Overview
Mental health is a critical part of overall wellbeing, and for families navigating disability services, the need for behavioral health support is often higher than average. Caregiver burnout, grief, anxiety, trauma, and the daily weight of navigating complex systems take a real toll. And for individuals with developmental or intellectual disabilities, co-occurring mental health conditions are common and often underserved.
The Tri-Cities faces a real shortage of mental health providers: research from Grace Clinic shows the region has approximately one counselor for every 350 residents, contributing to wait times of one to six months for routine therapy appointments. Knowing your options, and who to call first, matters.
This page maps the primary local mental health providers serving Benton and Franklin Counties, organized by the type of support you’re looking for.
If you are in crisis right now, call or text 988. See our 988 resource page →
Crisis Services — Available Now, No Appointment Needed
Lourdes Counseling Center (Lourdes Behavioral Health)
The primary psychiatric crisis resource for adults in the Tri-Cities. Provides free, 24-hour walk-in and telephone crisis services — no appointment, no insurance required. Services include mental health and substance use assessment, crisis intervention, information and referral, and psychiatric evaluation. Inpatient behavioral health services also available for adults 18+ when outpatient care is not sufficient.
1175 Carondelet Drive, Richland, WA 99352
Crisis and Assessment: (509) 943-9104 — 24 hours, 7 days a week
Walk-in crisis services: Available 24/7
yourlourdes.com/behavioral-health
Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW) — Crisis Line
LCSNW provides 24/7 crisis line services for youth and families in Benton and Franklin Counties. Walk-in services available daily 8:00 AM–8:00 PM. Call or dial 988 and ask to be connected to LCSNW.
New location (opened August 2026): 7011 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick, WA 99336
Crisis Line: (509) 792-1747 — 24 hours, 7 days a week | or dial 988
lcsnw.org/office/tri-cities
Outpatient Mental Health — Youth and Families
Lutheran Community Services Northwest (LCSNW)
The Tri-Cities’ primary nonprofit provider of youth behavioral health services, serving families in Benton and Franklin Counties for more than 60 years. Services are available for youth from birth to age 24 and their families, with programs ranging from individual and family therapy to intensive in-home crisis stabilization.
Programs include:
- Individual and family counseling — licensed therapists serving youth from birth to age 24
- Medication management — for ages 5–21
- SWIFT (Stabilization & Wellness in Families) — intensive crisis stabilization for youth at risk of self-harm or hospitalization; includes 24/7 crisis support and psychiatric evaluation
- FOCIS (Family Outreach Crisis Intervention Services) — 30-day in-home intervention for families transitioning from inpatient care; includes therapy, therapeutic aid services, intensive case management, and 24/7 crisis on-call support
- School-based mental health — embedded in Richland School District schools and Benton-Franklin Juvenile Justice Center
- Basic needs assistance — connecting families to additional community resources
New Kennewick facility (opened August 2026): 7011 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick, WA 99336
Pasco Office: 5710 Bedford St., Pasco
Main Phone: (509) 792-1747
Hours: Walk-ins daily 8:00 AM–8:00 PM; crisis line 24/7
lcsnw.org/office/tri-cities
Outpatient Mental Health — Adults and Families
Tri-Cities Community Health (TCCH)
A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving Benton and Franklin Counties with integrated primary and behavioral health care. Services are available on a sliding-scale fee basis, no one is turned away for inability to pay. Accepts most insurance including Apple Health (Medicaid).
Services include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, chemical dependency counseling, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management. Locations in Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco.
Phone: (509) 547-2204
mytcch.org/services/behavioral-mental-health
MERIT Resources
Outpatient behavioral health therapy and mental health evaluations in the Tri-Cities, with services available in English and Spanish. Accepts a variety of insurance providers.
Phone: (877) 789-3344
meritresources.org
Catholic Charities Serving Central Washington
Counseling, behavioral health services, and connection to community resources for individuals and families across the Tri-Cities.
2139 Van Giesen St., Richland | (509) 946-4645
catholiccharitiescw.org
Peer Support and Community
NAMI Tri-Cities (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Free peer support, education, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness in the Tri-Cities. Programs include support groups, family education, and connection to local mental health resources. No cost to participate.
1177 Jadwin Ave., Richland
NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-6264 — Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM–8:00 PM ET
Crisis Text: Text “NAMI” to 741741 — 24/7
namitricities.org
Telehealth and Additional Access
ATC Psychiatry
Telehealth-based psychiatric evaluation and medication management for Tri-Cities residents. 100% virtual, no referral needed. Serves individuals with anxiety, depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, and mood disorders. Accepts multiple insurance plans.
Psychology Today Therapist Finder
Search for verified licensed therapists in Kennewick, Richland, and Pasco, filterable by insurance, specialty, and availability.
psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/wa/kennewick
A Note on Wait Times
The Tri-Cities mental health provider shortage is real — routine therapy appointments can have wait times of one to six months. If you are told there is a wait:
- Ask to be put on a cancellation list — openings happen regularly
- Try TCCH’s sliding-scale services — as an FQHC, they have more capacity flexibility
- Contact NAMI Tri-Cities — free peer support groups can bridge the gap while you wait for a clinical appointment
- Use telehealth — ATC Psychiatry and other telehealth providers can often see patients faster than in-person offices
- Call 988 — for crisis support while waiting for routine care to begin
If your family member has a developmental disability and a co-occurring mental health condition, also talk to their DDA case manager — some DDA waiver services include behavioral health components, and TCRS offers Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as a specialized service for eligible individuals.
DDA Resource Page → | TCRS Resource Page → | 988 Crisis Lifeline → | Washington 2-1-1
FAQ
Is there a mental health provider that specifically serves individuals with developmental disabilities?
Most general mental health providers can serve individuals with IDD, though finding one with specific experience and training in this area takes more effort. Start with TCCH (sliding-scale, multiple locations) and ask specifically about experience with developmental disabilities. Your DDA case manager may also know of local clinicians with IDD experience. TCRS provides DBT for eligible DDA clients with complex behavioral health needs.
What if we can’t afford therapy?
TCCH is the best starting point. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, they operate on a sliding-scale fee and no one is turned away for inability to pay. NAMI Tri-Cities also offers free peer support groups. Apple Health (Medicaid) covers behavioral health services — if your family member is enrolled, use it.
My child is in crisis right now, who do I call?
Call or text 988 immediately, or call LCSNW’s 24/7 crisis line at (509) 792-1747. For walk-in crisis support for adults, go to Lourdes Counseling Center at 1175 Carondelet Drive, Richland, available 24/7 at no cost.
Does Apple Health cover mental health services?
Yes. Apple Health (Medicaid) covers outpatient mental health therapy, psychiatric evaluation, and medication management. TCCH and LCSNW both accept Apple Health.
