As of 7/22/24, we have put a pause on referrals due to limited staff availability. You may still request services which, if the person is eligible, may be placed on an interest list. This page will be updated when our availability changes.

Anybody that is interested in New Journeys can call us to see if they are eligible. We do not need an official referral from a current treatment provider.

• Behavioral Health Institute based at Harborview can be reached at 206-744-3452 or via email.
• Ryther based in North King County and can be reached at 206-491-6365, via email or through their online referral form.
• Valley Cities based in South King County and can be reached at 206-408-5329, via email or their online request form.

• This evidence-based approach is for individuals:

  • Between the ages of 15-40.
  • Experiencing symptoms of psychosis for less than two years.
  • With a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizoaffective, schizophreniform, brief psychotic disorder, delusional disorder or other specified psychotic disorder.
  • Residing in King County.
  • Whose symptoms are not significantly impacted by or related to a pervasive developmental disorder and/or autism spectrum disorder.
  • Without medical conditions that may be causing/impacting the psychosis.
  • Whose symptoms are not caused by substance use or withdrawal.

  If there are questions or uncertainty regarding the above criteria, feel free to call the referral line for more information at 206-408-5329 and we will be more than willing to discuss this.

We primarily accept individuals that have Medicaid. We have limited availability for individuals with no insurance, Medicare and commercial insurance.

New Journeys is an outreach team that meets with clients and their supports at least 6-8 times a month. Services can take place in the office or in the community which includes the client’s home, coffee shops, parks or community spaces. The team approach allows for multiple providers to meet weekly to discuss and provide consistent treatment to individuals working with New Journeys. We focus on a combination of behavioral and biological factors along with support systems in helping people work toward what brings their life meaning.

With three New Journey sites, referrals do not go to all three of us. If you put in a referral on the Washington State New Journeys site, they send the referral to whichever site seems like the best fit. It may not come to us so if you’re interested in working with Valley Cities, please put in a referral through our site or by calling our referral line directly.

However you’ve reached out to Valley Cities (whether via email, fax or voicemail), you will get a call back to discuss the next steps. Due to the number of referrals received, it can take time before you get a response. If you do not get a call back within 3 business days, please reach out to our referral line at (206) 408-5329. Please note that a referral does not guarantee acceptance into New Journeys but is simply a request for a screening to take place.

When referrals are submitted, we prefer to ensure the referred individual and supports (if applicable) are aware a referral has been made. After coordinating with the individual who provided the referral, you will either be made aware you were not eligible for New Journeys or you will be contacted by the manager to discuss the referral and see if you are interested in the services New Journeys offers.

Even when New Journeys is full, you can still submit a referral. You will receive a return call to discuss the referral and eligibility criteria. If based on the conversation and/or additional received records the referred individual appears to meet the initial eligibility criteria, we will discuss the available options which may include an interest list.

Once there is an opening in New Journeys, the individuals on the interest list will be contacted in the order they were received.

When we are full, we are not able to say how long it may be until there is an opening. Openings occur when individuals in New Journeys no longer require the level of service being offered and have either graduated or transitioned to other services.

We do offer free screenings to determine if a person is eligible for New Journeys. It is not a mental health evaluation for other purposes.

A screening consists of a face-to-face meeting with the New Journeys manager and the person being referred, including other supports if desired. This screening can take approximately two hours. During this, multiple scales are administered along with questions exploring the individual’s history and their interactions with the mental health system. Release of information forms will need to be signed to gather information from agencies and others that have had direct interactions with the person being referred since symptoms began. The purpose is to determine if the referred individual is eligible for New Journeys.

No, participation is voluntary. Even if an agency or family member may have referred you, you do not need to follow through if you do not want to.

No. If you are receiving counseling or medications from other agencies/teams and want to keep working with them, you would not be eligible for New Journeys. The reason is because New Journeys uses an evidence-based approach which involves a coordinated team effort through frequent collaboration.

Although you may be required or ordered to engage in mental health treatment by some other system, connecting with New Journeys is voluntary. If you are interested in actively participating with New Journeys and the appropriate release of information forms are signed, we can share with the courts/probation your progress in reaching your identified goals for treatment.

No. We can help participants explore housing options but do not have specific housing for individuals enrolled with New Journeys.

No. To be in New Journeys, participants will start out meeting with the assigned therapist weekly. The frequency can decrease when discussed and agreed upon collaboratively with the client and therapist.

After being accepted into New Journeys, there is one meeting scheduled with each team member to get to know them and the services they offer. Meeting with the other providers is not required for treatment but can be very helpful to assist in areas of employment, education, having a person who understands and can support you more directly on your journey, medication needs, transportation needs, family support or other areas that may be impacting your life. Meeting with multiple providers is part of the evidence-based approach for recovery.

Yes, there are three New Journeys teams in King County and others throughout the state. Ryther can be reached at 206-491-6365. Behavioral Health Institute with Harborview can be reached at 206-744-3452.

For a full list of teams, visit the New Journeys site for Washington State.

There are a number of providers that work with psychosis. Check with your insurance provider to find a list of individuals or mental health facilities that provide therapy and/or medications. If you want services at Valley Cities, contact our call center at 253-833-7444.

Additional King County agencies that provide outpatient mental health treatment are:²
Ryther
Sound Mental Health
Navos
Multicare

² = Valley Cities is not affiliated with and does not endorse any of the sites listed.

There are varying online resources. Two most applicable to individuals experiencing psychosis are:³
Hearing Voices Network (USA)
National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI)

³ = Valley Cities is not affiliated with and does not endorse any of the sites listed.