LGBT Life Center (formerly ACCESS AIDS Care/The LGBT Center of Hampton Roads) provides programs and services to individuals and families impacted by HIV/AIDS in Hampton Roads. Our services include medical case management, housing, meals, transportation, outreach, prevention, education, and free HIV/STI testing. LGBT Life Center provides a safe space, services, resources, education, and support to the LGBTQ community in Hampton Roads.
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Services Offered
Mental Health
LGBT Life Center would like to introduce our growing team of mental health professionals. We offer affordable, sliding scale mental health care to HIV positive, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer or Questioning individuals based on their ability to pay. Our counselors are very sensitive to LGBTQ+ and HIV issues.
The LGBT Life Center is a safe space where members and allies of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender and Queer/Questioning community of Hampton Roads can join together in a network of support and acceptance. Our mental health program focuses on empowerment, inclusion, and holistic wellness.
We exist so that every member of the of local LGBTQ+ community has the resources needed to thrive and live meaningful lives. Our counselors are especially prepared to work with the specific challenges that the LGBT community faces.
If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community including: individuals, couples, families, or allies; welcome to our safe space.
We provide Counseling for: -Coming out -Gender transitioning (gender exploration, referrals for hormones and surgeries, gender marker changes, etc.) -Relationship issues (including family or social rejection) -Intimate partner violence -Discrimination -Anxiety -Depression -Parenting -Life transitions -Personality disorders and many other issues.
Training and Consultations In addition to providing counseling, we also provide consultation for other therapist. It is our goal to not only provide LGBT affirming counseling, but also to empower local counselors and agencies to do the same. Our Clinical Director, Cory Gerwe, has taught counseling and human service courses in evidence-based therapy and LGBT issues at ODU, along with providing consultation to local mental health agencies and individual counselors.
Fees and Payment
We are a nonprofit organization. We currently accept credit card, cash, Medicaid, Ryan White funding, and private health care insurance.
Services Offered To: Adults Teens Children
Special Groups: Bilingual LGBTQ
Payment: Sliding Scale Medicare Medicaid
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
Qualifying for assistance from Virginia's program usually depends on the severity of your condition and financial circumstance. Read our full guide to Virginia's program.
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.
