistic, individualized, and compassionate case management support to all students. To learn when to refer to VCCS vs. the CARE office, click here.
For more information about the referral process and working with your insurance company, check out our Step-By-Step Referral Guide for off-campus referrals as well as a guide on how to find the right counselor and how to navigate the process of using insurance.
CARE Office
Using Your Insurance
We also recommend that you contact your insurance company for additional information about your benefits and coverage. Once you log on to your online insurance portal, you will see a Find a Provider option. You can click that to find mental health professionals in the area who take your insurance.
To search for a provider using the Vassar student health insurance, use their website to explore options, click here.
Online Local Mental Health Provider Database
Vassar College Counseling Service has partnered with Thriving Campus, an online resource that helps you access and connect with off-campus mental healthcare. Visit Thriving Campus from your computer or mobile device to: browse and filter providers based on your needs and preferences, get answers to common questions, and reach out to community providers and connect with mental healthcare.
UnitedHealthcare Student Resources and HealthiestYou have partnered together to provide 24/7 access to doctors and mental healthcare. All services are free for students covered under the UHCSR insurance plan; services are available for all other students for a fee.
Psychiatric Services & Referrals
This short video explains how to locate psychiatric medication services locally or within the U.S., either through our part-time psychiatrist or community referrals.
Personalized Referrals
Please feel free to call (845) 437-5700 or schedule a visit with a VCCS therapist for individualized recommendations based on your needs and our knowledge of local providers.
Other Mental Health Resources
Please note that this should not be construed as an endorsement of any particular mental health provider/service.
This website has a robust listing of local therapists, psychiatrists, groups, and treatment facilities. Use the drop-down options on the menu bar to access their directory. Please note that this should not be construed as an endorsement of any particular mental health provider/service on Psychology Today.
This is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls. There are great resources including a directory of local therapists.
This is an online space created to provide a "simple way" to find a therapist of color.
TherapyForBlackMen.org is a directory to help men of color in their search for a therapist. Using the directory, men can search by therapist location and specialization.
The South Asian Sexual & Mental Health Alliance offers virtual and in-person community workshops, a resource page, a podcast, and shares community voices via a blog. Celebrates a diversity of South Asian experiences, develops authentic, personally fulfilling values as second-generation South Asian Americans, and interrogates oppressive cultural values and traditions.
Inclusive Therapists offers a safer, simpler way to find a culturally responsive, LGBTQ+ affirming, social justice-oriented therapist.
Decolonizing healing. Liberating BIPOC mental health providers.
Therapy for Queer People of Color
Provides quality mental healthcare exclusively to queer and trans people of color.
Their mission is to destigmatize mental health in the Latinx community. Expanded to include a bilingual podcast and national directory to find a Latinx therapist (98% of directory are Spanish speakers). Latinx Therapy strives to provide culturally-grounded workshops and services to the community.
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
Empowering LGBTQ+ Asians and Pacific Islanders via building the capacity of local, grassroots, and affinity-based LGBTQ+API groups, advancing an intersectional justice and equity agenda, and ensuring LGBTQ+API representation everywhere.
Providing resources to make mental healthcare more accessible for Asian communities.
Asian Mental Health Collective
Building a community for Asian mental health support, Asian MHC aspires to make mental health easily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide.
Melanin & Mental Health was born out of a desire to connect individuals with culturally competent clinicians committed to serving the mental health needs of Black and Latinx communities.
This is a virtual community dedicated to the mental health and wellness of all Black people, including children, adolescents and adults.
A comprehensive health resource for Native youth by Native youth, promoting holistic health and positive growth in local communities and the nation at large.
Therapy for Latinx believes that access to mental health is a human right. They dream of a future where therapy is normalized, more accessible and represents the varied Latinx cultures. Includes a comprehensive member directory of Latinx therapists.
Crisis Resources
Protocall
(845) 457-7333. Ask to speak to the Counselor on Call.
We have a 24/7 mental health hotline available to Vassar students during the academic year. This service is staffed by mental health professionals who have been trained to work with Vassar students. Metcalf therapists provide backup to Protocall as needed.
Call or Text (845) 485-9700
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention, and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. Call (800) 273-8255.
**You can also dial 988 which is the suicide and crisis Lifeline**
MidHudson Regional Hospital of Westchester Medical Center
Emergency Psychiatric Care: (845) 431-8892
241 North Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
The Crisis Stabilization Center
When people are in crisis, the Stabilization Center serves as a safe, comforting place to come, talk to caring professionals, and get help for the immediate issue(s) plus those that may extend beyond their stay at the Center. First, the staff works with you to handle or lessen the issue(s) at hand. Then, they will personally connect you to the correct services and resources in our community that can help you going forward. Their work with you is 100% transparent, planned with your input, and barrier-free.
To contact the Stabilization Center, call (845) 485-9700.
Higher Levels of Care
College Behavioral Health Partnership Program
The College Behavioral Health Partnership Program consists of several partners (e.g., Northern Westchester Hospital, Zucker Hillside Hospital, & Lenox Hill Hospital) and provides state-of-the-art, evidence-based evaluation and treatment for psychiatric crises and their aftermath, and we address diverse challenges ranging from adjustment problems to major disorders that often emerge during the transition to college life. Our relationships with schools and knowledge of their practices allow us to offer specialty consultation services to students regarding common concerns related to academic status, school absences and school re-entry processes. These liaison services allow for smoother transitions in treatment, resulting in less disruption in the academic cycle. This exceptional, collaborative care has become a model all over the country for psychiatric treatment for college students affected by acute mental health issues.
To contact, call (914) 666-1590.
Austen Riggs Center Online Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for College Students & Emerging Adults:
The Austen Riggs Center Online IOP is a specialized program for college students grounded in the Center’s long-standing expertise in working with adults facing a wide range of psychological and interpersonal challenges. Designed specifically for college students, the program integrates intensive individual and group psychotherapy within a multidisciplinary team model.
Moving beyond crisis stabilization alone, the Austen Riggs Center Online IOP aims to promote recovery by addressing underlying emotional and relational patterns that contribute to distress. Through sustained therapeutic relationships with peers and experienced clinicians, participants are supported in developing greater self-understanding, agency, and flexibility in how they navigate internal, interpersonal, and academic challenges.
To contact, call (833) 921-5700.
Charlie Health Online Intensive Outpatient Program:
Charlie Health is a virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) providing evidence-based mental health treatment for adolescents and adults ages 8–64. Designed for individuals who need more support than weekly therapy but do not require inpatient care, Charlie Health offers small, clinician-led group therapy, weekly individual sessions, optional family therapy, and psychiatric support when needed. Clients are thoughtfully matched into groups based on age, diagnosis, and lived experience. With immediate access to care, no waitlist, and a no-cost intake process, Charlie Health delivers flexible, structured, and compassionate treatment while allowing students to remain engaged in school and daily life.
To contact, call (986) 206-0414.