If you are in danger or thinking about ending your life, get help now.
Call or text 988 (24/7). Birmingham Crisis Center: 205-323-7777. Immediate danger: 911. Adults 19+ can go to the Craig Crisis Care Center, 401 Beacon Parkway West, at any hour (205-263-1701). To find the right care for a child or teen, call Children's of Alabama PIRC at 205-638-7472, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; if a child is in danger, call 911. Taproot Therapy Collective is an outpatient practice, not a crisis service.
Finding help shouldn't be another thing you have to fight for. This guide lists the crisis lines, walk-in centers, free and sliding-scale clinics, and specialized programs that serve Birmingham, Hoover, Jefferson and Shelby counties and the rest of Alabama, organized by what you're dealing with. It's maintained by Taproot Therapy Collective, a trauma-focused practice in Hoover, and we include ourselves only where we're a real option; most of what's here is other people's good work. Numbers change, so each section is re-verified every six months and the date at the top tells you when.
If you need help right now
Call or text 988, or chat online, 24/7, free and confidential. Veterans press 1 and Spanish speakers press 2; Deaf and hard of hearing callers can reach 988 in ASL by videophone. The LGBTQ+ youth option (press 3) ended in July 2025, so use The Trevor Project below instead.
Crisis Center, Inc. (Birmingham)
3620 8th Avenue South, Suite 110, Birmingham, AL 35222
Birmingham's 24/7 crisis and suicide line for Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair, Chilton and Walker counties. It also runs Rape Response (205-323-7273), the Youth Talk Line (205-328-5465), the Senior Talk Line (205-328-8255) and a Recovery Resource Center (205-458-3377).
Craig Crisis Care Center (JBS Mental Health Authority)
401 Beacon Parkway West, Birmingham, AL 35209
Open 24/7 for adults 19 and older in a mental health or substance use crisis who are willing to come in, as an alternative to the emergency room or jail, with short observation stays and crisis beds. Adults only; for children and teens, see below.
Children's of Alabama PIRC (Psychiatric Intake Response Center)
Free, confidential phone line where licensed clinicians help parents and other adults find the right mental health care for a child or teen, seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. PIRC is not a crisis line: if a child is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Emergency services
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room (UAB, St. Vincent's, Grandview, Brookwood; Children's of Alabama for children and teens) for any immediate danger to life.
Poison Help
Poison specialists answer 24/7 for an overdose, a double dose or an accidental swallow of medication or chemicals. Call 911 instead if the person is unconscious, having a seizure or struggling to breathe.
Community mental health centers and peer support
940 Montclair Road, Birmingham, AL 35213
The state-designated community mental health center for Jefferson, Blount and St. Clair counties: therapy, psychiatry and medication management, children's services and substance use programs on a sliding fee, and no one is turned away for inability to pay. JBS also runs the NOVA program for a first episode of psychosis.
Central Alabama Wellness (formerly Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center)
The state-certified community mental health center for Shelby and Chilton counties, with outpatient care for children, teens and adults, case management and substance use treatment, at offices that include Calera and Highway 280. It takes insurance and Medicaid, and some services are available at a reduced fee if you're uninsured.
Eastside Mental Health Center
129 East Park Circle, Birmingham, AL 35235
Outpatient community mental health center in east Birmingham, near Center Point and Trussville.
Alabama Department of Mental Health
The state agency behind Alabama's crisis system, its regional crisis centers and 988 in Alabama. Its free Connect Alabama app finds mental health and substance use treatment anywhere in the state.
Cooper Green Mercy Health Services
1509 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233
Jefferson County's health system, with fees based on family size and income, behavioral health care and a UAB Psychiatry clinic on site, now in its new building. Appointments 205-930-3350; HealthFirst enrollment 205-930-3377.
Wings Across Alabama Warm Line
Peer-run, non-crisis support line for when you need someone to talk to, plus free peer-led support groups online and in person.
Free peer and family education and support groups, including Family-to-Family, for Jefferson County.
