FAQ

  • To schedule a counseling appointment, please call or email counselors directly. You can find their contact information here.

  • When you connect with a counselor, they will help you use the sliding scale if you qualify. Counselors will ask you about the following:  

    • Do you live or work in Big Sky?    

    • Number of people in your household and household income.   

    • Do you have health insurance?  

    • Would paying for therapy cause financial strain?  

    • View the current sliding scale here.

  • Appointment availability often changes with the seasons, so sometimes providers will have a waitlist and other times will not. We recommend that you reach out to a couple of counselors who you would be interested in to learn about their current availability.  

  • Each counselor operates their own private practice, so the insurance they accept will be different. You can determine if a counselor accepts insurance and which types by clicking on their bio.  

  • No, WIA is a nonprofit that partners with private practice counselors, not a mental health clinic, so we cannot accept client files for providers. To connect with a counselor, please reach out to them directly via phone or email.  

  • A Community Health Worker (CHW) is a role that helps bridge the gap between health and social service systems and the community in which they work. Their job is to improve access to these systems, increase knowledge of resources, provide social support, and advocate for their community.  

  • Counselors receive a master's level education to become highly trained in offering care to clients. They are licensed by Montana’s Board of Behavioral Health. It is a good idea to call a counselor if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, relationship problems, substance misuse, or coping with a traumatic experience.  

    A Community Health Worker (CHW) participates in a 6-week training to teach basics of interacting with clients, common health needs, and how to advocate for the community. You can connect with a CHW to learn more about mental health and medical providers, financial assistance programs, social services, insurance resources, and other local supports.  

  • Yes, as long as you live or work in Big Sky, you can book a telehealth room at no-cost for your virtual appointments. Please reach out to kiernan@wiabigsky.org with further questions or to reserve space.  

  • Camp scholarships are awarded twice a year for summer and winter camp programs. The summer application usually opens in February and closes early April, and the winter application will open in August and close in early October.  

    Parents should submit separate applications for each child they are requesting a scholarship for from WIA.  

    WIA does not fund 100% of the program cost and asks that families have applied to all other available financial assistance opportunities. 

    Read more and apply here.