For more than 30 years, Center on Halsted has helped Chicago's LGBTQ community and caring allies meet their behavioral health needs. Our Behavioral Health phone line, 773.472.6469 EXT 460, and Behavioral Health email,
operate as a bank of information about our services, community resources, and possible referrals.
Our team of therapists offers a number of different services and opportunities for community members, including Behavioral Health Therapy, Therapy Groups, Therapy for Survivors of Violence, and Letters of Support for Gender Affirming Surgeries. Below you will find information about our services, how to schedule an appointment, and fee structures.
Are you struggling to cope with stress, depression or anxiety? How about sexual or gender identity? Perhaps substance abuse or an eating disorder. Experiencing relationship problems, harassment or violence? We hope our team of skilled psychologists, social workers, counselors, interns, volunteers and therapists can help. We offer individual, relationship, family, and group therapies to those who are 13 and older. Our long history in the community informs our services and makes us a unique provider of affirming, safe and supportive care. We are particularly competent in addressing important issues facing today’s LGBTQ community members and caring allies. While most of our services are offered at Center on Halsted, we also provide some of our services away from Center on Halsted at specific off-site locations. Our services are offered both in English and Spanish. If you are interested in our psychotherapy services, please contact us at 773.472.6469 EXT 460 or
Youth Program counselors are available to meet with youth one-on-one to offer support around coping with and growing from difficult situations. This can include, though is not limited to, exploring identity, relationship concerns, depression, anxiety, improving communication, and learning stress management techniques. For youth aged 13-24 please contact
Center on Halsted provides a variety of therapy groups facilitated by our team of skilled psychologists, social workers, counselors, interns, volunteers, and therapists. These services are meant to support, connect, and unite LGBTQ individuals and allies who share similar challenges and are working on making changes in their lives. Participation is fee-based for most groups. The usual fee is $15 per session. Fee negotiation may be available for those who cannot afford the full fee. Individuals who are interested will need to complete an in-person initial interview prior to the start of the group cycle.
Our therapy groups aim to be inclusive to all members of the community. Current group offerings include: HIV Positive Support; Coming Out; LGBTQ People of Color; Bi+; Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for Trauma; Trauma Support Group; Trans and Gender Non-Conforming; Men’s; Women’s; and Grief and Loss. Our group topics may change throughout the year in an effort to meet the changing needs of the community.
For more information on current and upcoming groups, click here.
If you have questions about or would like to register for any of our groups, please contact us at
at 773.472.6469 EXT 460 or
Survivors of violence can include those who are direct victims as well as witnesses and significant others impacted by the effects of abuse and violence. Our behavioral health team provides LGBTQ-affirming and trauma-focused psychotherapy. Therapy can provide support and stability during what can feel like challenging times for survivors. If you or someone you know is a survivor of anti-LGBTQ or HIV discrimination, hate violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence/assault, or police abuse/violence, please call our LGBTQ Violence Resource Line at 773.871.CARE (2273) Monday–Friday from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. or email our Anti-Violence Department, at
Single visit appointments are available for those needing letters to support their gender affirming surgeries. This appointment is typically one hour. We will complete our psychosocial assessment then we will write an informed decision letter collaboratively based on the assessment. The fee for this service is $50 and sliding scale can apply for those individuals who are unable to afford this price (please see scale below). If you have BCBS PPO insurance, most likely this is a covered service. We would need your insurance card approximately one week prior to your appointment to confirm coverage. For access to hormone treatment, please visit one of our collaborating partners who have informed consent access programs http://howardbrown.org/ or http://www.chicagowomenshealthcenter.org/.
Scheduling an Appointment
The first step in starting with our services is to schedule a no-cost initial screening session with one of our clinicians. To schedule an initial screening appointment, please call our resource line at 773.472.6469 EXT 460. We will ask you a few brief questions and then find the best time for your initial screening. This one-hour appointment is an opportunity for us to better understand what your needs are and how we can best help you. It is also a chance for you to ask any questions about our services or the process of psychotherapy.
Following the initial screening appointment, your initial screening clinician will work with the rest of the behavioral health team to match you up with one of our therapists based on your needs, preferences and availability. This process typically takes about one to two weeks; once your therapist is assigned, that person will contact you to schedule your first therapy appointment.
