Best Online LGBTQIA+ Counseling

Inclusive Therapists is an extremely detailed therapist directory that prioritizes matching therapy seekers with providers who can understand their identity, lived experience, and healing journey.

Inclusive Therapists is our top pick for the best online LGBTQIA+ counseling service because of its strong emphasis on featuring therapists who specialize in working with marginalized identities. We especially appreciate the ethos behind the company. Psychotherapist Melody Li founded Inclusive Therapists in 2019 in response to her struggles with finding affirming, caring therapy. She had trouble finding a provider to whom she didn’t have to explain her identity, leading to frustration and microaggressions. Li created Inclusive Therapists to be a directory of clinicians who prioritize supporting those with marginalized identities.

On the platform, you can expect to find therapists specializing in individual, group, couples, and family therapy. There are therapists for children and teens, too. Additionally, you can find doctors who offer medication management and even holistic practitioners, such as reiki masters and yoga teachers.

Finding an LGBTQIA+-affirming counselor is as easy as adjusting the filters in your search. You can also narrow your search to include a BIPOC provider, or a clinician with a specific clinical specialty and/or spiritual orientation. Finally, if you’re experiencing decision fatigue, you can request to be matched with a therapist.

The directory is free to use to find your therapist. The price you pay for each session will vary depending on your chosen provider. These rates range widely, from around $30 to over $250 per session out-of-pocket. Some therapists accept insurance, though, so you could pay less. 

Inclusive Therapists has a therapy fund if these rates are a bit expensive for you. This means therapy seekers can apply for financial support. Applications for the fund open on a seasonal basis. Recipients can receive up to 12 sessions.

Inclusive Therapists has a high satisfaction rating among users surveyed, with 89 percent rating it as good or very good. Thirty percent of those surveyed stated that finding a therapist with a similar identity or cultural background was important. Eighty-four percent of therapy seekers found navigating the website to be easy or very easy. Another 68 percent were pleased with how easy the process of finding a therapist through the directory was, while 24 percent found it to be an average experience.

If signing up for a monthly therapy subscription appeals to you, Talkspace is the LGBTQIA+-affirming company we recommend. Not only does it offer a range of services (including individual talk therapy, teen therapy, couples therapy, and psychiatry) and accept insurance, but it also has an extensive national roster of affirming therapists, many of whom have taken sensitivity training. 

You’ve likely heard of Talkspace — it's one of the largest online therapy subscription services, known for offering convenient treatment with a wide array of providers. This service is available in all 50 states, providing therapy to individuals, couples, and teens, plus medication management for adults. However, seeking out a therapist, holding multiple consultation calls, and navigating the tricky territory of finding a provider within your budget can all be major roadblocks to getting the support you need. Talkspace streamlines this process by matching you with a provider and offering a reasonably priced monthly subscription plan, making it easier than ever to get solid support. But what made the service stand out to us was that many of its therapists identify as LGBTQ+ themselves, have undergone sensitivity training, or specialize in issues that disproportionately affect the queer community. 

When signing up for Talkspace, you can specify what you’d like support with, as well as whether you have any preferences regarding the gender identity and sexual orientation of your therapist. If you end up matched with a therapist whose profile doesn’t resonate with your needs, you can easily switch and select a new therapist that fits your needs better. We appreciate this detail — finding a therapist can be tricky, but over half (52 percent) of users we surveyed never had to switch providers, and 30 percent switched just once before finding a match.

A monthly subscription with Talkspace ranges from $69 to $109 per week and is billed monthly. 

• Unlimited text messaging therapy: $69 per week
• Unlimited text messaging and a weekly 30-minute individual therapy appointment: $99 weekly
• Unlimited text messaging, weekly 30-minute individual therapy sessions, and access to mental health tools like workshops and talks: $109 per week 
• Unlimited text messaging and weekly 30-minute couples therapy sessions: $396 per month
• Medication management services: Priced individually, with an initial evaluation costing $249 and all subsequent sessions costing $125. You can purchase these services in a bundle.

Talkspace does not offer any free consultation services. The company is in-network with some insurance providers, like Blue Shield and Cigna. You’re also welcome to pay with a flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA).

Ninety percent of Talkspace users were satisfied with their experience using the platform. Over half (55 percent) were specifically seeking treatment for anxiety, while 16 percent were looking for support around LGBTQIA+, transgender, and nonbinary experiences. Seventy-eight percent of Talkspace users stated that most, if not all, of their needs were met during their time using the platform, and 83 percent were satisfied with the therapist options presented on the platform. Finally, 97 percent said Talkspace beat out other therapy platforms they’d used in the past.

Finding therapy without insurance can feel nearly impossible — especially if you’re seeking therapy from a provider that understands your lived experience as an LGBTQIA+ person. That’s why we like Open Path Collective: This directory offers a diverse roster of LGBTQIA+-affirming therapists who provide services at prices comparable to an insurance copay.

