QUEER LIFE SPACE INC
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Mission Statement
Queer LifeSpace (QLS) is a nonprofit counseling agency that provides affordable mental health and substance abuse services to the LGBTQIA+ community, including individual, couples, and group counseling. In addition, we run a highly competitive and internationally recognized clinical training program for the next generation of queer-affirming therapists. The LGBTQIA+ community struggles with increased rates of suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trauma, and loss of family. We exist to be a solution to these problems. We make it our priority to provide a safe, non-judgmental environment where fellow members of the queer community can heal trauma. We're passionate about serving the underserved and providing therapy services to those in need regardless of their ability to pay. In an effort to respond to the needs of the entire San Francisco Bay Area LGBTQIA+ community, we have the following goals: 1. Develop programs especially tailored for people of color, transgender, and gender-variant identified people, youth, seniors, disabilities, and people living with HIV/AIDS. 2. Conduct a queer-informed training program that will provide the next generation of queer-affirming therapists, trainees, and interns with clinical culturally-affirming experiences that prepare them to work within the queer community. 3. Provide low-fee, sliding-scale mental health services for the low-income Bay Area LGBTQIA+ community.
About This Cause
Queer LifeSpace is committed to dismantling the systemic barriers that impede the health and wellness of the LGBTQIA+ community. Since day one, we have sought to make mental health services accessible and affordable for this community, recognizing that the obstacles to well-being are deeply intertwined with systemic issues such as race, class, gender, disability, and more. These barriers highlight the pressing need for targeted interventions that address the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community However, mental health care must be more than just affordable. It must also recognize the unique intersectional needs of traditionally marginalized communities. Many of our clients lack access to health insurance, are underinsured, previously did not know how or where to get help, were afraid to ask for help, or were hindered by systemic barriers. In an effort to dismantle these inequities, QLS is committed to providing accessible and low-fee, sliding-scale mental health services, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and so forth. We understand that financial constraints often act as barriers to accessing vital mental health and substance abuse services. To that end, nearly 50% of our clients actually receive therapy for free. QLS also recognizes that inequities exist in the design and delivery of clinical training programs that have traditionally overlooked the intersectional needs of clients. It has only been in recent years that training programs have made significant progress in providing culturally-affirming training. Queer LifeSpace has been at the forefront of this movement — specifically around providing “queer-affirming” training. Our internationally-recognized Clinical Training Program offers a 12-month curriculum consisting of group training, workshops, and one-on-one clinical supervision that equips aspiring therapists with the knowledge and tools needed to deliver effective and compassionate care to queer clients. In addition to offering equitable access to therapy, QLS also offers programs that promote wellness outside of clinical contexts. One such program is Outlandish!, which serves Bay Area LGBTQIA+ youth 13-18 years of age who lack access to nature. We organize hikes and other guided outdoor activities in rural areas. The mission of the program is to provide these youth with more equitable access to nature. Program participants are chaperoned by adult role models, park rangers, and ecologists who teach them how to develop a deeper connection to nature and awareness of the importance of conservation. At the same time, program participants develop social connections with their peers, which promotes their self-confidence when they are still in the early stages of forming their identities. It’s important to note that a significant segment of urban youth don’t have access to rural areas due to transportation inequities and/or the complexity of reaching these areas via public transit. Many BIPOC youth also have legitimate concerns about their safety in rural areas. The Outlandish! program was designed to address these concerns and promote wellness through access to nature.