Free and Confidential Therapy for youth ages 13-21
“Counseling has helped me turn my life around and realize that I do matter. I have gained self-respect, self-love, and a deeper understanding of myself and who I want to be. I can live my life and be happy and not have to worry about whether or not the darkness is gonna come back and suffocate me. I have someone to help me through my problems, and I’m no longer alone in this.”
Being a young adult can be exciting, but can also be stressful, lonely, or overwhelming at times. If you are facing a personal challenge that is interfering with your ability to be successful (i.e., academic progress, work-life, or general well-being), we may be able to provide support. BYS offers a safe, non-judgmental place for you to share personal thoughts and feelings.
We will see anyone who resides in Kitsap County that is in need of our services, ages 13 – 21.
We do not diagnose or prescribe medications.
Within the scope of our practice, we address a variety of youth concerns by providing emotional support, exploring possible solutions, encouraging personal insight, and referring clients to appropriate community-based resources when needed.
Our therapists are a mix of licensed counselors and supervised, masters-level interns with a variety of training and education. Their goal in session is to create a safe, non-judgmental space for you to share your feelings, gain insight and be heard.
To schedule a session, please fill out an appointment form and we will contact you by email within 1-2 business days. For more information, please review our FAQ.
Benefits of Counseling
- Greater self-confidence
- Better relationships
- Regaining emotional balance
- Increased assertiveness
- Stress relief
- Ability to set boundaries
- Trauma resolution
- Less Anxiety
Here are some resources if you need immediate assistance:
- If you have an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
- If you are in crisis, contact one of the following 24/7 services:
To text:
Crisis Text Line: Text START to 741741 or visit crisistextline.org
988: Text START to 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
To talk:
Call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Salish Regional Crisis Line (local to Kitsap): 1-888-910-0416
Boys Town National Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-3000 – they work specifically with teens and young adults. Also online at boystown.org/get-help-now#hotline - To discuss sexual assault:
Rebuilding Hope: Sexual Assault Center now serving Kitsap County. Call their 24/7 Helpline at 1-855-757-7273 or find them online at rebuildinghope.org - Kitsap Mental Health is another community mental health agency that may have services that match your needs: kitsapmentalhealth.org
- If you’d like to look for counseling options outside of BYS, you can visit the Bainbridge Psychotherapy Guild website where many local providers are registered: bainbridgepsychotherapy.org (you can search for therapists by specialty, insurance, etc.).
- Just need someone to talk to? Teen Link (866-833-6546) is a confidential and anonymous peer helpline for teens. Trained teen volunteers are available to talk with you about any issue of concern. No issue is too big or too small!
Appointment Request
To request an appointment with a BYS therapist, please fill out the form below. Our appointment scheduler will contact you by email within 1-2 business days.
*Parents & Guardians, please note: in order to ensure confidentiality and coordinate care properly, we schedule appointments directly with the youth unless they request otherwise. If you are assisting a youth in requesting an appointment, please provide the youth’s contact information. We will contact them directly to coordinate scheduling. For more information about confidentiality and Washington State’s age of consent for mental health services, please see our FAQ.
Forms with incomplete or incorrect emails cannot be processed. Please double check your information before hitting “submit.”