Fee Structure and Payment Information
The following are four possible means to cover cost of psychotherapy with us:
1. We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO Insurance: If you are covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO health insurance with behavioral health benefits, we will first verify coverage so that we can bill your insurance. In the process we will provide you with information about your specific deductibles and co-pay/co-insurance. Given the various health plans available, deductibles and copays vary greatly among clients. Authorization from your insurance must be obtained prior to treatment and we will assist you with this. Any co-pay, coinsurance, or other payments (e.g., deductibles, late fees, etc.) is due at the time of treatment.
2. Out-of-Network Insurance: Although we are contracted with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, our services may not be covered by other insurance plans. If you have another health insurance plan, we highly recommend that you contact your insurance carrier and check the possibility of being reimbursed for behavioral health services. For those with out-of-network insurance, the assigned psychotherapy fee will be paid in full ($120) at the time of service. We will provide you with a monthly invoice, but you will be required to file the claims information necessary to receive reimbursement through your insurance.
3. No Insurance or Medicare and/or Medicaid- Sliding Scale:If you do not have a health insurance, the cost of psychotherapy will be based on your current income, number of dependents, and ability to pay. Fee per session ranges from $20 to $120 depending on your income. For specific details, please refer to “Sliding Scale Fee Structure” below. The assigned psychotherapy fee must be paid in full at the time of treatment.
4. Grant Funding:Center on Halsted receives grant funding for specific populations including low socio-economic individuals living with HIV, survivors of domestic violence, survivors of sexual abuse, and survivors of harassment or other forms of violence. Some of these individuals may fit criteria and qualify to receive services through these grants. However, applying for grant funding does not guarantee that services will be covered. More information about this can be provided during the initial screening.
More specific questions about any of these options will be addressed during the initial screening.
Center on Halsted provides clinical training opportunities for Masters and Doctoral-level students who are interested in a diverse and rigorous clinical practicum with a strong focus on LGBTQ clinical competence.
Center on Halsted’s Behavioral Health Department offers clinical training for students completing their Masters or Doctorate in clinical psychology, counseling, or social work.
Prospective trainees for the 2019-2020 training year are invited to attend our Open House on Friday, January 25th, 2019 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St. This is an opportunity to hear about our clinical behavioral health training program, meet our clinical team, and talk about our application and selection process. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP with your full name, your degree program (Masters in Social Work, Masters in Psychology, or Doctorate in Psychology), your school, and your email address to Ashley Molin, PsyD at
by Tuesday, January 22nd.
We approach training from a developmental model, as our cohort is typically diverse in terms of program and level of previous training. We do our best to meet trainees where they are and provide them with the tools and support they need to grow into behavioral health professionals. We look for students who value social justice and are looking for a training site that will ask them to bring their full selves to the work that they do and to engage in self-reflective learning, as these are values we hold as supervisors and professionals. We believe strongly in constructive feedback as an important element for growth, and we want students who are open to giving and receiving feedback with supervisors, staff, and their cohort members.
Direct Clinical Service:
Trainees will spend approximately 50% of their time in direct service with clients. The specifics of how trainees time is spent depends on the track they are in, but typically trainees have a caseload of individual/relationship/family therapy and/or case management clients, one group, and one intake per week. Trainees also staff our Behavioral Health Line or Anti-Violence Project Line where they will answer incoming calls, return messages, provide resources/referrals, and complete phone screenings for potential new clients.
Supervision:
Trainees meet with their primary supervisor (a LCSW, LCPC, or Licensed Clinical Psychologist) for one hour each week. During this time, trainees have the opportunity to discuss cases, professional development concerns, and their experience in the training program overall. In accordance with best practices in supervision, trainees complete four audio recordings and four live observations each year. Trainees also attend weekly group supervision meeting where they will give two case presentations during the year. In addition to structured supervision experiences, trainees are also encouraged to consult with staff members as needed and both trainees and staff sit in cubicles, allowing for a milieu supervision experience.
LGBTQ Behavioral Health Training Consortium:
This weekly training meeting brings the trainees from Center on Halsted and Howard Brown Health together for didactic presentations on topics specific to working with the LGBTQ community. Some of the topics include intimate partner violence in LGBTQ relationships, legal issues with HIV+ clients, and kink in the LGBTQ community. These trainings are meant to help deepen and expand conversations around these and other topics, an opportunity that is often not offered in clinical training programs. Presenters are local clinicians who are considered experts in working with the LGBTQ community. The training consortium is also an excellent opportunity for trainees to network with students from other schools and disciplines, along with professionals working within the LGBTQ community.
