Daystar Counseling Center in Chattanooga: Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment

Daystar Counseling Center is a nonprofit outpatient facility that combines mental health counseling and substance use disorder treatment under one roof, serving adults and adolescents across Hamilton County. Unlike hospitals with emergency psychiatric units or standalone addiction clinics, Daystar functions as a primary mental health hub for ongoing therapy, medication management, and recovery support, anchored in the downtown area and accessible to people without insurance through a sliding-scale fee structure.

What Daystar Counseling Center actually is

Daystar is a community mental health center licensed by the State of Tennessee, specializing in outpatient care rather than inpatient hospitalization. The center operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and has served the Chattanooga area since 1975, making it one of the oldest mental health providers in the region. It accepts referrals directly and operates on a walk-in basis for certain services, distinguishing it from specialty psychiatric practices that typically require referrals from primary care physicians.

Services and costs

Daystar offers individual therapy, group counseling, psychiatric medication management, substance use disorder treatment (including methadone and buprenorphine medication-assisted treatment), and crisis intervention. Therapy sessions typically cost between $40 and $120 per visit on the sliding scale, adjusted by household income. Psychiatric evaluation and medication management visits range from $80 to $150 for initial appointments. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs charge approximately $60 to $100 per week, depending on the medication and support level. Most insurance plans are accepted, including TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid); uninsured patients pay based on a documented income scale. Call ahead to confirm current fees, as sliding scales occasionally adjust.

How it compares to other Chattanooga mental health options

Chattanooga Behavioral Health offers similar outpatient mental health and substance use services but operates as a for-profit entity with higher out-of-pocket costs for uninsured patients; CBH does not publish a sliding scale and typically charges full rates of $150 to $200 per therapy session. Erlanger Psychiatric Hospital (part of the Erlanger Health System) provides crisis stabilization and inpatient psychiatric care but is designed for acute episodes, not ongoing outpatient management. BlueCross providers like Parkridge Behavioral Health offer therapy and medication management on insurance but often maintain longer waitlists. Daystar's nonprofit status, sliding-scale model, and walk-in availability for some services make it the most accessible choice for uninsured and low-income residents; choose CBH or an insurance-specific behavioral health network if you need faster appointment availability or prefer a for-profit provider.

Who it suits and who it does not suit

Daystar suits people managing depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders who want consistent outpatient care and can navigate appointments within standard business hours. It is especially appropriate for uninsured or underinsured adults and adolescents, and for those seeking medication-assisted treatment in a supportive environment. It does not suit people in acute psychiatric crisis requiring immediate hospitalization (go to Erlanger's ER or Chattanooga Behavioral Health's crisis unit instead), and may not work well for people whose insurance requires in-network specialist referrals or who cannot attend daytime or early-evening appointments.

What the first visit involves

On first contact, you will complete intake paperwork documenting medical history, current symptoms, insurance details, and income (for sliding-scale assessment). If seeking substance use treatment, expect a clinical assessment for MAT eligibility and a discussion of medication options. The first therapy or psychiatric appointment typically lasts 60 minutes; psychiatric evaluations may extend to 90 minutes. You will be assigned a primary counselor or psychiatrist and scheduled for regular visits, usually weekly or biweekly. Walk-in crisis support is available but does not replace scheduled care; ongoing treatment requires commitment to appointments.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Daystar operates Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with limited evening hours on select days; verify current hours before the first visit. The downtown location sits near the Tennessee Riverpark and offers street parking and a small lot; parking is typically available but can be tight during peak hours (late morning and early afternoon). Public transit via CARTA bus lines serves the area. The center is not open weekends, so crisis outside business hours requires Erlanger's ER or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988).

Daystar's long operational history, nonprofit structure, and dual focus on mental health and addiction treatment make it the core outpatient provider for many Chattanooga residents managing chronic psychiatric or substance use conditions without means for private care.