Let’s face it: Many of us go without therapy because we can’t afford it. Add in fears of hostility and misunderstanding from your therapist, and the idea of seeking help can feel overwhelmingly hard. Open Path Collective is trying to combat this by offering a directory full of therapists that offer sliding scale rates to anyone making less than $100,000 a year. Not only that, but the company has a strong social justice ethos. The therapists listed on its directory come from various racial, gender, and cultural identities and each one is committed to making therapy more accessible by way of price point. 

The directory serves all 50 states and offers therapy services for the whole family, from kids to couples. To find a provider specializing in working with the LGBTQIA+ community, you can indicate your preference by changing the website’s search filters. One downside to the service, though: None of the providers offers medication management.

To begin using Open Path Collective, you must pay a one-time membership fee of $65. Then, you’re welcome to begin treatment with any of the available providers on the platform. Sessions range from $40 to $80, with couples and family services reaching the higher end of that scale. Open Path Collective is not in-network with any insurance companies.

Open Path Collective has a fantastic overall satisfaction rating, with 90 percent of users stating they were pleased with their experience on the platform. Twenty-one percent of those surveyed prioritized finding a therapist with a similar identity or cultural background, and 74 percent stated they were able to find a provider that met all of their needs. However, you may have to contact a few therapists before finding a fit. Sixty-four percent of users reached out to multiple therapists to confirm their availability.

Plume is a trans-led organization offering an array of virtual services to support your transition, including gender-affirming hormone therapy, medication management, and support groups.

Transphobia and anti-trans legislation throughout the U.S. can make finding high-quality care for your transitioning journey deeply challenging. That’s why Plume stood out to us. This trans-led healthcare organization provides gender-affirming hormone therapy (often referred to as HRT) and medication management for any depression and anxiety related to your gender transition. This means you can access estrogen, testosterone, hair restoration medications, sexual function medications, and psychiatric medications all in one place. Additionally, there are support groups available for the sake of connection and to help you remember you aren’t alone.

We love Plume because it honors patient autonomy. Instead of worrying about finding a competent doctor that you have to educate, you can instead trust that your Plume care team is there to support you with your specific transition goals. For some, virtual gender-affirming care may not be a fit. It may feel too independent, and you might crave connecting with a provider in person. Alternatively, you may need to have your care completely virtual and not pick up your medication from your local pharmacy for safety and privacy reasons. This is a drawback with Plume — it does not ship medication, so you have to go to the pharmacy in-person.

Plume is available in all states except South Dakota, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Alaska. Some states have stringent telehealth regulations prohibiting providers from prescribing testosterone. However, you can still access estrogen-based therapies and psychiatric medication in those states. 

Plume offers one monthly plan for $99. It includes virtual appointments with a medical provider, prescription management, all necessary labs, medical letters for name or gender marker changes, medical letters for surgery support, access to support groups, live injection support, and access to your gender-affirming care team. The medication cost is not included in your monthly membership and will vary based on your insurance coverage for prescriptions.

Plume is only in-network with Aetna for California residents and UnitedHealthcare for Texas residents. If you have difficulties funding your care, you can apply to Plume’s HRT Access Fund to receive 12 months of free gender-affirming care.

We have yet to survey Plume users. However, we did gather user reviews across various social media platforms and saw many applaud Plume’s doctors, easy sign-up, and general user experience. That being said, a few users flagged that Plume can have lapses in communication, leading to frustration in their care process. 

Finding peer support can be a critical component of the LGBTQIA+ community experience. Circles offers support groups focused on the queer experience, facilitated by mental health professionals.

Group support has been proven to help sexual and gender minority individuals minimize symptoms of depression and navigate general and identity-specific stressors. Being in a community with others and receiving insight from a mental health professional can remind you that you’re never alone in the challenges you face, support you in developing coping tools, and build meaningful relationships. Circles doesn’t only offer support groups facilitated by mental health professionals, it also offers users the ability to chat with group members and the group facilitator in between sessions. 

We love that Circles offers the first session free, so you can make sure it feels like a good fit before committing to paying. Each group is ongoing, meaning there is no set end date or minimum commitment, so you can cancel anytime. Circles is available nationwide, and all facilitators are licensed mental health professionals who are stringently vetted by the organization’s head of emotional support. This vetting deepens our trust in the company and its support it provides.

Circles offers one plan that consists of four weekly support group sessions, an online chat with the group facilitator and members, plus access to the Circles app, which has various resources like webinars and coping tools. The plan costs $79 per month, and the first week is free. 

It is important to note, though, that Circles is not in-network with any insurance companies and does not offer any free consultations.

Overall, 80 percent of Circles users gave it a positive rating and 77 percent stated most, if not all, of their needs were met. Eighty-three percent were pleased with the qualifications of the group facilitators, and just 9 percent of those surveyed felt they’d like to see more therapists from the LGBTQIA+ community on the platform.

