Mental Health Resources in Maine: A County-by-County Guide
Finding mental health support in Maine can feel like navigating a maze while already exhausted. You know you need help, but where do you even start? This guide breaks down what's actually available across Maine from crisis resources you can access right now to finding longer-term therapy, navigating insurance, and understanding your options whether you live in Portland or a town with one stoplight.
If You're in Crisis Right Now
Before we get into county-by-county resources, let's start here: if you or someone you know is in immediate danger, these resources are available 24/7, no appointment needed, no questions about insurance.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988
This three-digit number works anywhere in the US, including all of Maine. Call or text 988 to reach trained crisis counselors who can provide immediate support. It's free, confidential, and available 24/7. You don't need to be actively suicidal to call—if you're struggling and need someone to talk to, they're there.
Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
If talking on the phone feels impossible (which it often does during a crisis), text instead. You'll be connected with a trained crisis counselor who can help you work through what you're experiencing. This is especially helpful for younger people or anyone who processes better through text.
Maine Crisis Line: 1-888-568-1112
This is Maine's statewide crisis line, staffed by people who understand Maine-specific resources. They can connect you with local support, mobile crisis teams, or emergency services if needed. They also provide support for family members worried about someone in crisis.
Emergency Services: 911
If someone is in immediate physical danger—threatening suicide with access to means, experiencing psychosis and at risk of harm, or in a medical emergency—call 911. Maine has been training more first responders in mental health crisis intervention, though experiences vary by location.
Crisis Stabilization Units
Maine has several crisis stabilization units that provide short-term (usually 3-7 days) intensive support as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. These can be accessed through emergency departments or crisis services. They're designed to stabilize acute mental health crises and connect you with ongoing care.
Cumberland County: Portland and Surrounding Areas
Cumberland County has the highest concentration of mental health resources in Maine, but that doesn't mean finding the right fit is easy. Here's what's available and how to access it.
Community Mental Health Centers
Spurwink Services (Portland, South Portland, Scarborough) provides comprehensive mental health services including individual therapy, psychiatric services, and substance use treatment. They accept MaineCare and many private insurances. Wait times vary but generally range from 2-8 weeks for non-crisis appointments. Call their main number to schedule: 207-871-1200.
Opportunity Alliance offers mental health and substance use services across Greater Portland, including Portland, Westbrook, and Gorham. They specialize in serving individuals experiencing homelessness, trauma, and co-occurring disorders. They have sliding scale fees and accept MaineCare. Contact: 207-523-5000.
Hospital-Based Services
Maine Medical Center's Psychiatric Emergency Services (22 Bramhall Street, Portland) operates 24/7 for psychiatric emergencies. No appointment needed—this is walk-in crisis care. They can provide immediate stabilization, medication management, and connections to ongoing care.
Mercy Hospital's Behavioral Health Unit provides inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care. Their partial hospitalization program (PHP) and intensive outpatient program (IOP) serve as step-down care after hospitalization or more intensive support than weekly therapy. Call 207-879-3486 for behavioral health intake.
Private Practice and Specialized Services
Finding a therapist in private practice in Greater Portland can be challenging.
If you're seeking couples therapy or individual therapy and can access virtual care, Sagebrush Counseling serves clients throughout Maine via telehealth. This means whether you're in Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Falmouth, or anywhere in Cumberland County (or really, anywhere in Maine), you can access specialized support. Their approach is particularly helpful for couples navigating neurodiversity, ADHD, or relationship patterns that haven't responded to traditional therapy.
For couples specifically in Portland dealing with neurodevelopmental differences, neurodiverse couples therapy in Portland, Maine offers specialized virtual support that understands how ADHD, autism, and other neurological differences shape relationships.
Substance Use Resources
Milestone Recovery (multiple Portland area locations) provides outpatient substance use treatment with flexible scheduling including evening appointments. They accept most insurance and offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid and alcohol use disorders.
