Overview of Service Areas

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.

In addition, our department provides Graduate Level-Student Training, training for professionals through the Sexual Orientation Gender Institute (SOGI), and volunteer opportunities. For more information click on the topics above.

Programs and Services

Behavioral Health Therapy

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 Behavioral Health Therapy

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

Therapy Groups

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


Therapy for Survivors of Violence

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

Letters of Support for Gender Affirming Surgeries

Single visit appointments are available to those needing letters to support their gender affirming surgeries. This appointment is typically under an hour. We will complete our psychosocial assessment together then we will write an informed decision letter collaboratively. The fee for this service ranges from $25 to $75 based on your ability to pay. If you have in-network insurance, such as Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO & Aetna PPO/HMO, we request that you utilize insurance benefits to cover this appointment as often they have similar low cost co-payments. We would need your insurance information in advance to confirm coverage. If you would like to read more about a philosophy that we ascribe to, please visit: thegalap.org

For access to hormone treatment, please visit one of our collaborating partners who have informed consent access programs https://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 therapy with us:

1. We are in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Aetna PPO & HMO, and Medicare Insurance: If you are covered by one of these insurances 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 service.

2. Out-of-Network Insurance: Although we are contracted with the insurances above, our services may 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 Medicaid- Sliding Scale: If you do not have a health insurance or have Medicaid, the cost of therapy will be based on your current household 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 therapy fee must be paid in full at the time of service.

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. The initial screening is free.

More specific questions about any of these options will be addressed during the initial screening. The initial screening is free.

Number of dependents.

Other Services

Graduate Level Student Training

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 2020-2021 training year are invited to attend our Open House on Friday, January 24^th, 2020 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 21^st.