LGBTQ+ Programs
The Women’s Initiative affirms and celebrates LGBTQ+ identities and relationships, and offers safe and brave spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals to foster connection, joy, and healing.
We prioritize training for staff counselors and program facilitators to strengthen competencies and develop expertise in LGBTQ+ affirming mental health services.
Learn more about the history of our agency and our commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. ⟶
Counseling eligibility
We serve all women, including trans women, in our counseling program. We also serve nonbinary, gender-diverse individuals, and trans men.
If you would like to learn more about how to get started with us, click here. ⟶
Meet the Team
Upcoming LGBTQ+ Programs
History, People, and Partnerships
The Women’s Initiative was founded in 2007 to provide mental health therapy services to women regardless of ability to pay. At that time, our focus was on supporting cisgender women. We have since embraced the opportunity to serve additional members of our community who have also been impacted by gender-based violence, discrimination, and health disparities.
Our intake forms welcome open-ended descriptions of gender and sexual identity, and our event details provide clarity around eligibility.
We host a monthly Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Clinical Consultation Group, facilitated by SJ Langer, LCSW-R. Dr. Eli Coston, VCU professor, Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies, provides consultation on LGBTQ+ affirming communications and training on LGBTQ+ cultural competence to our staff.
We partner with Cville Trans Women Circle, PFLAG Greater Charlottesville, Cville PRIDE, local queer clubs, and civic groups to assess community needs, host resilience programming, and raise awareness about our mental health services.
For more information on our LGBTQ+ programming:
Please contact our Program Co-Coordinators: Hyacinth Bellerose and Latricia Giles or contact our office at 434.872.0047.
For immediate crisis response and helplines:
Reach out to The Trevor Project (text 678-678 or call 1.866.488.7386) or Trans Lifelife at 1.877.565.8860.
We are currently growing our capacity to serve the LGBTQ+ community in the following ways:
Developing programs guided by a grassroots approach: We host listening sessions to open safe spaces for members of the LGBTQ+ community to come together to share ideas, highlight areas of unmet need, and voice hopes for increased connections.
Opening spaces for people who feel marginalized within the queer community and convening affinity groups, including the disabled community, QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color), Trans Women, and the Transgender and Gender Nonconforming community.
Cultivating relationships and exploring new partnerships with local groups, including Brown Shuga, Operation Social Equality, the Charlottesville Gender Expansive Network, The Beautiful Idea, and Out and About.
Offering allyship training and other educational opportunities through our Arts & Connection programs and continuing to grow our capacity as an agency to stand with and support the LGBTQ+ community.