FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Do you take insurance?
Not at this time. However, our clinicians can provide invoices/statements should you wish to submit them to your network provider for reimbursement.
Is there a waitlist?
QLS is a small organization and the demand for therapists within the LGBTQIA+ community is high. As a result, we generally do have a waitlist. However, we are happy to provide you with a compiled list of other Bay Area resources that you are welcome to explore. Please check out this link.
How is your organization structured?
We are a training organization for graduate trainees and post-graduate level associates. As a result, the clinicians are onboarded in September and begin to see clients in October. They will work with clients throughout the school year in order to obtain the hours they need for their licensure. This means that the rate we work through the waitlist slows down in spring into summer as the current cohort of clinicians wraps up their time at QLS. Clients that choose to stay with QLS will be transferred to the incoming clinician cohort.
What level of training do the clinicians have?
Clinicians who provide services are either in practicum placements through their graduate programs or are associates who are gathering supervised hours to then submit them and sit for the licensing exam. Our clinicians come from a variety of different programs and work in various modalities. This is one of the factors that we take into consideration when setting up a therapist with a client.
What sort of backgrounds do the clinicians have?
At QLS, we are dedicated to providing clients with clinicians from a diverse range of backgrounds. The LGBTQIA+ community is a broad, multi-faceted, and unique community, so we aim to reflect those qualities with our staff. We understand the importance of clients needing support from therapists who share similar lifepaths. Making sure clients feel seen, heard, and safe is the heart of our mission at QLS.
How often can I see my clinician?
Typically clients are seen weekly for therapy. Under certain circumstances, a therapist may see a client more frequently or less frequently. This is determined on a case-by-case basis and would be a topic to discuss with your therapist at the beginning of treatment and as special circumstances arise.
What groups are available for therapy?
Please check out the Group Therapy page. Please note that not all groups currently have openings. You can direct any questions to info@queerlifespace.org.
How much does therapy cost?
Individual therapy fees start at $30 to $40 per session.
Couples therapy fees start at $60 per session.
Group therapy fees start at $20 per session.
Note: Fees for individual and couples therapy are on a sliding scale based on gross monthly income (combined gross monthly income for couples) and several other variables. Client fees are reassessed periodically or when clients self-report changes to their financial situation.
Are sessions held in person or virtually?
We offer Zoom sessions and in-person sessions by request. The goal is to meet all clients at their comfort level, whether it’s via virtual or in-person sessions. You will be able to discuss your preference with your clinician.
How long are the sessions?
Individual therapy sessions are 50 minutes.
Couples therapy sessions may be either 50 minutes or 60 minutes depending on the clinician’s preference and scheduling concerns.
Group therapy sessions are an hour and a half.
Do you help straight allies as well as LGBTQIA+ clients?
We provide services for all people, including straight allies, with a particular focus on the queer community.
Do you provide medication services?
Not at this time. We provide talk therapy but can help clients access medication services through other agencies/service providers.
Do you provide services for youth?
Yes, we provide services to pre-adolescents, adolescents, and transitional-aged youth. Our offices are not equipped to provide services to very young children.
I don’t live in the Bay Area. Can I still get help?
During the height of the pandemic, we temporarily became a 100% virtual therapy agency. Today, nearly half of our clients have chosen to remain virtual, and about half prefer to meet in person at our office. As long as you have access to the Internet, we can provide virtual sessions wherever you’re based — however, you MUST be based in California. We are not permitted to provide virtual services to clients outside the state.
Do you provide services for houseless people?
Yes. We do not turn away any client because of their living situation, but sometimes we do need to refer out due to income constraints. We have put together a comprehensive resource list to help with an individual’s search when our services don’t feel like a match for any reason.
What are the different types of therapy and which will be right for me?
The types of therapy offered and therapeutic modalities practices vary from year to year depending on the make-up of our group of practitioners. Here is a link to a helpful article detailing how to find the right therapist for your needs.
Is what I say to my therapist during counseling kept confidential?
Because of the structure of QLS, all therapists have a training supervisor who may be informed of session content. Therapists also seek support and feedback in group supervision and consultation settings within the agency. There are also special circumstances where under CA state law a clinician will need to break confidentiality. These limits to confidentiality are detailed in our Consent for Treatment form, which will be reviewed during your intake appointment. Outside of this, all information is strictly confidential.
What is the cancellation policy?
We have a 24-hour cancellation policy. Failure to notify us of a cancellation within this window may result in a charge for the session. This is true for individual, couples, and group therapy sessions.
How do I schedule an intake? What is the intake process?
Please visit the Client Intake Form on our Contact page. We will email you an intake questionnaire. As soon as it is returned, you will be either matched with a clinician or added to the waitlist.
Is your office wheelchair accessible?
There is an entrance off of 16th Street, next to Dinosaur Sandwiches, that is ground level and wheelchair accessible. We do not currently have an automatic door, but we can assist clients with mobility issues in accessing the office space through that entrance.
Think something is missing from the list above or have an urgent question?
Please contact info@queerlifespace.org.
“QLS allows people to drop all assumptions and just show up as they need to be to make connections. It also serves as a space for the community outside of bars, clubs, or the gym, that we don’t often have. QLS functions as an example of how the community can come together and exist outside of those other spaces.”