Crossroads (Portland) offers detox, residential treatment, and outpatient services for substance use. They have specific programs for adults and adolescents. Contact: 207-775-4357.
Specialized Support
Maine Medical Center's Child Psychiatry Practice serves children and adolescents with psychiatric needs. Wait times can be long (3-6 months), so get on the waitlist early if your child needs psychiatric evaluation or medication management.
Sweetser (Portland office) provides mental health services for children, adolescents, and families, including in-home services for youth experiencing behavioral health crises. They accept MaineCare and many private insurances.
Sagadahoc County: Brunswick and the Bath Area
Sagadahoc County is smaller but has solid resources, particularly through Mid Coast Hospital and community mental health providers. Many residents also access services in Portland (30 minutes away) or Augusta.
Community Mental Health
Sweetser's Brunswick location (29 Church Road) provides outpatient mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults. They offer individual therapy, family therapy, and psychiatric services. Their trauma-informed approach is particularly strong. Call 207-725-2181 for intake.
Mid Coast Hospital Behavioral Health Services (123 Medical Center Drive, Brunswick) offers outpatient psychiatry, therapy, and an intensive outpatient program. They have both adult and adolescent services. The IOP can be particularly helpful for individuals who need more support than weekly therapy but don't require hospitalization.
Virtual Therapy Options
Because Brunswick is a smaller community, many residents benefit from virtual therapy that expands their options beyond what's locally available. Couples therapy in Brunswick, Maine is available virtually through Sagebrush Counseling, which means you can access specialized relationship support without driving to Portland or waiting months for a local provider with the specific expertise you need.
For individual therapy or couples work, virtual care through Maine-based providers means you have access to the same quality of care as someone in Portland, regardless of where you live in Sagadahoc County.
Crisis Services
Crisis & Counseling Centers (24-hour crisis line: 1-888-568-1112) serves Sagadahoc County with mobile crisis response. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, they can send a team to assess and connect with appropriate resources without automatically involving law enforcement or hospitalization.
York County: Kennebunk, Biddeford, Saco, and Southern Maine
York County has a mix of community mental health centers, private practices, and hospital-based services spread across a geographically large area. Resources are concentrated in the Biddeford-Saco area and Sanford, with fewer options in smaller coastal communities.
Community Mental Health
Counseling Services Inc. (CSI) has offices throughout York County including Sanford, Kennebunk, and Biddeford. They provide comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment, accepting MaineCare and most private insurance. They offer individual therapy, group therapy, psychiatric services, and intensive programs. Their intake number is 207-324-2605, though wait times can extend 4-8 weeks for routine appointments.
York County Community Action Corporation (YCCAC) provides mental health services particularly for individuals facing economic hardship. They have a sliding scale fee structure and help navigate insurance enrollment. Multiple locations across York County. Contact: 207-324-5762.
Hospital Services
Southern Maine Health Care (Biddeford) has an emergency department capable of handling psychiatric emergencies and can arrange inpatient psychiatric hospitalization when needed. They also offer outpatient behavioral health services including therapy and medication management.
Substance Use Support
Nasson Community Center (Springvale) provides outpatient substance use treatment including MAT for opioid use disorder. They're one of the more accessible substance use providers in York County and work with uninsured and underinsured individuals.
Access Across York County
York County is large and rural in many areas, which makes transportation to services a real barrier. Virtual therapy has been transformative for residents in Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Wells, Ogunquit, and other coastal communities who previously faced 45-minute drives for appointments.
Whether you're in Biddeford, Saco, Kennebunk, Sanford, or smaller York County communities, Sagebrush Counseling's virtual therapy services mean you can access specialized couples therapy and individual therapy without the travel barrier. This is particularly valuable for couples work, which traditionally requires both partners to arrange schedules and transportation simultaneously.
Midcoast Maine: Lincoln, Knox, and Waldo Counties
The Midcoast region has fewer mental health resources per capita than Cumberland County, but several strong community providers serve the area. Residents of this region often face longer wait times and may need to consider virtual options to access timely care.
