Get free therapy from the City of Seattle
The City of Seattle has partnered with Handspring to help you start your therapy journey!
What Else Do I need to Know?
1. No parent consent needed
2. Sessions are completely confidential
3. This program is paid for by the city of Seattle
Meeting a wide range of needs
How to Get Started
Choose the path that fits your family— parent coaching on its own, child therapy, or both.
Start with a Free Consult
Share your goals and concerns. Ask your questions. Learn about our evidence-based approach. We’ll help you decide whether to start with parent coaching, child therapy, or a combined plan.
Start Sessions
Meet virtually with a licensed therapist (typically 45 minutes, weekly or bi-weekly).
Practice & Iterate
Apply strategies at home between sessions. Your therapist reviews what’s working, fine-tunes your approach, and helps you stay consistent.
What People Are Saying about Therapy
“I wasn’t sure how helpful therapy would be at first, but the therapist created a safe, welcoming space right away. It made starting therapy feel much less intimidating."
“The process was easy, the care was thoughtful, and having access to this kind of support when I needed it meant everything to me.”
"I learned so much about myself, and the tools I learned for managing anxiety are things I still use every day."
FAQs
What is therapy like?
🎉 Most Handspring clients show significant improvement in 12 weeks!
Do I need to tell my parents?
As this is not the case for many young people today, it’s up to you whether you want to include your parents in your Handspring therapy journey in any way. If you do choose to involve them, what you say 1-1 to your therapist is still confidential.
Who is paying for my therapy?
As long as you’re 13–24 and either live in Seattle or attend a Seattle-based school, you qualify for this city-funded mental health program. This means your sessions with a Handspring therapist are completely free from start to finish. Please note, the City of Seattle will only cover up to (2) no-show appointments or late cancellations (<24 hrs).
What if I do NOT qualify for Free Therapy in Seattle?
What is your Clinical Approach?
Centered on skills-based CBT, our evidence-based approach helps young people better understand their thoughts, manage their emotions, and build lasting coping strategies that support emotional and behavioral well-being.
Who are your therapists?
We believe that the quality of care starts with the quality of the clinicians delivering it, so our therapists aren’t freelancers — they’re employees who are deeply invested in our mission and your child’s progress. And because better-supported therapists mean better outcomes, they work collaboratively as part of a clinical team.
Every Handspring therapist is:
- A licensed mental health provider (LCSW, LMHC, LPC, LMFT, Psychologist, etc.)
- Experienced in teen, or young adult care
- Employed by Handspring
- Trained in CBT, behavioral skills work, and parenting interventions
- Carefully matched to you based on age, symptoms, and goals
- Supported through ongoing clinical oversight and supervision