Some social workers and some psychologists _specialize_ in group therapy. Groups are formed periodically, run a set number of weeks, and may or may not bring together individuals with common problems. Some group therapists believe that diversity in a counseling group is valuable: in such a group, you might find one person combating alcoholism, another trying to cope with loneliness and grief after the death of a spouse, someone trying to break out of the confines of shyness, a person suffering from public speaking anxiety, someone wanting to change careers but who is blocked by fear, and others. An exchange of views among participants with diverse backgrounds can frequently encourage growth in the group members. Most counseling agencies also offer group therapy, as do many hospitals and schools. We will take a look at each of these settings in turn. COUNTY, STATE, AND PRIVATE AGENCIES Individual, marriage and family, and group counseling are all offered by many counseling agencies. County and state agencies receive public funding and usually have sliding scales for the rates they charge. Often, one or more psychiatrists work in association with counselors, who may be social workers or psychologists. If you go to a county or state agency, you will probably be interviewed initially by a receptionist or nurse. You will be asked questions about your financial situation and health insurance coverage, if you have any, and you will be asked to agree to a proposed rate for the services of the agency. Some county and state agencies make a monthly charge {56} for their services; you may consult regularly with members of the staff, counselors and/or psychiatrists, in accordance with your individual needs. Private counseling agencies function in a similar way. Their services tend to be more expensive because they do not receive public financial support, as do county and state agencies. Many health insurance plans that provide psychological benefits can be used to pay for the services of a private or a public counseling agency. HOSPITALS AND OTHER INPATIENT SERVICES Individuals with severe problems who need complete care can enter private, county, or state hospitals that offer psychiatric services. A separate chapter discusses pros and cons of the sometimes frightening alternative of hospitalization. Again, publicly funded hospitals tend to charge on the basis of a sliding scale, which takes a person's financial situation into account. Where financial concerns are not pressing, private hospitals in general tend to offer a greater degree of individual attention and higher quality of care and physical facilities.