Community Providers
Sweetser has locations in Belfast and Rockland, providing mental health services for children, adolescents, and adults. Their child and family services are particularly robust in this region. Rockland office: 207-596-5555.
Pen Bay Medical Center (Rockport) has outpatient behavioral health services including therapy and psychiatric care. They're affiliated with MaineHealth, which means easier coordination if you're receiving other medical care through their system. Contact: 207-921-8880.
Coastal Children's Healthcare (Rockland) provides pediatric mental health services including therapy and medication management for children and adolescents. Wait times can be significant (4-6 months for new patients), but they're one of the few child psychiatry practices in the Midcoast.
Virtual Access for Underserved Areas
If you live in Camden, Rockland, Belfast, Damariscotta, Boothbay, or smaller Midcoast communities, virtual therapy dramatically expands your options. Instead of waiting months for a local provider or driving an hour to Portland, you can access specialized care from your home.
This is particularly valuable for couples therapy, where coordinating both partners' schedules with available appointment times in a small community can be nearly impossible. Virtual couples therapy through providers like Sagebrush Counseling means you can access specialized relationship support—including work with neurodiversity, ADHD, and complex relationship dynamics.
Downeast Maine: Hancock and Washington Counties
Downeast Maine faces some of the most significant mental health provider shortages in the state. Wait times are longest here, and many residents drive to Bangor or even Portland for specialized care. Virtual therapy has become essential for accessing timely treatment in this region.
Community Mental Health
Community Health and Counseling Services (CHCS) serves Hancock and Washington Counties with offices in Ellsworth, Machias, and several other locations. They provide comprehensive mental health and substance use treatment and are often the primary (sometimes only) option for MaineCare recipients in this region. Ellsworth intake: 207-667-5304.
Down East Community Hospital (Machias) has limited outpatient behavioral health services. Their emergency department can handle psychiatric emergencies, but ongoing psychiatric care options are extremely limited in Washington County.
Filling the Gap with Telehealth
For residents of Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, Blue Hill, Machias, Lubec, Eastport, and other Downeast communities, virtual therapy isn't just convenient—it's often the only way to access specialized mental health care without driving 2-3 hours. This is especially true for couples therapy, trauma-specialized care, and providers with expertise in specific issues like ADHD, eating disorders, or complex trauma.
Maine-based virtual therapy providers can serve Downeast residents just as effectively as in-person care, with the added benefit of eliminating the transportation barrier that prevents many people from accessing care at all.
Insurance Navigation: Making Sense of Maine Mental Health Coverage
Understanding your insurance coverage for mental health can feel like reading a foreign language. Here's what you actually need to know.
MaineCare (Medicaid)
MaineCare covers mental health services including therapy, psychiatric care, and substance use treatment. Most community mental health centers accept MaineCare, though private practices often don't. If you have MaineCare, start with Sweetser, Spurwink, CSI, or other community providers listed above.
Important: MaineCare requires prior authorization for some services. Your provider should handle this, but if you're denied coverage, you can appeal. The Maine Office of MaineCare Services can help: 1-800-977-6740.
Private Insurance
Most private insurance plans cover mental health services, but coverage varies widely. Here's what to check:
Copay vs. coinsurance: Some plans charge a flat copay (e.g., $30 per session); others require you to pay a percentage (e.g., 20%) until you meet your deductible.
In-network vs. out-of-network: In-network providers cost significantly less. However, if you can't find an in-network provider accepting new patients, many plans have "continuity of care" provisions or will make exceptions due to network inadequacy.
Prior authorization requirements: Some plans require approval before starting therapy or after a certain number of sessions. Your therapist should know if this is required.
Session limits: Some plans limit how many therapy sessions they'll cover per year. This is less common than it used to be, but check your policy.
