Psychiatric Care
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders including those related to mood, behavior, cognition, and perceptions. Psychiatrists differ from psychologists in that they are physicians and have post-graduate training in psychiatry of 4-5 years. Psychiatric care is also provided by psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Psychiatrists typically spend less time (other than the initial appointment) with a patient than a therapist, and do not focus as much on talk therapy but more on the physical or chemical treatment of the brain. They provide services in mental health agencies, hospitals and clinics, and private practices. Due to a shortage of psychiatrists, appointments may not be available for weeks, or even months. However, access to psychiatric care may be available sooner if you are a patient of one of the larger regional mental health agencies. Agencies frequently require their patients to see a therapist or counselor two or three times before being seen by one of their psychiatrists.
Psychiatrists who do not take Medicaid or Medicare are not included in these resources unless they provide a unique service not otherwise offered in the area.
If you need to see a psychiatrist immediately for a medication refill, you may visit the Medication and Prescription (MAP) Clinic for individuals who cannot get a doctor’s appointment or do not have a psychiatrist. MAP Clinic services are accessed through the ECMC Help Center.
First Episode Psychosis
The onset of serious mental illness often occurs in the period of adolescence to young adulthood. It can be difficult to diagnose with certainty, but the most current research seems to be indicating that if treated early, with proper medical support and appropriate medications, the long-term damage from the illness may be lessened. Special programs offer intensive early intervention and treatment during and through the period of adolescence and young adulthood. See resources at First Episode Psychosis in Child & Youth Psychiatric Care.
Psychiatric Resources
BestSelf Behavioral Health, Inc.
716-884-0888
255 Delaware Ave
Buffalo, NY 14202
www.bestselfwny.org
Fees: Sliding Scale available
Service Details
Fully integrated mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services for children and adults including mental health, substance use disorder, health assessment & monitoring, psychiatric rehabilitation, targeted case management, peer services. On-Track Adolescent Program, DBT, PROS, ACT, Reentry, integrated co-occurring disorder, MAT, school-based programs, Child Advocacy Center. Mobile Mental Health Services provides counseling in the community and in-home for Medicaid recipients who have significant barriers to receiving outpatient treatment. Bilingual Counselors available at some locations in Buffalo. Service Area: WNY
BryLin Outpatient Mental Health Clinic
716-632-5450
531 Farber Lakes Dr, Ste 201
Williamsville, NY 14221
www.brylin.com
Fees: Sliding scale available
Service Details
Services for adults, 18 years of age and older. Focus on overall wellness with counseling centered on: symptom reduction and management; skill building; coping skills development; and support. Services include: psychiatric assessment, individual and group therapy, medication management, dual diagnosis, anxiety, depression and stress management, trauma treatments, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotion Regulation/Mindfulness Skills) and more.
Service Area: WNY
Buffalo Psychiatric Center
Outpatient: 716-816-2218
Inpatient: 716-816-2172
400 Forest Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14213
www.omh.ny.gov
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Provides comprehensive mental health services that promote recovery to individuals 18 years of age and older. Offers a network of inpatient, rehabilitation, outpatient, residential, vocational, wellness, and self-help/ peer services. ACT, Wellness and Recovery Center, Mobile Integration Team. Inpatient service is only available to those referred from area hospitals.
Service Area: WNY
The Dale Association
716-433-1937
33 Ontario St
Lockport, NY
https://daleassociation.com/
Fees: Sliding Scale available
Service Details
Outpatient counseling and treatment, Community Mental Health Nurse, Peer Specialist, Senior Services, PROS
Locations: Erie & Niagara Counties
Envision Wellness WNY (formerly Northwest Community Mental Health Center)
716-877-6763
406 Vulcan Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14207
www.northwestcmhc.org
Fees: Sliding scale available.
Service Details
Provides mental health assessment, treatment, and intervention. Specializes in people with multiple hospitalizations. Day Treatment, Etaria program for co-occurring substance use disorder.
Service Area: WNY
Endeavor Health Services
716-895-6700
1526 Walden Ave., Ste. 400
Cheektowaga, NY 14225
www.mid-erie.org
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Counseling, Psychiatry, HCBS, HARP, PROS, Medication Management, Forensic. Certified Community Behavioral Health Center
Locations: WNY
Erie County Medical Center (ECMC)
Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program (CPEP)
716-898-3465
462 Grider Street
Buffalo, NY 14215
www.ecmc.edu
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
A hospital-based emergency psychiatric service open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to treat patients of all ages.
Service Area: WNY
Erie County Medical Center
Outpatient Behavioral Health – Adult & Family Clinic
716-898-3255
462 Grider St
Buffalo, NY 14215
www.ecmc.edu
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Provides outpatient behavioral health services for clients and their families to help them deal with family crisis, stress at work, or more severe persistent mental health diagnosis.
Service Area: WNY
Erie County Medical Center
Behavioral Health Services
716-898-1676
1285 Main St., 1st Flr.
Buffalo, NY 14202
www.ecmc.edu
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Provides outpatient behavioral health services for clients and their families to help them deal with family crisis, stress at work, or more severe persistent mental health diagnosis.
