TIME TO TALK: FREE THERAPY FOR TEENS

INFORMATION

For the third consecutive year, we are partnering with Lady Jade/Project 16 to offer Time to Talk, a mental health initiative that provides therapy services to teens in DFW--at no cost to them.

Kinnect aims to shift the culture of wellness in the Black and Brown communities by connecting people of the global majority with professionals that look like them and by ensuring the healing professionals are compensated equitably.
Project 16 "is passionate about improving the lives of teens in the Dallas/Fort Worth area through meaningful programs and educational opportunities."

Time to Talk is a collaborative effort: Project 16 raises the funding and provides media support while Kinnect administers the program via a team of vetted, licensed therapists.

Eligibility

Ages 13-17, any gender
Live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area
Have Internet access (services are provided virtually)
Be experiencing any of the following symptoms: racial trauma, anxiety, test and performance anxiety, school issues, depression, low self-esteem, term dating, stress, grief, friendship problems and/or family conflict

Process - completed by legal guardian

Complete application as soon as possible as early as January 9. Applications will close by January 20, or sooner once capacity is reached.
Ensure that, as part of your application, you upload proof of legal guardianship of the teen that will receive services Please note that is is a standard practice that the therapist will request signed consent from any person with legal guardianship.
Check your email frequently. Once selected, you will be put in contact with the matched therapist to complete paperwork with them immediately.
Sessions begin mid-February.

APPLICATIONS

Applications open January 9!

Spaces are limited. We will close January 20 or once we reach capacity.

Please pay careful attention to the instructions and FAQs to be sure your application is completed properly.

APPLY

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.

What can I use for proof of legal guardianship?

Birth Certificate

If both parents are on the birth certificate, both parents will need to be added to the portal to receive their own copy of the consent paperwork to sign.
Both parents will also need to upload a copy of their picture idea (1 parent can upload these, we just need to make sure we have them)
If only the mom is on the birth certificate and there is no other legal document, mom can consent and upload her ID

Court Documents

We can use custody agreements. Custody documents usually have a 3 year expiration date on them
These can be for parents, adoption and/or CPS replacement

CPS documents

If guardianship has changed due to a CPS case, we will need documentation showing this.

What if one of the parents on the birth certificate is incarcerated at this time or deceased?

We understand how difficult it can be to maneuver through these type of losses, however, we would ask that you please provide proof of incarceration or the death certificate.

Are there exceptions to providing proof of legal guardianship?

If you are a minor or if your child is under the age of 18 seeking Mental Health Counseling Services, Texas State Law (Texas Family code, Section 32.004)* requires that a parent or guardian grant permission for treatment unless any of the following circumstances in the below options apply.

Your child is on active duty in the armed forces.*
Your child is at least 16 years old and reside apart from parents/guardian and manage their own financial affairs regardless of the source of income.
Your child is thinking about suicide.*
Your child is concerned about alcohol and/or drug addiction or dependency.*
Your child has experienced sexual/physical abuse. If this options is selected please be advised that I will be mandated to make a CPS report.

What happens if my teen is not feeling comfortable working with the clinician they have been matched with?

We understand that the therapeutic relationship is important. While it does not happen often, if the teen client feels uncomfortable, this can first be discussed with the therapist. If you still wish to work with a different therapist, please contact us. We ask that you do so as soon as possible so that services can be completed within the program dates. If you have already begun services with a therapist, sessions attended will count against your free sessions; however, you can use the remainder of your free sessions with a new therapist.

How many sessions will the teen attend?

The program will pay for 8 sessions within the program dates.

Therapy sessions will be attended weekly or biweekly (every other week) according to the therapist's availability and professional judgment of what is appropriate for the teen.

What if we would like to continue sessions after the 8 sessions?

Many past participants connect with their therapist and do continue after the 8 sessions provided by the program.

Kinnect therapists participating in the Time to Talk program agree to honor a rate of no more than $110 per 45-minute session for self-pay clients. If you have insurance benefits, you can also speak with your therapist who can let you know if they take your insurance, what your insurance eligibility and coverage is, and any other information that may help you decide to move forward.

Are parents expected to be available during the scheduled sessions?

Yes, we do ask that parents are reachable during the scheduled sessions. There are times where your therapist may need to meet with you before or after the session to discuss the treatment plan or your child’s safety.

However, privacy is important for clients to be vulnerable and experience the therapeutic benefits of confidentiality. Parents should not attend or listen in to the session without an invitation by the therapist.

What if my teen does not want to attend therapy?

While therapy can have many benefits, it is important that clients have some level of readiness to being the counseling journey. We do recommend speaking with your child to see if they are interested in speaking with a therapist before signing them up.

When having this conversation, consider letting them know that what they share will be held between them and the therapist unless they share:

that want to hurt someone or hurt themselves
information that indicates abuse or neglect of the themselves, another minor, disabled person, or elderly person.

These are the times we want to ensure safety (and may be mandated to report by law) and would walk them through our next steps of who we have to alert.

Can I sign up more than one of my children?

Yes, you may. You will need to fully complete separate applications for each of them. Please note that your children will likely be matched with different therapists. As a reminder, they each need to meet the eligibility criteria for this program.

I would like therapy myself. Can I see a therapist?

The Time to Talk program is specific to teens. As a reminder, Kinnect Wellness Network is an organization that connects you to professionals, and while we are founded and run by therapists, Kinnect itself is not a therapy provider. You can reach out directly to a professional on our resource page to discuss services however.