Teens Need to Know: Center Offers Free Walk-in Counseling

The tragedy of the teen suicides off the Stone Arch Bridge remind us that many young people face difficult emotional challenges and they need help. 

But help is not always accessible:  their parents may not have insurance, or it may not cover dependents or mental health care.  Many teens are reluctant to approach parents to access coverage; fees are unaffordable and waiting lists too long.  There is a place where these barriers don’t exist:  Walk-In Counseling Center in Minneapolis, which provides free, walk-in mental health counseling every weekday.

Walk-In’s confidential, no-appointment-needed services are located at 2421 Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis:  Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Monday through Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  Walk-In Counseling Center serves anyone, including youth, who come during walk-in clinic hours.  

“We’re proud that nearly 2,000 people come to us each year for help,” said Mary Weeks, executive director.  “But we know there are many more people who need us, especially young people who turn to their friends for help because they don’t have caring, non-judgmental adults to turn to.  But, that advice can sometimes result in much more complicated problems or end in tragedy.   Walk-In offers the caring, non-judgmental adult they can turn to at a critical time in their lives.”

For the past 44 years Walk-In Counseling Center has been helping young people and adults cope with and overcome depression, anxiety, grief, relationship problems, drug and alcohol use, LGBTQ concerns, bullying, school or job problems, major life changes, and many other issues. 

Services are provided free of charge by professional counselors who volunteer their time.  More information about services is online:  www.walkin.org.   

In 2012, Walk-In provided 5,360 free counseling sessions for 1,757 men, women, and adolescents.  Services were provided by 167 professional clinicians – advanced graduate students and masters’ level and Ph.D. clinicians.  “Last year our dedicated volunteers gave 14,002 hours of service with an estimated value of $860,752.” reported Weeks.

Walk-In Counseling Center’s services are made possible by grants from foundations and businesses, and tax-deductible donations from individuals and households.  Walk-In receives no government funding.