Assessment, individual and group counseling, medication evaluation and monitoring, psychiatry, Dual Diagnosis (mental health & substance use), PTSD, Clozaril management. No appointment needed.
Service Area: WNY.
Erie County Medical Center
Help Center
716-898-1594
1285 Main St., 1st Flr.
Buffalo, NY 14202
www.ecmc.edu
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
An urgent care service for walk-in mental health treatment of adults in crisis who do not require psychiatric emergency treatment or inpatient care. Walk-in and virtual. Focus on wellness to aid those experiencing, anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts and behaviors, hallucinations, feelings of hopelessness / helplessness. MAP Clinic available for medications and prescriptions.
Service Area: WNY.
Erie County Medical Center
Adult Partial Hospitalization Program – ECMC
Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program
716-898-5569
462 Grider St
Buffalo, NY 14215
www.ecmc.edu
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Offers intensive outpatient treatment to people experiencing acute psychiatric symptoms that impair functioning at home and/or at work. This level of care is designed to stabilize acute symptoms with the intention of avoiding hospitalization, or to reduce the length of a hospital stay. Intensive group-based acute psychiatric stabilization program is designed as an alternative to inpatient psychiatric admission. The average length of stay is two weeks.
Service Area: WNY.
Erie County Medical Center
The NAVIGATE Program
716-898-1676
1285 Main St., 1st Flr.
Buffalo, NY 14202
www.ecmc.edu
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
For teenage and young adult patients ages 14-30 and their families experiencing early and first episode psychosis (FEP) link to FEP in Mental Illness Basics – Early Warning Signs. Services:
- A primary therapist who assists patients in achieving goals by providing education, treatment recommendations, and coping strategies for psychosis
- A family education program that teaches families about psychosis and treatment, reducing family stress, and improving communication and understanding
- A Monthly Family Meeting, one Monday evening each month from 6 – 7:30 pm for education and support for NAVIGATE families. One of the NAVIGATE prescribing doctors attends each session to answer questions
- Individualized medication treatment aimed at reducing symptoms and preventing relapses
- Support Education/Employment Specialist (SEE) who assist patients in developing goals for employment or education, and then attaining them
- Case management services to assist with needs related to transportation, housing, disability, legal, insurance, or social service needs, or general continuity of care.
Horizon Health Services, Inc.
716-831-1800
55 Dodge Road
Getzville, NY 14068
www.horizon-health.org
Fees: Sliding scale available
Service Details
Treatment and support for individuals and families struggling with substance use disorders and mental health issues. Outpatient & residential treatment, detoxification services, military/first responder residential treatment, crisis stabilization, therapy dog program.
Service Area: WNY
Monsignor Carr Clinics/Catholic Charities
716 895-7718 or 1-877-448-4466
76 W. Humboldt Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14214
www.ccwny.org
Fees: Sliding scale, most insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare
Service Details
Serves children ages 5 and up, adolescents, and adults. Comprehensive psychiatric and social work services. Individual, family and group counseling, medication management, in-home treatment.
Service Area: WNY
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
Emergency Department
716-278-4405
621 10th St.
Niagara Falls, NY 14302
www.nfmmc.org/programs-services/behavioral-health.php
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Offers a dedicated psychiatric emergency department providing comprehensive psychiatric assessments for adults 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Service Area: Niagara County.
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
Behavioral Health Services
716-278-4000
621 10th St.
Niagara Falls, NY 14302
www.nfmmc.org/programs-services/behavioral-health.php
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Offers a continuum of behavioral health including Niagara County’s only psychiatric emergency department, inpatient behavioral health care, and outpatient behavioral health service in the Niagara Wellness Connection Center.
Service Area: Niagara County.
Oishei Children’s Hospital
Children’s Psychiatry Clinic
716-859-5454
1028 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
www.wchob.org
Fees: Financial assistance based on ability to pay.
Service Details
Ages 2 – 21. Diagnostic assessment, evaluation and treatment services, individual and family psychotherapies; psychiatric evaluation and consultation; medication management; advocacy for clinic patients with schools, social services, or other agencies.
Service Area: WNY
Spectrum Human Services
716-539-5500
227 Thorn Ave.
Orchard Park, NY 14127
www.shswny.org
Fees: Sliding scale available.
Service Details
Community-based services, drug addiction counseling, home health care coordination, housing assistance, mental health clinics, and counseling services, PROS, ACT, co-occurring disorders, re-entry, LGBTQ and more.
Service Area: WNY
VA Western NY Healthcare System
Buffalo VA Medical Center
716-834-9200
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
3495 Bailey Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14215
www.buffalo.va.gov
Service Details
Inpatient and outpatient treatment includes evaluation, treatment, medical, surgical, psychiatry, neurology and rehabilitation medicine. Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, HIV/AIDS, alcohol and drug dependence day treatment.
Eligibility: Veteran status and active duty.
Service Area: WNY.