Best LGBTQ+ Counseling

Founded in 2016, National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) stands out as a directory that gives users the opportunity to find accessible BIPOC and LGBTQ-identifying clinicians.

“NQTTCN is an excellent resource for clients who want to find an affirming therapist and those who want to find a therapist who shares their LGBTQ+ identity,” says Amy Marschall, PsyD, a licensed psychologist and one of our subject matter experts. “NQTTCN is especially wonderful because they are intersectional and address racial and cultural concerns, dynamics, et cetera, in addition to gender identity and sexual orientation.”

Although NQTTCN is small, the directory’s prioritization of intersectionality provides a streamlined way to find therapists who share your identity. Users appear to recognize this unique offering as 42% of NQTTCN users surveyed said finding a therapist with a similar identity or cultural background was an important factor in their search.

That said, the search filters are more limited than other online therapist directories. Users can only adjust their results by therapists who provide virtual sessions, are accepting new clients, and offer a sliding scale.

National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network is free to use to find a provider. Price per session varies by therapist. Within each provider’s bio, directory users can view average cost per session and accepted payment methods, such as credit, debit, HSA/FSA, or electronic payment. Each bio also indicates whether or not the provider offers sliding scale fees or accepts insurance. Some bios list the insurance plans they accept while others do not specify.

It is worth noting that users can filter search results based on whether they need a provider that offers a sliding scale fee. Insurance plans and fee ranges are not search filter options.

The directory’s reputation in upholding its social-justice mission and prioritizing the mental health care of intersectional communities resulted in high levels of user satisfaction, with 84% of surveyed users rating NQTTCN as very good or good. Seventy-five percent of users said they were very likely or likely to recommend the company to a friend. A similar number, 74%, said the process of looking for a therapist that met their needs was very easy or easy. It is clear that NQTTCN values user experience and overall quality in its directory.

Since its founding in 2012, Talkspace has established itself as a leading provider of online, subscription-based counseling. Through its website and app, Talkspace offers secure access to counseling for individuals, teens, and families, all without leaving the house.

The company launched Talkspace for Teens in 2018 to cater to ages 13 to 17. It has the same sign-up process, built into the already established Talkspace platform. Signing up as a teen involves uploading a brief video of a parent or legal guardian stating their consent for counseling. After this, the parent or legal guardian will not receive updates on what’s discussed in counseling—unless a teen indicates that they want to harm themself or others.

The confidentiality and accessibility of Talkspace can give teens an outlet for exploring their LGBTQ+ identities and processing its potential impact on their family and friends. It's imperative that LGBTQ+ adolescents receive accessible, affordable, and affirming mental health care. In one survey, a majority of LGBTQ+ youth (58%) said they experience symptoms of depression and 73% said they experience anxiety symptoms.

Talkspace’s pricing structure is a tiered subscription plan based on the type of counseling you desire as well as your location. For individual and teen counseling, Talkspace offers three plans:

• Messaging: Includes asynchronous messaging with guaranteed responses from a therapist five days a week; starts at $69 per week
• Video + messaging: Includes one live video therapy session per week plus asynchronous messaging and starts at $99 per week
• Video + messaging + workshops: Includes access to weekly Talkspace workshops, one live video session per week, and asynchronous messaging, and starts at $109 per week

Users also have the option to purchase additional live video sessions for $65 each.

Talkspace does accept insurance, including Premera, Cigna, Optum, Gatorcare, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield. The process of checking your insurance coverage is relatively straightforward and included in the sign-up process. That said, most accepted insurance plans are employer-sponsored plans.

Asynchronous text messaging through Talkspace’s platform can improve a teen’s experience with therapy. In fact, 27% of Talkspace users said multiple session types (text, audio, and video) were an important factor in their search for online counseling. Customers are consistently satisfied in Talkspace’s ease of use, straightforward sign-up process, and providers. Eighty-two percent of Talkspace users said they were very likely or likely to recommend the company to a friend, and 97% rated it as a little better, better, or much better than comparable services.

