The Center is the nation’s second oldest and third largest LGBT community center. Among the oldest and most well-developed of The Center’s programs is the collection of professional, low-fee counseling services made available to community members.

Every month in 2005, The Center’s counseling programs delivered services to more than 600 community members with needs ranging from work-related stress counseling to suicide prevention. Clients ranged from 13 to 70 years old, and included: LGBT families with newborns and toddlers; couples who had recently begun relationships and those who have been together for over two decades; non-LGBT families seeking to understand and support their LGBT children; those recently diagnosed with HIV and those who have been living with HIV for more than two decades; clients grieving recent losses; men and women looking to better understand and reduce their use of meth; and women recently diagnosed with breast or other cancers. Of the clients, 60 percent were male and 40 percent were members of the communities of color. The range of needs is breathtaking, as is the dedication of the staff members committed to providing this safety net of services to the community.

The Center’s Counseling Services are staffed by seven licensed psychologists and two interns, and includes general counseling services as well as seven specialty services.

The Center offers services to both HIV infected/affected community members and non-infected community members. HIV/AIDS services are provided to those who are Ryan White eligible at no charge; other services are offered on a sliding-fee scale that continues to be among the lowest in the county.

Fees begin at $30 per session and increase with clients’ resources and ability to pay. In addition to counseling services, every month the information and referral staff provides resources and referrals, and facilitates service connections for more than 400 additional callers and community members requesting help and additional resources.

General counseling services include: individual, couple and family counseling; crisis counseling, information and referral, including a 24-hour suicide hotline (The Heidorn Lifeline); and an intern and professional training program.

Specialty services include:

Group psychotherapy and counseling: includes a number of specially designed groups that focus on providing counseling and support to community members. HIV and cancer support groups are also available.

Substance use/abuse counseling: includes a continuum of services from harm reduction to abstinence-based counseling for persons who are using or abusing alcohol, street or prescription drugs. Services are offered in individual and group formats.

Relationship Violence Treatment & Intervention Program (RVTIP): a service developed at the request of a growing number of community members seeking help with issues of relationship conflicts and/or violence. RVTIP offers victims and offenders of domestic violence a set of probation-certified counseling services. Services are offered in group formats.

Youth counseling services: group, couple, family and individual counseling services for LGBTQ or HIV-positive youth. Services include a focus upon negotiating relationships and the development of a positive personal identity as an LGBTQ or HIV-positive youth.

Transgender services: a small specialty service providing culturally sensitive, professional counseling in individual formats. This program recognizes the multiple medical, legal, social and vocational challenges faced by transgender persons.

Latino services: bilingual counselors provide individual, couple, family and group counseling to monolingual, Spanish-speaking individuals and families.

HIV regionalized services: group, couple, family and individual counseling services for HIV/AIDS-infected and affected individuals and families. Services are offered at several regionalized sites throughout San Diego County. Services are available at the North County Center (located with North County Health Center), at Our Place (Comp Health) in southeast San Diego and in the south bay at San Ysidro Health Center-CASA.

The street address for The Center’s counseling services is 2313 El Cajon Blvd. The telephone number is (619) 260-6380. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Fridays. For more information, please contact Caroline Higgins (619) 260-6380 ext. 105, or simply dial (619) 260-6380 and press 0 for receptionist help.