Free family and peer support groups and education for Shelby and Chilton counties.
Free and low-cost counseling
UAB Community Counseling Clinic
A flat $10 per session, cash only, for community members (not UAB students or employees). Children 3 and up after a screening, teens, adults, couples and families see graduate counselors under licensed faculty supervision; sessions are recorded for training, and the clinic is not a crisis service.
Oasis Counseling for Women and Children
Nonprofit counseling center for women and children in Birmingham; ask about fees when you call.
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
Nationwide network of therapists who see members for $40 to $70 a session ($40 to $80 for couples and families, $30 with a student intern) after a one-time $65 membership, for people without adequate insurance and a household income under $100,000.
Sliding-scale counseling for individuals and families regardless of faith.
Taproot Therapy Collective sliding scale
Our own income-based sliding scale for trauma-focused therapy, in Hoover or by video anywhere in Alabama.
Hospital and university psychiatric care
Center for Psychiatric Medicine, 1713 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294
Diagnosis, therapy, medication management, and inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care for all ages at the region's academic medical center. Book through the ACCESS line above.
Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
6869 5th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35212
Psychiatric hospital with inpatient and residential care for adolescents (11 to 19) and adults, detox and geriatric programs, and free confidential assessments 24/7.
Children's of Alabama Behavioral Health
1601 5th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233
Outpatient psychiatric care for children and teens, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at the main hospital and at Patriot Park, 200 Wildwood Parkway, Suite 130, in Homewood. Inpatient unit 205-630-5550.
Children, teens and families
Call or text support for young people from the Crisis Center's trained volunteers.
1401 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205
Birmingham's oldest family services agency: family counseling, school-based therapy, intensive in-home services, Shelby County wraparound services, therapeutic foster care and financial counseling.
Glenwood Autism and Behavioral Health Center
150 Glenwood Lane, Birmingham, AL 35242
Autism and psychiatric residential, day and outpatient programs for children and adults; accepts Medicaid.
Prescott House Child Advocacy Center
1730 14th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205
Jefferson County's child advocacy center, where a child who may have been abused tells their story once, to a trained forensic interviewer, and is then offered counseling.
Report child abuse: Jefferson County DHR
To report suspected abuse or neglect of a child in Jefferson County, call DHR or local law enforcement; in other counties, call your county DHR office. If a child is in danger right now, call 911.
The Bell Center for Early Intervention
Early intervention for infants and toddlers at risk of developmental delay.
Alabama Early Intervention Child Find
Statewide referral line for babies and toddlers under three with developmental concerns; en español, 1-866-450-2838.
College students, residents and physicians
UAB Counseling and Wellness Center
Counseling for enrolled UAB students. UAB employees use the Employee Assistance and Counseling Center at 205-934-2281.
Counseling for Samford students at no extra cost (it's included in student fees), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Samford CARES (205-726-4833) connects students to academic and wellbeing support.
Free, confidential peer support from volunteer psychiatrists for physicians, residents and medical students on weekdays. No appointment is needed, and they report to no one.
Therapy for students and physicians at Taproot
Therapy for UAB and Samford students that doesn't end with the semester, in Hoover or by video, and burnout therapy for physicians and healthcare workers.
Pregnancy and postpartum
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
1-833-852-6262 (1-833-TLC-MAMA)
Call or text 24/7, free and confidential, in English and Spanish with interpreters in more than 60 languages, for pregnant and postpartum people and their families. This number replaced the old 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS line.
Postpartum Support International, Alabama chapter
HelpLine by call or text, free online support groups and a directory of perinatal mental health providers.
After a pregnancy or infant loss, The Amelia Center counsels grieving parents at no set fee.
Grief and loss
1513 4th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233
Grief counseling and support groups at no set fee for children 5 and up, teens and young adults grieving a death, and for parents grieving a child of any age, from pregnancy loss onward. A department of Children's of Alabama.