Adam Blum, a licensed marriage and family therapist, started Gay Therapy Center in 2015 after noticing a lack of LGBTQ+-affirmative spaces within private practice. Blum sought to build connections between therapists and individuals who shared the same identity. Of users surveyed, 45% stated they sought counseling on Gay Therapy Center for anxiety and 44% said they sought counseling for depression.

With over half of LGBTQ+ adults experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression, it can be advantageous to have a therapist who knows what it is like to be discriminated against because of sexual or gender identity.

All of the therapists and psychologists at Gay Therapy Center identify as LGBTQ+. Surveyed users appear to value this feature; 27% indicated that “finding a therapist with a similar identity or cultural background as me” was the most important factor in their search for mental health care. Blum and Gay Therapy Center's intake coordinators personally match each prospective client to a therapist based on the client’s clinical needs and personal preferences. They do this with the help of a free 15-minute phone call. This consultation is a unique offering among other LGBTQ+ counseling resources. 

Gay Therapy Center counseling appointments start at $185 and average $200 per session. This is on the higher end of out-of-pocket fees for private practice counseling sessions, which average between $65 to $250 each, according to GoodTherapy, an online therapist directory.

The company does not accept insurance plans but does offer straightforward advice for using out-of-network benefits to receive reimbursement for services.

Of the users we surveyed, 84% rated the Gay Therapy Center as excellent, very good, or good, while 60% said they would use the company again if they needed to find another therapist. Furthermore, 89% of users said most or all of their needs were met by their provider, which might be reflective of receiving a personalized therapist match upon signing up. Fifty-seven percent of users found the Gay Therapy Center affordable or very affordable, even with the higher cost per session.

It takes 14 to 17 years on average for individuals with OCD to receive a diagnosis and find effective, evidence-based treatment. The need to find an LGBTQ+-affirming provider could lengthen the process. TherapyDen offers a straightforward way to search for an affirming provider with experience in treating OCD.

Jeff Guenther, LPC, created TherapyDen with a mission “to be as inclusive and representative as possible.” Since its founding in 2017, TherapyDen has prioritized its social justice mission and expanded its reach substantially.

The company often features the experiences of LGBTQ+ clinicians and clients on its website and further demonstrates its affirming position in its search filters, such as Cultural and Systematic Oppression and Kink/Sexual Outsiders as well as LGBTQ+ Issues.

When searching on TherapyDen, you’re able to choose multiple specialties to narrow down your search. This allows you to filter results based on sexual or gender identity as well as mental health conditions, like obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Twelve percent of TherapyDen users said their OCD symptoms led them to seek online counseling, while 38% of users said they identify as neurodivergent.

TherapyDen is a free resource for counseling seekers to find local therapists based on their preferences. While fees and insurance acceptance vary by provider, you can filter your search results based on the name of your insurance plan and your ideal price range. You can also indicate whether you’d prefer a provider who offers free initial consultations.

TherapyDen’s reliability and reputability continues to increase as the directory grows. Overall, 80% of TherapyDen users surveyed rated the directory as very good or good. Its focus on inclusivity may be a leading factor in user satisfaction, as 70% of users rate the company’s mission as very good or good. Sixty-four percent said they were likely or very likely to still be seeing their therapist six months from when they were surveyed.

Tamir Aldad, MD, founded Mindful Care in 2018 with a mission to offer same-day and next-day mental healthcare appointments. Today, the company provides individual counseling, group counseling, and medication management for the LGBTQ+ population.

Mindful Care is unique in offering online group counseling led by licensed mental health professionals. The website states its group for LGBTQ-identifying individuals “tackle[s] challenges through an inclusive, non-judgmental, and person-centered approach and promote[s] self-acceptance”. Group counseling can help individuals feel supported and seen not only by licensed professionals but also by their peers. There are multiple group times offered from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. These sessions are one hour long and typically consist of CBT techniques and peer support.

