Our next topic in this series on how to get healthcare and mental health care if your insurance has changed or is changing is access to trained support.
Of course, each practitioner provides slightly different services, but doing a web search for these services “near me” will take you to helpful websites.
Peer support:
Certified peer support specialists are folks who not only have successfully navigated their own unique mental health challenges or substance-use recovery and are trained through a state program to mentor and support others. Peer support walks with you in ways that traditional counseling cannot.
They can be referred to through CCS programs – so if you have a low income, it’s a great way to get mental health support fully covered. Talk to your county health department to see if you qualify. Otherwise, peer support is an out-of-pocket expense not typically covered by insurance.
You can see a full list of certified peer support specialists in Eau Claire at www.wicps.org.
Counselors:
The majority of counselors, who have degrees to counsel others, fall into two categories:
1. Clinical settings work within a network and have a variety of insurance coverage, out-of-pocket care is more expensive, and has more statutes to follow than peer support. It is unclear if there are folks in this model who are able to provide pro bono care. If you do not have Badgercare and if your insurance covers counseling, your insurance will know their list of providers in the area often before your clinic will know if they can take you as a patient. Contact your HMO.
2. Independent practices, which can offer more unique and catered services, often do not take Badgercare (or often other insurance), BUT they are more flexible in setting up payment plans and can adjust the treatment schedule to meet your income. It is also unclear if these types are doing pro-bono care either.
There are a couple of places that provide free limited-access counseling.
- The Day Resource Center has a music/art therapist who is always there, AA offers a support group on Tuesdays at 3-4pm, and a counselor comes in Tuesdays and Fridays.
- The Chippewa Valley free clinic offers medication refills on Tuesdays at 5-7pm and 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 9am-1pm. They currently do not offer counseling services but can help you connect to a location that works for you.
- Northlakes Community Clinic offers behavioral health services with a sliding-scale fee.
Support Groups:
Support groups may be less individualized and less common than they used to, but they are a great way to get free counseling and meet other people who get what you’re going through. While support groups are still rebounding after the COVID-19 pandemic, here are places we know in Eau Claire for support groups:
- At the Roots Peer Support offers two support groups: Friday Table and SMART Recovery.
- Larry Winter, certified peer support specialist and JONAH Mental Health Task Force member holds a weekly Zoom recovery group on Thursdays from 6-7pm. Contact us to get connected!
- The National Alliance on Mental Illness Chippewa Valley Chapter offers a monthly family support group on the first Thursday of every month from 6:30-8pm in Banbury (Gillette Room). They also have an LGBTQIA+ peer support group monthly on the third Monday from 6-7:30pm at the Chippewa Valley LGBTQ+ Community Center on Dewey St. Additionally, they offer a peer support group at At the Roots on the first and third Thursdays from 6-7:30pm.
- The Healing Place, which is building its capacity to provide support groups again, developed this resource below on grief support groups.
Our task force in 2025 put together a virtual resource of all of these services, which includes a special list for substance-use recovery and veterans, catered to rural communities. You can find that brochure on our website here!
Lutheran Social Services in Eau Claire offers a lot of programs to support your well-being, and with much they walk with you. Most of their counseling, support group, substance recovery, and other help is through Comprehensive Community Services – which you can be referred into or self-refer by going to EC County Human Services. They do also offer Gaining Ground! A free service outside of CCS where you can get service in everything from wellness recovery, to Medicaid enrollment, to medication management and assistance with applications. More at lsswis.org.
Of course, as always, you can get immediate support by calling or texting 988 (or using their chat feature on their website) or immediate peer support by calling Milkweed Alliance in Menomonie at 715-505-5641.
There are many ways to get the care and support you need regardless of your income and insurance coverage! We hope this has been helpful!