Therapy services for LGBT youth in Chicago
June 3, 2021 5:15 PM Subscribe
A friend of ours lives in Chicago and has a 12 y/o who has just let her know he is bisexual. He needs someone else to talk to. I half recall a group called something like Equality Institute of Chicago telling me they sponsored therapy for LGBT youth in the city. My Google skills are failing me. Is that a thing? Do you remember what I don't? (Or something equivalent?)
Our friend has her kid in therapy but his dad (with whom our friend is in the middle of an acrimonious divorce) has decided he won't pay for therapy anymore "since there's no need." He thinks the therapy is about our friend overreacting to their divorce. He has no idea it's about sexuality. Kiddo doesn't feel safe telling him and has sworn mom to secrecy.
She was a SAHM until he left them and has barely spun up her career enough to keep the mortgage paid. It would be a huge favor to her and her kid if she could find him therapy that didn't need to come solely out of her pocket.
I can find results for Equality Institute and for Equality Chicago but I can't find a program that sounds like the one I recall. Is that a real thing? Or is there something like it?
Our friend has her kid in therapy but his dad (with whom our friend is in the middle of an acrimonious divorce) has decided he won't pay for therapy anymore "since there's no need." He thinks the therapy is about our friend overreacting to their divorce. He has no idea it's about sexuality. Kiddo doesn't feel safe telling him and has sworn mom to secrecy.
She was a SAHM until he left them and has barely spun up her career enough to keep the mortgage paid. It would be a huge favor to her and her kid if she could find him therapy that didn't need to come solely out of her pocket.
I can find results for Equality Institute and for Equality Chicago but I can't find a program that sounds like the one I recall. Is that a real thing? Or is there something like it?
The Family Institute at Northwestern University runs the Bette D. Harris Family & Child Clinic, which provides counseling services on a sliding fee scale: $15 is the average fee per session. Insurance is neither required nor accepted. Focus areas: Individual counseling, family and couples counseling, child and adolescent counseling, LGBTQ. "To find the affordable care you need, call 847-733-4300 or [link to further information]."
Caveats - telehealth appts right now, graduate student therapists. But if the kid doesn't feel safe mentioning his sexuality to dad, *and* the parents' divorce is acrimonious, maybe 'adolescent therapy' sessions at a family clinic is decently non-specific for conversation and general disclosure-of-minor-care-during-legal-proceeding purposes right now.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:05 PM on June 3, 2021
Caveats - telehealth appts right now, graduate student therapists. But if the kid doesn't feel safe mentioning his sexuality to dad, *and* the parents' divorce is acrimonious, maybe 'adolescent therapy' sessions at a family clinic is decently non-specific for conversation and general disclosure-of-minor-care-during-legal-proceeding purposes right now.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:05 PM on June 3, 2021
Center on Halsted may be able to help, my understanding is that it's more of a community resource center but they may have some groups for teens who are bi and/or going through the coming out process.
Howard Brown (full disclosure: I previously worked for them) is an LGBTQ-focused health center that offers mental health care. That's where I would call first.
They accept most Medicaid plans, and are very happy to work with people on a sliding scale if money is an issue or if insurance cannot be used, and they will be extremely sympathetic to the situation of a queer kid not wanting to utilize insurance because of concerns about parents not being supportive.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:59 PM on June 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Howard Brown (full disclosure: I previously worked for them) is an LGBTQ-focused health center that offers mental health care. That's where I would call first.
They accept most Medicaid plans, and are very happy to work with people on a sliding scale if money is an issue or if insurance cannot be used, and they will be extremely sympathetic to the situation of a queer kid not wanting to utilize insurance because of concerns about parents not being supportive.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:59 PM on June 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
I would recommend Howard Brown over Center on Halsted just out of personal preference. I like that Howard Brown is a one stop health center, so that they could get all of their health care there if they wanted (but don't have too!).
Either (Center on Halsted or Howard brown) are good places to start when looking for resources though.
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:28 PM on June 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Either (Center on Halsted or Howard brown) are good places to start when looking for resources though.
posted by AlexiaSky at 8:28 PM on June 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Center on Halsted's Behavioral Health Department "offer[s] individual, relationship, family, and group therapies to those who are 13 and older" and Howard Brown Health is "only accepting new clients for group therapy due to capacity." They'll still be great sources for referrals, OP.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:18 PM on June 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:18 PM on June 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
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posted by yellowcandy at 5:38 PM on June 3, 2021 [4 favorites]