400 Vestavia Parkway, Suite 131, Birmingham, AL 35216
Free, non-denominational grief counseling for individuals, couples and families, and support groups that meet in communities around Birmingham.
Survivors of Suicide support group (Crisis Center)
A free support group for people who have lost someone to suicide; RSVP by email through the Crisis Center's support groups page.
Traumatic and prolonged grief, sudden death and pregnancy loss.
Veterans and military families
Vet Center Birmingham (Hoover)
400 Emery Drive, Suite 200, Hoover, AL 35244
Free, confidential readjustment counseling for combat veterans and survivors of military sexual trauma, separate from the VA hospital. After hours 877-927-8387.
Birmingham VA Health Care System, mental health
700 South 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35233
Therapy, medication management and substance use treatment for eligible veterans, with same-day mental health help.
Free, confidential counseling and support for service members and their families, 24/7.
LGBTQ+ support
24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people under 25 by phone, text (START to 678678) and chat. This replaced the 988 press-3 option in July 2025.
Peer support from trans operators for trans and questioning people, Monday to Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Central; press 2 for Spanish. They won't call 911 without your consent.
3130 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233
Social and support programs, youth groups and case management for Alabama's LGBTQ+ community, with groups for teens and for adults. A program of Birmingham AIDS Outreach.
LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy at Taproot
Affirming trauma therapy in Hoover and by video anywhere in Alabama.
Domestic violence, sexual assault and trafficking
YWCA Central Alabama domestic violence services
309 23rd Street North, Birmingham, AL 35203
24/7 crisis line, confidential emergency shelter and counseling for Jefferson, Blount and St. Clair counties. Toll-free 1-800-650-6522.
Shelter, counseling and advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, based in Shelby County; office 205-669-1877.
One Place Metro Alabama Family Justice Center
3613 6th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222
Help for survivors of domestic and sexual violence under one roof: advocates, legal help, law enforcement, nursing care and counseling. Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
24/7 support, advocacy and forensic nursing exams for survivors of sexual assault, plus a Survivors of Sexual Harm support group.
National Domestic Violence Hotline
24/7, free and confidential, by phone, chat or text (START to 88788), with safety planning and referrals to local shelters.
Alabama's lead service provider for women and girls who have been sex trafficked: rescue, safe housing and long-term recovery, just outside Birmingham.
National Human Trafficking Hotline
24/7 and confidential, to get help or report trafficking; you can also text 233733.
Substance use and recovery
ROSS 24/7 Substance Use Helpline (Alabama)
Alabama's 24/7 substance use helpline, staffed by certified peer support specialists, with connection to treatment anywhere in the state.
24/7 free treatment referral and information, English and Spanish.
Crisis Center Recovery Resource Center
Free substance use assessments for teens and adults, with a referral to the right level of treatment.
Birmingham Alcoholics Anonymous
A 24-hour answering service to talk with someone in recovery, and a directory of in-person and online meetings across the Birmingham area.
530 Beacon Parkway West, Birmingham, AL 35209
UAB Psychiatry's outpatient recovery clinic; appointments go through UAB Psychiatry's ACCESS line.
Medical detox and residential treatment at the Warrior campus, with a Birmingham outpatient office.
1625 12th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35205
Residential and outpatient recovery programs on a sliding scale.
Residential, outpatient and medication-assisted treatment across the Birmingham area.
1804 6th Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020
Faith-based residential recovery and rescue mission.
Therapy after rehab at Taproot
Relapse prevention that treats the trauma underneath, alongside your program or sponsor.
Eating disorders
National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline
Staffed by licensed eating disorder therapists, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern, with free referrals to every level of care. The old NEDA helpline number now forwards here.
Free helpline, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern (9 to 9 Central), plus free online support groups.
5101 Cyrus Circle, Birmingham, AL 35242
Residential, day treatment and intensive outpatient eating disorder care for adults of all genders, with virtual programs statewide.
