A Fort Worth nonprofit focused on expanding access to mental health care is turning to North Texas Giving Day supporters as demand for services continues to climb. The Telos Project, a Fort Worth-based nonprofit mental health organization, is participating in this year’s North Texas Giving Day campaign, which runs through Sept. 17. The giving event includes more than 3,300 participating nonprofits across the region. Leaders with the organization say donations will help fund services for individuals and families who might otherwise be unable to access mental health care because of financial barriers. “The money for North Texas Giving Day will go toward funding our Equal Access to Assessment Fund,” said The Telos Project executive director and founder Dr. C. Holiday Bean. “Sometimes people don’t have insurance. Sometimes insurance doesn’t cover services. Our fund allows us to help people receive services who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford it.” Founded in 2016, The Telos Project provides therapy, psychological assessments, play therapy and specialty programs for children, teens and adults across Texas. The nonprofit accepts most commercial insurance plans as well as Medicaid, Medicare and Tricare, but Bean said many clients still struggle to afford care. “Sometimes we’re the only place in the entire state of Texas that takes someone’s health insurance. We have people that come in from Odessa, San Antonio, Midland, Lubbock,” said Bean. The Telos Project staff Bean said the need for affordable mental health services has increased significantly over the past year as families navigate economic challenges. “We are seeing an uptick in demand in the past year due to economic stressors,” she said. “When people lose their jobs, when they lose their health care, the mental load just increases even more. Even if they have a job, everything’s more expensive, and so paying the bills just becomes harder, and then that stress weighs on people. And so people are in desperate need of mental health care.” She said rising costs for housing, groceries and other essentials are creating additional pressure on families, while changing insurance coverage and higher out-of-pocket costs can make mental health treatment difficult to afford. “So oftentimes what your insurance paid for last year, the cost is so much more this year, even though you have the same healthcare,” Bean said. The Telos Project said it served over 2,000 clients in 2025, and about 36% were uninsured or underinsured. So far this year, the nonprofit has already served nearly 1,500 clients, with roughly 30% facing similar financial challenges. The nonprofit offers individual, family and couples therapy, along with psychological assessments that can help identify conditions such as autism, ADHD, learning disorders and other developmental or mental health concerns. The Telos Project on a retreat. “I’m a big believer in villages. And I think we all have to work together to make sure we are a united front,” she said. “Oftentimes, insurance will not approve services unless you have an appropriate medical diagnosis, and that’s where we come in. So if you can’t afford to get that, then you can get the services.” The nonprofit is seeking to raise $18,000 during this year’s Giving Day campaign. Donations are especially important because The Telos Project was selected to receive a matching grant from The Morris Foundation, which will match the first $5,000 donated dollar-for-dollar. The organization will also put the money toward clinician-led tabletop role-playing game therapy groups designed to help participants improve social skills, manage anxiety, and build confidence for youth and adults. The nonprofit currently operates this program at a loss. Bean said one of the organization’s goals is to make it easier for families to access multiple services in one place. “We really work to reduce those barriers and be a one-stop shop in terms of psychological assessments and therapy,” she said. “Because we treat the lifespan, it’s really helpful. An entire family can be seen here.” The Telos Project provides both in-person and virtual services and serves clients from across the state. Bean said access to care remains a major challenge in many parts of Texas, particularly for people whose insurance options are limited. Beyond helping individual clients, Bean believes investments in mental health have broader benefits for communities. “The community is not served well when we don’t take care of one another,” Bean said. “I think that the community is healthier when we are healthier.” If you’d like to learn more about The Telos project, click here to see its Giving Day campaign page. If you are in need of mental health services, you can contact The Telos Project by clicking here or calling 682-841-1475. ...read more read less