Superbills and Out-of-Network Reimbursement
Some out-of-network providers can provide a “superbill,” an itemized receipt that clients may choose to submit to their insurance company. Any potential reimbursement is determined by your insurance plan and is not guaranteed. Clients are responsible for the full session fee at the time of service.
Sliding Scale and Low-Cost Options
If you're uninsured or underinsured, ask providers if they offer sliding scale fees based on income. Community mental health centers typically have sliding scales. Some private practice therapists reserve a few sliding scale spots.
Open Door Clinic (Portland) provides free medical and behavioral health care for uninsured adults. First Come First Served Basis.
Finding a Therapist: Practical Tips Beyond Google
Everyone tells you to "find a therapist," but how do you actually do that in Maine where wait lists are long and good providers are busy?
Start with Your Insurance
Call the behavioral health number on your insurance card and ask for a list of in-network providers accepting new clients in your area. Be specific: "I need a couples therapist in Cumberland County who has immediate or near-immediate availability." The list they send will be partly outdated, but it's a starting point.
Use Therapist Directories Effectively
Psychology Today's therapist directory is the most comprehensive, but use filters aggressively: location, insurance accepted, issues you want to work on, and most importantly, "accepting new clients."
Consider Virtual Therapy Seriously
This can't be overstated: virtual therapy has transformed access to care in Maine. Instead of limiting yourself to whoever happens to practice within 20 minutes of your house and is accepting new clients and takes your insurance, you can access providers throughout Maine who specialize in exactly what you need.
This is especially important for:
Couples therapy (coordinating schedules is hard enough without adding commute time)
Specialized issues like ADHD, eating disorders, OCD, or trauma
Rural areas where local options are extremely limited
People with mobility issues or unreliable transportation
Don't Wait to Get on Waitlists
If you find a provider who seems like a good fit but has a waitlist, get on it. Then continue looking for someone with sooner availability. You can always decline if you find someone else first. Waiting to get on a waitlist only delays your care by weeks or months.
Ask for Referrals from Your Primary Care Doctor
Your PCP often knows which mental health providers their patients have had good experiences with and which ones are actually accepting new patients. They may also be able to make warm handoffs to behavioral health providers within their health system.
When You Need Specialized Counseling
Sometimes general therapy isn't enough. You need someone who really understands your specific situation, whether that's ADHD in relationships, complex trauma, eating disorders, or navigating neurodiversity as a couple.
ADHD and Neurodiversity in Relationships
Traditional couples therapy often fails when one or both partners have ADHD, autism, or other neurodevelopmental differences because the standard communication techniques don't account for how different brains process information and emotion. You need someone who understands executive dysfunction, sensory sensitivities, and how neurological differences create specific relationship patterns.
Virtual therapy makes it possible to access these specialists regardless of where you live in Maine. Neurodiverse couples therapy in Portland, Maine is available virtually, which means whether you're in Portland, Brunswick, Augusta, Bangor, or Presque Isle, you can access specialized support that understands how neurodiversity shapes relationships.
Individual Therapy Throughout Maine
Whether you're dealing with anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma, or simply feeling stuck, individual therapy can provide the support and tools you need. Because Sagebrush Counseling offers virtual therapy throughout Maine, you can access quality care whether you're in:
Greater Portland Area: Portland, South Portland, Scarborough, Falmouth, Westbrook, Gorham, Cape Elizabeth
Midcoast: Brunswick, Bath, Camden, Rockland, Belfast, Damariscotta
Southern Maine: Biddeford, Saco, Kennebunk, Sanford, York, Wells
Central Maine: Augusta, Waterville, Lewiston-Auburn
Downeast: Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Machias, Calais
Northern Maine: Bangor, Orono, Caribou, Presque Isle
Virtual care means you're not limited by geography—you can access the right therapist with the right expertise for your specific needs.
Substance Use and Co-Occurring Disorders
If you're struggling with both mental health and substance use (which commonly co-occur), you need integrated treatment. Many general therapists aren't trained in substance use treatment, and many substance use programs don't adequately address underlying mental health conditions.