162 Magnolia Creek Drive, Columbiana, AL 35051
Residential and partial hospitalization eating disorder treatment for girls and women 12 and up, thirty minutes south of Hoover.
Autism, ADHD and developmental evaluation
930 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35205
Interdisciplinary developmental, autism, learning and behavioral evaluations. Appointments start with a request form and a referral, and the developmental medicine clinic is currently taking new autism referrals only for children 5 and under.
4217 Dolly Ridge Road, Birmingham, AL 35243
Statewide advocacy, family support and resource navigation; toll-free 877-428-8476.
The national ADHD organization: information, support and a professional directory for adults and parents.
QEEG brain mapping and evaluation at Taproot
Objective brain mapping and neurofeedback for ADHD, autism and brain injury at our Hoover office, led by Dr. Jason Mishalanie, PhD, BCN.
Older adults, caregivers and dementia
Crisis Center Senior Talk Line
A listening line for older adults from the Crisis Center.
Alzheimer's of Central Alabama
300 Office Park Drive, Suite 225, Birmingham, AL 35223
Local nonprofit for families facing dementia: respite, support groups and caregiver education. Toll-free 866-806-7255.
Area Agency on Aging of Jefferson County
3600 8th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35222
AgeLine for services, benefits and caregiver support.
Report suspected abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of an older or disabled adult to Alabama DHR. Reports are confidential and can be anonymous.
Deaf, hard of hearing and Spanish-language help
988 by videophone
Deaf and hard of hearing callers can reach 988 in ASL by videophone, or use text and chat.
Mental health services for Deaf and hard of hearing people through JBS Mental Health Authority.
¡HICA! Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama
Spanish-language help for Latino families in the Birmingham area, including connection to services and advocacy. For crisis support in Spanish, call 988 and press 2.
Housing, food, legal help and everyday needs
United Way of Central Alabama 211
24/7 navigation to food, housing, utility and mental health help in Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Blount, Cullman and Walker counties; 1-888-421-1266, or text your ZIP code to 898-211.
2230 4th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
Shelter and services for women and children.
7916 2nd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35206
Recovery, re-entry and transitional housing for women and children.
Legal Aid Society of Birmingham
Free civil legal help for eligible Jefferson County residents.
Free civil legal help statewide for people with low incomes, including protection orders, housing and benefits.
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
Alabama's protection and advocacy agency for people with disabilities, including mental illness.
National information and advocacy
Information and referral, Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern; text NAMI to 62640. Not a crisis line.
National Institute of Mental Health
The federal research agency; the most reliable plain-language information on conditions and treatments.
Free online screening tools and education.
24/7 crisis counseling by call or text after storms, disasters and mass violence.
What Taproot Therapy Collective offers
We are an outpatient group practice in Hoover, minutes from Birmingham, specializing in trauma, anxiety and depression treated at the nervous-system level: somatic therapy, EMDR, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, Lifespan Integration, Jungian and existential depth work, and QEEG brain mapping and neurofeedback. Our therapists include Robin Taylor (religious trauma and somatic work), Brittany Gray (burnout, grief and military sexual trauma), Marie Danner (severe PTSD and traumatic grief), Alice Hawley (relationships, dissociation and spiritual crisis) and Pamela Hayes (chronic illness and Pure OCD, by video), and our QEEG lab is led by Dr. Jason Mishalanie, PhD, BCN. We see clients in person at our office off I-65 at the Riverchase exit, and by secure video anywhere in Alabama. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama is accepted for most clinicians, with a $250 private-pay rate and an income-based sliding scale. See everything we treat and who does what.
How to choose a therapist in Birmingham
Know the letters. A psychiatrist (MD or DO) can prescribe. A psychologist (PhD or PsyD) does testing, such as ADHD and autism evaluations, and therapy. LPCs, LICSWs and LMSWs are master's-level psychotherapists licensed by state boards; LICSWs are licensed for independent clinical practice and are also trained to work with the family and systems around you. Taproot's therapists are LPCs, LICSWs and an LMSW, with credentials listed on each bio page, and our QEEG brain mapping is led by Dr. Jason Mishalanie, PhD, BCN.