Schedule:
Our trainees follow a 24-hour/week program, where schedules are created with as much flexibility as possible. Behavioral Health Services operates Monday through Thursday 9:00am–9:00pm and Friday 9:00am–6:00pm. Trainees are required to include one evening (until 9:00pm) in their schedule. In addition, trainees are required to attend weekly group supervision, support, and consortium meetings on Wednesdays from 11:00am–3:00pm. Students may revise their schedules each semester, as needed.
Center on Halsted offers two training tracks for master’s level trainees, our general behavioral health track and our Anti-Violence Project (AVP) track. Trainees in the AVP track are supervised by AVP clinicians, assist with walk-in hours and case management, see more trauma-focused clients, and staff the AVP phone line.
Trainees in the general behavioral health track are supervised by behavioral health clinicians, see a broader range of presenting concerns, carry a larger caseload, and staff the Behavioral Health Line. At this time, we are unable to offer the AVP track to doctoral level trainees.
Center on Halsted accepts applications from the following:
Students pursuing Doctoral degrees in clinical or counseling psychology at APA accredited programs seeking advanced placement.
Second year social work graduate students attending CSWE accredited social work programs.
Graduate students attending CACREP accredited counseling programs.
Students interested in applying should submit the following materials:
Cover letter (including track preference)
Resume or CV
Three letters of reference
Transcript
Letter of readiness written by the Director of Training or Field Placement Liaison at your school. The letter should include that you are a student in good standing, you have completed the necessary coursework to allow you to do clinical work in the field, and that your school is in support of your intent to begin training.
Emailed applications are strongly preferred, though we can accept mailed applications if needed. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Please send applications to: Ashley Molin, PsyD Associate Director of Behavioral Health
amolin@centeronhalsted.org
Confirmation of receipt of completed application will be provided via email. For additional information, contact Ashley Molin, PsyD at amolin@centeronhalsted.org or 773.472.6469 ext. 441.
Center on Halsted follows the guidelines set forth by the Association of Chicagoland Externship and Practicum Training (ACEPT) for Doctoral students. For more information about ACEPT, please visit their website at www.aceptchicago.org. The timeline for the 2018-2019 training year is as follows:
February 1, 2019 – Applications can be mailed
March 22, 2019 – Pre-Notification Day (9am-4pm). Practicum students who are first choice for placement will be notified that they will be offered a space for the 2018-2019 training year.
March 25, 2019 – Notification Day. Practicum students will be given formal offers of practicum positions via email beginning at 9am.
Masters level students are not required to follow the same application dates as Doctoral students; however, they are encouraged to send their materials as early as February 1st, 2019 to increase their chances of receiving a training position. Masters positions will be filled as soon as qualified applicants have been identified.
The Behavioral Health volunteer therapist program is for those who would like to continue their work with the LGBTQ community by volunteering their clinical services. Therapists who are accepted into this program need to enter with a level of cultural competency/humility in working with the LGBTQ community. This program can be for those who can afford to donate their time post licensure or for those who would like to accrue hours towards their clinical license. For those who do not yet have a full license, you would need to have an outside clinical supervisor who would be willing to be in contact with our Director of Behavioral Health. We would like therapists to donate at least two clinical hours a week plus time for paperwork and bi-monthly consultation meetings. Please contact Ing Swenson, Director of Behavioral Health, at 773.472.6469 EXT 267 or
to discuss becoming a volunteer psychotherapist.
To provide high level training on a variety of LGBTQ clinical topics for both clinicians and students. These trainings take place three times per year. To be added to our mailing list so that you can be notified about future trainings for clinical professionals, please sign up here https://community.centeronhalsted.org/, go to “New User Registration” and click “Behavioral Health Programs/Events” under interests after filling out all of your information.
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To engage in advocacy by raising interest in and increasing the quality of LGBTQ related research. To submit an application to conduct research in collaboration with Center on Halsted, explore the possibility of promoting your research study in our facilities, or learn about current research projects, click here.
Center on Halsted is the host for the bi-annual LGBTQ Health and Wellness Conference with IMPACT, the LGBTQ Health and Development Program at Northwestern University. The next conference will take place in April 2019. Details to come!
Contact Us
If you would like more information or to set up an appointment, please contact us at 773.472.6469 EXT 460 or email
Our fax for health records is 773.661.0785.
