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
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 →.
Choose the right American River College door
| What you need | Start here | What to say or ask |
|---|---|---|
| Help today | Use ARC Health and Well-being for help during campus hours; for immediate danger call 911 or go to an emergency room. | “I need urgent support today.” If you may be in immediate danger, call 911. |
| A first counseling visit | 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. | Ask whether intake counts toward the session allowance and when the first clinical visit can happen. |
| Evening or weekend support | BetterMynd’s emotional-support line is available 24/7 at 844-287-6963; 988 is the crisis route. | Ask whether this is crisis-only, one-time support or a route that can schedule recurring care. |
| Medication | The official service page does not promise campus psychiatry or medication management. | Ask whether a referral is required, what a visit costs and who handles refills between terms. |
| Weekly, specialized or longer-term therapy | The district team helps students who leave Los Rios or need care beyond the session allowance connect with community services. | Say what matters: specialty, identity, location, telehealth, language, insurance and maximum price. |
Before you spend money outside campus
Campus counseling and outside insurance are separate. Before booking an outside therapist, ask:
- Is this clinician in-network for my exact plan—not just the insurance company?
- What will I owe before and after my deductible?
- Does the plan require a campus referral or prior authorization?
- If the clinician is out-of-network, will they provide a superbill and where do I submit it?
If you use a parent’s plan, ask the insurer how to request confidential communications before the first claim. An explanation of benefits can otherwise show that care was used.
What to ask in the first appointment
- What is my individual-session limit this term or year, and does intake count?
- If I need weekly or specialized care, who starts the outside referral?
- Is psychiatry separate, and does it require a campus or insurance referral?
- What can I use while I am waiting: a group, same-day consultation, or virtual care?
- 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
- ARC — Mental Health Services, read 2026-08-24.
- ARC — Crisis Assessment and Support Team, read 2026-08-24.