Join our Team of Counselor Volunteer Providers

The Pro Bono Counseling Network provides free therapy for residents of Orange, Durham, and surrounding counties in North Carolina who cannot afford counseling and do not qualify for publicly funded services. Join a community of psychotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, counselors, and other mental health practitioners. What any one of us can do may seem small; but together, we impact the community.

HOW TO BECOME A PBCN THERAPIST

STEP 1

Agree to see one client per year, for up to eight sessions, in your office or via telehealth.

STEP 2

Provide information on your interests, expertise, and practice via the application below.

STEP 3

Meet with the Network Coordinator to discuss your application, any lingering questions, and the process for being matched with clients.

Apply Now

Therapist Application

Name(Required)

First Last

Pro Nouns(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone(Required)

Full Business Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

If comfortable sharing your gender identity, please do so here. This will help us honor client's preferences regarding gender of the therapist. (You may check all that apply.)

Woman

Man

Transgender

Cisgender

Non-binary

Agender

Two-spirit

Prefer not to say

Other

The PBCN is using Race Forward’s “Racial Equity Impact Assessment” (REIA) as a guide to minimize unanticipated adverse consequences for people of color. Data collected from the question below will inform program development and may identify gaps or disparities that the PBCN will seek to address this. Thank you in advance for your help.

What race(s) and/or ethnicities do you identify with (check all that apply)?

American Indian or Indigenous American or

Alaskan Native

Asian

Black or African American

Latino(a)(x) or Hispanic

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White or Caucasian

Other (please specify below)

If other, above, please describe.

Please select your licensure type(s) (select all that apply).(Required)

If other, above, please describe.

Languages used in therapy (other than English)

Please share any specific populations you serve in your practice, so that we can be mindful of these while conducting client/therapist matches.(Required)

Please share any specific issues you treat in your practice, so that we can be mindful of these while conducting client/therapist matches.(Required)

Do you have a profile on Psychology Today?(Required)

Yes

No

If yes, is your Psychology Today profile accurate and up-to-date?

Yes

No

Is there another website that lists information about your therapy practice other than a provider search on an insurance website?(Required)

Yes

No

If yes, is it accurate and up-to-date?

Yes

No

If yes, what is the URL?

Services Offered (select all that apply):(Required)

Individual therapy - adults

Individual therapy - adolescents

Individual therapy - children

Couples therapy

Family therapy

Group therapy

Other (please specify below)

If other, above, please describe.

Please select up to 4 types of therapy you use most often in your practice.(Required)

If other, above, please describe.

Please select the type(s) of therapy in which you have the most extensive training and experience implementing. If the same as above, please select "Same as answer to previous."(Required)

If other, above, please describe.

Which of the following opportunities would you be interested in receiving as a member of the PBCN (select all that apply)?(Required)

Peer case consultation groups

Self-care activities for helping professionals

Informal and formal networking events

Continuing education opportunities

"Mentorship" (This is distinct from clinical supervision. A seasoned therapist would agree to provide support and guidance, such as on best practices and how to better serve clients from underserved populations, etc.)

Guidance and support for integrating no-cost and/or low-cost therapy opportunities into your practice

Reduced-rate or free clinical supervision

Other (please specify below)

None of the above

If other, above, please describe.

Which, if any, of the following services would you be able and willing to provide to the PBCN and its members (select all that apply)?(Required)

Help develop and/or lead a PBCN continuing education event

"Mentorship" as described in previous question

Reduced-rate or free clinical supervision

Serving on the PBCN Board of Directors, PBCN Advisory Board, and/or PBCN Committees

Cannot commit to providing anything else at this time

Other (please specify below)

If other, above, please describe.

Please list any continuing education topics that you would like to see offered by the PBCN.

Can you commit to at least eight free counseling sessions this year (2023)?(Required)

Yes

No

Unsure

If you checked "Unsure," please share when you anticipate being able to commit, or what you need in order to determine your ability to commit.

Would you be *potentially* interested in going beyond the 8 free therapy sessions with a client? Note: checking "yes" here does not commit you to going beyond 8 sessions. It's merely a way for us to gauge the possibility of longer-term services.(Required)

Yes

No

Unsure

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the PBCN therapy coordinator?

Why Join?

Live your values of making our mental health care system more equitable.
Rely on the PBCN to identify clients who are well matched to your strengths, skills, and interests.
Be part of a network committed to serving vulnerable and marginalized populations.
Receive Continuing Education (CE) free of charge.
Enjoy opportunities to network with and learn from other providers.
Know that your efforts will be documented and used to influence public policy and community resources.

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Volunteer as a supervisor or mentor for newer clinicians

Apply to serve on the Board of Directors or Advisory Council

Develop and/or lead a Continuing Education event for PBCN members

Make a donation

Testimonials from PBCN Volunteers

“I’d always done some pro-bono and sliding scale spots, but I sometimes felt conflicted about charging clients different amounts. PBCN makes it easy. The coordinator offers me one client at a time for a limited number of sessions.”

~ PBCN Therapist

“My PBCN clients have been very satisfying. One client who I decided to continue with at a reduced fee later qualified for health insurance. She still comes to see me, as needed, seven years later.”

~ PBCN therapist

“I love how the PBCN gives the client and me a structure to count on. This eliminates awkward or sensitive conversations about ending pro bono sessions. I also appreciate that if the client and I do not match well they can get rematched easily with another therapist. Sometimes if someone asked me directly for pro bono help, I was also able to send them to PBCN and have them request me. This covered us both.”

~ PBCN therapist

“I always have one person on my caseload and occasionally a brief overlap of 2 if someone had a session or two to complete. The coordinator does a good job of screening and matching clients to therapists. It is a win-win for everyone, and no money has to exchange hands.”

~ PBCN therapist

“I appreciate how PBCN connects me with clients who are a good match for me and would not have had access to private practice.”

~ PBCN therapist