Modern Intimacy is a therapy practice focusing on sex, intimacy, and relational therapy for individuals and couples. Therapists on staff have specialized trauma training.

Trauma can stem from various issues, including adverse childhood experiences, experiences of bigotry and oppression, or painful relationships. Modern Intimacy is a therapy practice specializing in sex and intimacy that is equipped to tackle a wide range of issues. Not only do they offer treatment for trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, they also offer support for sex, love, and porn addiction, sexual dysfunction, and self-esteem challenges. This is especially meaningful because trauma can be an underlying cause for many mental health concerns. 

Modern Intimacy has therapists who offer eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. This somatic therapy, which can be safely offered virtually, has proven effective in reducing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Additionally, the organization is LGBTQIA+ affirming, meaning all therapists on staff are versed in the obstacles the LGBTQIA+ community faces and some identify as members of the community themselves. Services are available in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and New York. 

Modern Intimacy does not offer any subscription plans. Instead, you can expect to pay per session. Fees vary based on the therapist selected, and service received, ranging from free to $300. Modern Intimacy is not in-network with any insurance companies. If you are open to working with a pre-licensed mental health therapist, you can receive therapy for free or at a low cost if you are based in California, Florida, or Illinois.

The company offers a free 30-minute initial consultation to help match you with the right therapist for your needs.

We have yet to survey Modern Intimacy clients, but we have consulted with a Modern Intimacy therapist, increasing our trust in the platform. Furthermore, founder Kate Balestrieri, Psy.D., has an impressive roster of qualifications, including a sex therapy certification plus extensive training in EMDR therapy, the NeuroAffective Touch Model, and the Psychobiological Approach to the Couples Therapy model. Considering she oversees her practice, we feel confident her employees reflect her level of skill, professionalism, and innovation in the field. 

Finding a couples therapist can be tricky since it requires managing two people’s therapist preferences. Zencare is a therapy directory that offers plenty of ways to filter your search to find affirming, schedule-accommodating counseling.

Zencare is a company created in response to the challenges that come with trying to find a therapist. The BIPOC woman-led organization aims to make therapy as simple as possible by offering a wide range of therapists vetted by the company. You can expect to peruse introductory videos from some therapists and book as many free consultation calls as you need to find the one for you. We appreciate the wide range of couples therapists on the platform and the various filters you can use to nail down the best provider. For example, you can narrow your search based on location, insurance accepted, therapist identity, language, and more. 

Zencare couples therapists have various approaches, including the Gottman Method and emotionally focused couples therapy. The Gottman Method is one of the most popular couples therapy modalities and aims to decrease verbal conflict while increasing intimacy and respect in romantic partnerships. Emotionally focused couples therapy is another popular modality that uses attachment theory to rid relationships of rigid interactions that fuel emotional disconnect. Another detail we really loved is the ample information regarding the therapist search process on Zencare's website. You can expect to learn about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider, a breakdown of various therapy terms, how to find the right therapist for you, and more.

Session fees vary based on provider, ranging anywhere from under $100 to well over $300. Some providers also offer sliding scale fees, so don’t be afraid to ask if cost is a concern for you.

Some providers on the platform accept insurance. Each therapist’s profile will specify if they are in-network with any insurance companies. 

Zencare therapists do offer free consultations. You can message providers through the platform to inquire about availability and set up a call.

Zencare users report positive experiences on the platform, with 90 percent of all users stating they were satisfied with their experience. Seventy-four percent of users found finding a therapist that met their needs relatively easy and another 86 percent were pleased with their experience navigating the website. 

Be prepared to contact a few therapists before finding the one. Just 15 percent of users reached out to one therapist in their search while half (51 percent) had to connect with two to three therapists before finding the right fit for them.

Sometimes you just need a provider that can truly relate to your experience. The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network is a directory that caters specifically to LGBTQIA+ folks who also identify as people of color, making your search easy so you can focus on your healing.

People of color often find themselves navigating joys, stressors, and circumstances related to their ethnicity. These experiences lead many to desire therapy from others who can understand their lived experiences. However, finding a therapist who is a person of color and specializes in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community may prove challenging. This is where the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network comes in. This therapy directory is exclusively dedicated to queer and trans people of color, offering a destination where folks can search for a provider who meets their needs. However, since this is a directory, sessions are not offered directly through the platform. Instead, you can reach out to the therapists whose profiles catch your eye. From there, you can schedule a free consultation to learn more about their treatment style, approach, and logistics of working together. 

A significant drawback we noticed on the directory is that it isn’t possible to filter your search based on fee or insurance. However, you can filter specifically to see therapists offering low fees or sliding scale offerings. While we appreciate the latter detail, it can be frustrating for therapy seekers who need to find a therapist who takes insurance not to include those details in the search filter. If you find therapy cost-prohibitive, the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network has a potential solution. It offers a therapy fund you can apply to, funding up to eight sessions at $100 per session.

