General Info

Austin is hailed as "The Live Music Capitol of the World" for good reason. With over 200 live music venues and internationally recognized music festivals such as SXSW and ACL, thousands of musicians make this city their home. Unfortunately, with the rising cost of living and increasing competition for jobs in the music business, many musicians find themselves struggling financially and emotionally.Irregular hours, travel schedules, financial insecurity and proximity to alcohol and drugs can take their toll on musicians and their families, sometimes resulting in depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and alcohol and drug abuse. Professional musicians are often uninsured or underinsured and cannot always pay out of pocket for expensive counseling and addiction treatment. That's why SIMS is here to help.Potential clients call the SIMS Confidential Clinical Line. To be eligible, clients must be professional musicians or their immediate family members living within a 50-mile radius of Austin and must be uninsured or underinsured.SIMS employs two licensed counselors-- one licensed professional counselor ( LPC ) and one licensed clinical social worker ( LCSW ) -- who provide an in-depth clinical assessment for every client. They also provide short-term counseling and case management, as well as leading weekly therapeutic groups for SIMS clients. Based on clients' needs-which range from psychiatric services to couples counseling to medical detoxification from drugs and alcohol- SIMS clinicians refer them to the most appropriate long-term provider within our network of 60 therapists and treatment centers.These generous providers are licensed clinical social workers ( LCSWs ), licensed professional counselors ( LPCs ), psychologists, psychiatrists, adult psychiatric nurses ( APRNs ), and licensed substance abuse programs. They serve SIMS' clients at a significantly reduced rate, resulting in over $350, 000 of in-kind support each year. Some providers take only one or two SIMS clients, some see up to 20. SIMS' clinical staff manages the network, ensures that each member has proper licensing and is in compliance with our policies and procedures, and monitors each client's progress, diagnosis and goals.ServicesSIMS' therapists offer individual and family, group, and couples counseling and have a variety of specialties to meet our clients' needs. In addition, SIMS provides a full range of addiction recovery services: medical detoxification, inpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and sober living.