Look for providers who explicitly offer "dual diagnosis" or "co-occurring disorders" treatment. Community mental health centers typically have this integrated approach.
Trauma-Specific Treatment
If you've experienced trauma (childhood abuse, sexual assault, combat, accidents, domestic violence), seek providers trained in evidence-based trauma treatments like EMDR, Prolonged Exposure, or Cognitive Processing Therapy. General talk therapy can be helpful but isn't sufficient for treating PTSD and complex trauma.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders require specialized treatment. The Eating Disorder Institute of Maine (Portland) provides outpatient treatment. For higher levels of care, many Maine residents travel to Massachusetts or out-of-state residential programs.
Making the Call: Overcoming the Hardest Part
You've read this entire guide. You know what resources exist. But there's still one massive barrier: actually picking up the phone or filling out that contact form.
Here's permission to make it easier than you think it needs to be:
You don't need to have your whole story figured out before calling. "I'm struggling and need to talk to someone" is enough. The intake person will ask questions to help figure out what you need.
You don't need to pick the "perfect" therapist. Pick someone who seems good enough and has availability. If it's not a good fit after a few sessions, you can switch. A decent therapist now is better than the perfect therapist in three months.
You don't need to be "sick enough" to deserve help. If you're wondering whether your problems are "bad enough" for therapy, that question itself is a sign you could benefit from support.
Resources for Specific Populations
Veterans
VA Maine Healthcare System serves veterans throughout Maine with medical and mental health services, including PTSD treatment, substance use programs, and couples therapy. Portland: 207-780-4000. Togus: 207-623-8411.
Veterans who aren't eligible for VA care or prefer civilian providers can access care through TRICARE if they have retired military benefits, or through private providers, many of whom offer sliding scale fees for veterans.
LGBTQ+ Individuals
Frannie Peabody Center (Portland) provides mental health counseling specifically for LGBTQ+ individuals and people living with HIV/AIDS. They understand the specific stressors and experiences of queer and trans folks. Contact: 207-774-6877.
Many providers listed throughout this guide explicitly state LGBTQ+ affirming care in their practice descriptions. Don't waste your time or emotional energy on providers who aren't explicitly affirming—you deserve better.
Older Adults
Senior Spectrum (formerly Senior Health Center, Portland) provides mental health services specifically designed for older adults dealing with late-life depression, anxiety, grief, and adjustment to aging. Contact: 207-775-6503.
Many older adults benefit from therapy but don't pursue it due to stigma from their generation. Therapy isn't an admission of weakness—it's a tool for living well through life transitions.
Children and Adolescents
In addition to the child-specific services mentioned throughout this guide, Maine schools have expanding behavioral health services. Ask your child's school about available counselors, social workers, or school-based therapy programs.
If your child is in crisis, the Spurwink Children's Crisis Stabilization Unit (Portland) provides short-term stabilization for kids ages 5-18 experiencing psychiatric emergencies.
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
Here's what this guide really wants you to know: there are resources available, even in a state with significant provider shortages. You have more options than you think—especially with virtual care expanding access across Maine.
Whether you're in Portland with dozens of local options or in Lubec where the nearest therapist is an hour away, you can access quality mental health care. It might take a few calls. You might end up on a waitlist. You might need to try virtual therapy even if you originally wanted in-person. But care exists, and you deserve to access it.
If you're ready to take that step, whether for yourself or for your relationship, know that you don't have to do this perfectly. You just have to start. Make one call. Send one email. Fill out one contact form.
Your mental health matters. Your relationship matters. And there are people throughout Maine—in community centers, hospitals, and virtual practices—who are ready to help.
Start somewhere. Start today.
Ready to schedule a virtual individual or couples session in Maine?
I offer virtual counseling for Maine residents, including individual therapy and couples therapy. If you’re unsure where to start, you’re welcome to reach out first.
Not sure which option fits? Reaching out is a good place to start.
