Purpose and Introduction: Caring for your mental health is just as important as our physical health, and fortunately there are experts available to help you heal, cope, and grow into the person you want to be.
Traditionally, mental health practitioners work in a therapeutic setting via clinic or telemedicine, however, there are a variety of other ways you can access mental health care and services. Some people prefer group counseling to individual counseling, therefore listed below are some options for peer support groups.
Everyone has different needs and preferences when it comes to their mental health, so finding the right therapist is a great place to start when beginning your mental health journey. Linked below are free tools to search through accredited mental health practitioners so you can find the best fit for you.
This page includes:
- Counseling Services
- Suicide, Crisis, & Help-lines
- Peer Support Groups
- Walk-In Mental Health Clinics
- Finding the Right Therapist
- Community Well-being (Twin Cities)
- Free Yoga
- Outdoor Activities
- Spirituality
- City & County Services
Counseling Services
- Walk-In (Minneapolis & St. Paul): Free, anonymous counseling for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues—walk‑in, phone, or online on weekdays.
- Mental Health Minnesota: Free, confidential online screenings; peer support via phone/text/chat; plus support groups and recovery workshops.
- People Incorporated Mental Health Services: Offers a variety of behavioral health services designed to support adults, youth, children, families, couples, and adolescents.
- Project Reach Out: Project Reach Out works to improve the network of support to youth and their families through confidential and voluntary crisis intervention referral services.
- Hoffman Center: This organization provides a comprehensive approach to therapy and counseling with inpatient options as well as family counseling and other therapeutic services.
Suicide, Crisis & Help-lines
Suicide and Crisis
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 anytime for free, confidential support in English and Spanish.
- Project Reach Out Youth Crisis Response serves Duluth and the 30-mile surrounding radius. These teams provide fast, unarmed responses meant to intervene, de-escalate, stabilize, and assess our community members experiencing crisis. (844) 772-4724
- National Suicide/Crisis Hotlines: Call 1(800)-SUICIDE (784-2433) and 1(800)273-TALK (8255)
- Crisis Text Line: Free, confidential Crisis Texting service. Text HOME to 741741
- Alternative Crisis Response
- Behavioral Crisis Response (BCR) – City-funded, unarmed mental health professionals respond to 911 calls for mental health crises instead of police
- National Youth Crisis Hotline: 1(800) 442-HOPE (4673)
Peer Support Groups
- Emotions Anonymous (EA): A local 12-step peer support group in St. Paul and Minneapolis for emotional wellness.
- NAMI Minnesota: Offers free peer support groups for adults, families, youth, and community-specific support (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQ+)
- Together for Youth (Duluth): Together for Youth offers a safe and welcoming space where youth can connect with their peers, find resources, explore issues and navigate challenges. Center for Changing Lives Duluth 1422 East Superior Street Duluth, MN 55805 Contact: [email protected] | 218.529.2230
Walk-In Mental Health Clinics
- Walk-In (Minneapolis & St. Paul): Free, anonymous counseling for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship issues—walk‑in, phone, or online on weekdays.
Shelter-Linked Mental Health
- The Link (Minneapolis): Mental and chemical health and wellness services. 1210 Glenwood Ave Minneapolis, MN 55405.
- 180 Degrees: Mental Health Services (including individual therapy and family therapy, medication and diagnostic evaluations) for youth who are uninsured at Brittany’s Place (1281 7th Street East, St. Paul, MN 55106) and Hope House (3010 West 78th Street, Chanhassen, MN 55331).
- Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis (Hope Street Program): Collaborate with Headway Emotional Health to provide onsite mental health services for youth in the program.
- Face to Face Health and Counseling Inc.: Provide Mental Health services at three youth serving organizations in the Twin Cities. These include Face to Face Health and Counseling Inc.: (1165 Arcade St., St. Paul, MN 55106), Ain Dah Yung, and Avenues for Youth.
- Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (Duluth): Provide mental health services to youth at Another Door Shelter (site based) and Renaissance Transitional housing (site based).
- Move Forward (Hopkins): Move Forward offers free, trauma-informed mental health support for youth through school-based counseling, groups, community sessions, crisis response, and referrals to other resources. 1001 Highway 7, Room 237, Hopkins, MN 55305.
Finding the Right Therapist
- Psychology Today (Find a Therapist): Free online tool for searching through local and nationally licensed mental health practitioners and professionals. See photos, credentials, and short introductory videos of your potential therapist so you can find the right fit for you.
- Good Therapy Search: Free online tool for searching through local and nationally licensed mental health practitioners and professionals. They have direct links to contact or email the practitioners so you can reach out and learn more.
Community Well-being (Twin Cities)
Free Yoga
Mill City Farmer’s Market: Saturdays, May–September at 8:30 AM & 10:00 AM, 60-minute outdoor classes. Additionally, the market offers fresh local food, community programming, and SNAP/EBT matching.
Union Depot, St. Paul: Free yoga led by Studio 9-to-5 instructors on the East Plaza every Mon, Wed & Sat evenings. Bring a mat and enjoy an all-levels practice in the historic rail station setting.
Outdoor Activities
Minneapolis Parks: One of the nation's top park systems, 99% of residents are within a 10-minute walk of green space. Offers mental & physical health benefits through hiking, biking, picnicking, sports, and nature programs.
Twin Cities In Motion (Kids Run Free): Kids can register for in-person 5K and longer races. They will earn the same medals and gear provided to adults participating in the event and have access to race amenities.
Spirituality
Earl E. Bakken Center For Spirituality and Healing: A hub for integrative wellbeing since 1995, offering wellness classes, webinars, guides, and programs (e.g., mindfulness, stress management, yoga). It supports holistic mental health for students, professionals, and the broader community.
City & County Services
Hennepin County Mental Health Services: Provides free crisis intervention, assessments, family therapy, in‑home counseling, day treatment, and case management.
City of Minneapolis Mental Health Support: Provides navigation, culturally specific support, caregiver resources, and tips on boosting wellbeing.