Its commitment to quick, quality care and group counseling services could be why 84% of Mindful Care users said it was much better, better, or a little better than other services they have used.

Mindful Care accepts a wide variety of health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. The company’s affordability extends to its self-pay costs, too. The company’s self-pay prices depend on the type and length of service.

• MicroTherapy: 20-minute appointment for individual counseling; $50 per session
• Individual therapy: 40-minute appointment; $100
• Group therapy: $150 for an initial intake session, then 60-minute group sessions for $35
• Medication management: 40-minute initial evaluation is $175 and 20-minute follow-up appointments cost $75

With 92% of Mindful Care users rating the company as excellent, very good, or good, it’s clear that its services are tailored to the needs of its clients. Eighty-four percent of users said Mindful Care was much better, better, or a little better than other services they have used, and 83% said they were very likely or likely to recommend the company to a friend.

Founded in 2012, Open Path Collective is an therapist directory with a mission to provide affordable mental health care to middle- and low-income individuals. Counselors listed on the directory must agree to its sliding-scale fee range.

Open Path Collective also requires clinicians to have a graduate degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. Experience and credentials will vary based on the provider.

Search filters prioritize the cultural and social experiences of counseling seekers. For instance, users can adjust their search criteria to include the therapist’s ethnicity or race, language, or specialty. Such specialties range from "body image" and “gender or sexual identity exploration” to “polyamory and alternative relationship structures” and “socioeconomic stress/issues.” 

After paying a one-time membership fee of $65, users can access the sliding scale rates of therapists listed in the directory. These fees range from $40 to $70 for individual counseling and $40 to $80 for couples or family counseling. It is worth noting that you can adjust your search results based on your ideal pay range. Open Path also offers sessions with student interns for $30 each.

Providers do not accept insurance plans in order to align with Open Path Collective’s mission to provide affordable counseling for the uninsured or underinsured.

Of the users we surveyed, 90% rated Open Path Collective as very good or good, while 84% said they were very likely or likely to recommend the company to a friend. Seventy-one percent of users said the process of looking for a therapist was very easy or easy with Open Path Collective, and 74% of users surveyed said they were able to find a counselor who met all of their needs.

Inclusive Therapists, founded in 2019, focuses on the experience of marginalized communities with a mission statement to extend “culturally affirming, humble and responsive care, including tending to harms perpetuated by white cishet-patriarchy.” Its social justice goal is evident in its prioritization of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ identifying clinicians.

That goal appears to be succeeding; counseling seekers are consistently matched with culturally competent clinicians who are a part of marginalized communities themselves, and user experience seems to reflect that. Seventy-five percent of users surveyed rated the company’s mission statement as very good or good. 

After reviewing its available search filters, it’s easy to see how the directory prioritizes the needs of users. Counseling seekers can adjust search criteria to specific specialties, such as asexuality, foster care, gender identity or intercultural or Interfaith relationships. Additional filters include whether or not the office has a gender-neutral bathroom, evening appointments, or public transportation accessibility. Users can also choose their ideal preferences in their counselor’s identity, including race, ethnicity, ability, neurodivergence, sexual orientation, and more.

Before listing themselves on Inclusive Therapists, each mental health professional is required to complete an interview to verify their care is culturally competent and affirming to all. Users seek out this directory because of its quality in providers; 30% of users surveyed stated therapist qualifications and expertise was the most important factor in their search on Inclusive Therapists.

The directory itself is free for users to access. Price per session varies based on the therapist’s experience and credentials. 

Inclusive Therapists allows you to filter results based on accepted insurance plans and pay range, creating a more streamlined search. That said, there is no option to filter based on which providers offer free consultations.

Ninety-seven percent of users surveyed said all or most of their needs were met by the provider they found on Inclusive Therapists. Additionally, 76% of users said they were very likely or likely to be seeing their same counselor in six months, while 65% said they were very likely or likely to be seeing their same counselor in a year. Finally, 89% of users rated their overall experience with Inclusive Therapists as very good or good.