Know the approaches. Cognitive behavioral therapy works top-down, from thoughts to feelings, and is structured and short-term. Somatic and brain-based therapies, EMDR, Brainspotting and Somatic Experiencing, work bottom-up, from the nervous system, and are what to look for when you understand your problem and still feel it. Depth therapies ask what the pattern is for.
Ask on the consult call: what experience do you have with what I'm bringing; what's your approach; what happens in the first session; how will we know it's working; what does it cost and do you take my insurance or give a superbill. Most practices, including ours, offer a free 15-minute call for exactly this.
Paying for therapy in Alabama
In-network insurance: you pay a copay or coinsurance after any deductible. Out-of-network: you pay the session fee and file a superbill for partial reimbursement; call the number on your card and ask about out-of-network outpatient mental health benefits. Sliding scale: fees set by income, at community clinics and some practices including ours. Public providers: JBS and Cooper Green serve Jefferson County residents regardless of ability to pay, and Central Alabama Wellness offers reduced fees in Shelby and Chilton counties. Under the federal No Surprises Act, anyone paying out of pocket gets a good faith estimate before starting.
Questions people ask
Where do I start if I don't know what kind of help I need?
Call 211 (United Way of Central Alabama) for navigation to any service, or call us at (205) 598-6471 for a free 15-minute conversation; if we're not the right fit, we'll say so and point you to who is.
How do I find free or cheap therapy in Birmingham?
The UAB Community Counseling Clinic ($10 a session), JBS Mental Health Authority (sliding fee, no one turned away), Gateway, Catholic Family Services and Open Path Collective are the reliable options, and Central Alabama Wellness offers reduced fees in Shelby and Chilton counties. Taproot also has an income-based sliding scale.
I live in Shelby County. Where do I go?
Central Alabama Wellness (formerly Chilton-Shelby Mental Health Center) is the community mental health center for Shelby and Chilton counties, at 205-651-0077. NAMI Shelby runs free family and peer support, SafeHouse of Shelby County helps survivors of domestic violence, and Gateway offers Shelby County wraparound services for families. The Crisis Center's 24/7 line, 205-323-7777, covers Shelby County too.
What do I do if my teenager is in crisis?
If your teen is in danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room; Children's of Alabama's emergency department sees children and teens. To work out the right level of care, call Children's PIRC at 205-638-7472, seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; PIRC is not a crisis line. Your teen can also call or text 988, or the Crisis Center's Youth Talk Line at 205-328-5465. The Craig Crisis Care Center is for adults 19 and older.
Where can a grieving child get help?
The Amelia Center at Children's of Alabama (205-638-7481) counsels children 5 and up, teens and young adults grieving a death, and parents grieving a child, at no set fee.
Which of these numbers have changed recently?
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is now 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262). The 988 press-3 option for LGBTQ+ youth ended in July 2025, so use The Trevor Project. The NEDA helpline closed, and its old number now reaches the National Alliance for Eating Disorders at 1-866-662-1235. UAB Psychiatry appointments go through its ACCESS line, 205-934-7008, and Cooper Green has moved to its new building at 1509 6th Avenue South.
Does Taproot take insurance?
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama for most of our clinicians; $250 private pay with an income-based sliding scale; and a monthly superbill for other plans.
Can I get help if I don't live in Birmingham?
Yes. 988, ROSS, the Trevor Project, PSI and the national lines are statewide or national, and Taproot sees clients by video anywhere in Alabama.
Not in crisis, and ready to start?
Call for a free 15-minute conversation with our intake coordinator, who will match you with the right clinician or tell you honestly if someone on this page is a better fit.
Book onlineCall (205) 598-6471Taproot Therapy Collective · 2025 Shady Crest Drive, Suite 203, Hoover, AL 35216. This page is information, not medical advice; if you're in crisis, use the numbers at the top.