Session fees vary by provider and service requested, with common fees ranging from $50 to over $200 per session. Some therapists accept insurance and will note what plans they’re in-network with on their therapy profile. You can schedule a free consultation with the therapists listed on this directory.

Eighty-four percent of users surveyed gave the directory a positive rating. Nearly half (46 percent) of therapy seekers using this directory sought support for anxiety and another 43 percent needed treatment for depression. Forty-two percent were looking for a therapist with a similar identity or cultural background as them. Sixty-eight percent of users were able to find a therapist that met all their needs and another 31 percent stated they needed to compromise on some of their needs. 

TherapyDen prioritizes therapists who specialize in working with trans folks. Its homepage even has a section specifically highlighting therapists for the trans community, making the process of finding a provider easier than ever.

TherapyDen is a directory founded in 2018 that aims to make finding a therapist easy, regardless of your identity, lived experience, and therapy needs. A huge factor differentiating TherapyDen from other directories and therapy services is that it features a range of therapists who specifically specialize in working with trans people. Other organizations take a broader approach, allowing you to filter simply for LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists. While that works for many, there are various aspects of the trans experience that call for a therapist who has received specialized training and is truly versed in working with the community. Otherwise, a trans client may feel that they have to educate their therapist, which is never a great way to start a healing journey. 

It is normal to have concerns when interviewing therapists — even those who specialize in working with the trans community — especially when transitioning. However, there are some questions you can ask to ensure a therapist is a good fit for you. “When in the process of transitioning, it's important to look for a provider who has experience guiding trans individuals through their transition — this might involve finding a therapist who has written letters of support for medical interventions such as top surgery or a therapist who identifies as trans themselves,” Owens says. 

TherapyDen has plenty of search filters, allowing you to set the fee range you can afford, if you need a provider in-network with insurance, any specialized experience you’d like your provider to have, and more. The only downside we came across is that it is still growing. So while new therapists are constantly being added to the platform, it may not be as big as other competitors. Additionally, there is still not a large group of BIPOC providers on the platform, something we hope to see shift as it grows.

Session fees vary by provider. Some offer low and sliding-scale fees, resulting in session rates as low as $10; others have fees exceeding $300. Insurance plans accepted will vary by provider — not all accept insurance. You’re welcome to contact therapists directly through the TherapyDen website to verify their availability and set up a consultation.

Eighty percent of TherapyDen users were pleased with their experience on the platform. We love to know that despite it being a new directory, the majority of folks using it are finding it beneficial. Seventy-five percent of users praised the diversity of providers and 70 percent were impressed with its mission statement. Still, 12 percent of users are waiting to see more therapists from a background or culture similar to theirs. Considering the many white and white-passing clinicians on the directory, this isn't a surprise to us.

Finding a provider to help with medication management can be all too difficult. Talkiatry offers psychiatry services from LGBTQIA+ affirming providers and takes insurance, keeping session fees to a minimum.

In the past, psychiatry has participated in the oppression of the LGBTQIA+ community, even equating it to mental illness before the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality as a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973. This concerning history has resulted in a stigma surrounding the process of seeking out medication and has even left some to avoid the process altogether. Talkiatry is an organization that has a completely opposing response to this stain in history, featuring multiple psychiatrists of varying identities who specialize in treating the LGBTQIA+ population. Furthermore, the organization focuses on providing services to those with insurance, thus cutting out-of-pocket costs and increasing access to quality mental health care.

You can expect to receive support for ADHD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, insomnia, OCD, and PTSD. Additionally, Talkiatry treats minors as well, making it fantastic for LGBTQIA+ youth who may need some medication support. While we applaud the organization’s focus on supporting those who have insurance, since it is rare to find strong mental health services in-network with insurance, we do have a few concerns. First, if you don’t have insurance, you cannot use the platform’s services. We’d love to see an option for low fees or a sliding scale for those who don’t have insurance. Additionally, pricing isn’t the most transparent. The fee for services depends on your insurance copay, which can’t be verified until after you sign up.

Fees are based on the client's insurance plan, the outpatient mental health services the plan covers, and if the deductible has been met. This information is not verified until after sign-up. 

Talkiatry accepts major insurance plans like Cigna, Oscar, and UnitedHealthcare, but it does not provide free consultations. It does offer a free assessment during sign-up to ensure you’re a good fit for its services, though.

Talkiatry has one of the best user ratings among the platforms we reviewed, with 95 percent of users surveyed giving it a positive rating. Eighty-one percent were satisfied with the therapist options provided on the directory, 91 percent rated the qualifications of Talkiatry therapists highly, and 70 percent would return to the platform again if they needed to find a new provider.