The short answer: Six free sessions is a real limit. If you need weekly care, ask for the outside-care plan at the first appointment and use BetterMynd for evening or weekend scheduling.¹

Start with Los Rios Student Health and Well-being Mental Health Services

Book it: Use the Los Rios appointment portal or call the district mental-health line; ARC’s Health and Well-being Center can also help when availability is tight. The current phone number is 916-286-3662. Open the official service page →¹

Who can use it: Any current, active Los Rios student enrolled in at least one class; summer access also covers students enrolled in summer or enrolled in both the preceding spring and coming fall. What it costs: In-person and virtual therapy are free to eligible students; no insurance is required for the campus service.¹

The limit that matters

Six mental-health therapy sessions per academic year. After the first missed appointment, later no-shows count against that limit. This is the fact to confirm again at intake, because staffing and campus rules can change during the academic year.¹

If you need help today

Use ARC Health and Well-being for help during campus hours; for immediate danger call 911 or go to an emergency room. After hours: BetterMynd’s emotional-support line is available 24/7 at 844-287-6963; 988 is the crisis route.²

In crisis? Call or text 988 — free, 24/7.

Medication and longer-term therapy

Psychiatry: The official service page does not promise campus psychiatry or medication management. When campus care is too short: The district team helps students who leave Los Rios or need care beyond the session allowance connect with community services.²

If you use a parent’s insurance, billing paperwork can disclose that care was used. Read the student privacy and EOB route →. If money is the obstacle, compare Medi-Cal →, sliding-scale care →, and California-wide telehealth →.

What to ask in the first appointment

  1. What is my individual-session limit this term or year, and does intake count?
  2. If I need weekly or specialized care, who starts the outside referral?
  3. Is psychiatry separate, and does it require a campus or insurance referral?
  4. What can I use while I am waiting: a group, same-day consultation, or virtual care?
  5. Will any charge or insurance explanation be sent to someone else?

Verification record

Every campus-specific statement above was read on an official American River College page. Core access facts are due for re-check by 2026-11-22. A missing number is reported as “not published,” never filled from an old catalog or another campus.

Sources

  1. ARC — Mental Health Services, read 2026-08-24.
  2. ARC — Crisis Assessment and Support Team, read 2026-08-24.