Pacific Center for Human Growth

Pacific Center for Human Growth is the LGBTQIA+ center of Berkeley and the East Bay. Founded in 1973, it is the oldest LGBTQIA+ center in the Bay Area and the third oldest in the nation, and it operates the only sliding scale mental health clinic for LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC people and their families in Alameda County. Its mission is to enhance the mental health and overall well-being of these communities through culturally responsive therapy, peer support groups, community outreach and facilitated workshops, grounded in social justice and trauma-informed frameworks.

The clinic is the center of that work. Counseling and psychotherapy are available for individuals age 7 and up, couples and polycules, and families, and most clients meet weekly with their clinician after a two-session intake. The clinic accepts Medi-Cal in Alameda County and offers sliding scale rates for everyone else, with group sessions at the lowest tier. People living with HIV in Alameda and Contra Costa counties who qualify for Ryan White services receive free individual, couples and group counseling, including a weekly HIV+ support group that meets by video for nine sessions. Through the Ending the HIV Epidemic grant, the Center also offers up to four complimentary telehealth counseling slots to people living with HIV anywhere in California.

Pacific Center's community programs are built around peer support. Volunteer-led groups meet across the week, most on Zoom and some in person, and they are not therapy groups. They include a Transgender Support Group every Friday from 7 to 9 PM, Living OUT in Livermore, Dublin Tri-Valley Rainbows, San Leandro Rainbow Seniors, a group for parents and caregivers of trans and non-binary youth, a group for partners of trans and gender non-conforming people, Wicked Transcendent Folk, the M.A.P.S. group and men's groups. Suggested donations run from $5 to $20, and no one is turned away for lack of funds. Older Adult Services serves people 55 and up with therapy groups, social gatherings and a weekly drop-in with a library, a Free Closet and tea. The Queer Youth Group gives LGBTQIA+ and QTBIPOC youth ages 12 to 17 a space to build friendships and explore identity on Saturdays.

The Center also trains the next generation of clinicians. Its year-long Clinical Training Program places graduate-level MFT, LPCC and LCSW trainees in the clinic under licensed supervisors, with weekly didactic trainings on topics such as trauma-informed care, understanding intersex, racialized trauma and neurodivergent affirming therapy. Training and Consultation brings cultural humility workshops to nonprofits, businesses and schools, and the free Mental Health at the Intersections conference gathers providers and community members each spring. Each year the Center celebrates Berkeley Pride, most recently under the theme From Joy to Justice.

The Center sits on Center Street in downtown Berkeley, about five minutes from Downtown Berkeley BART, with an elevator to the second floor, accessible rooms and single-occupancy, gender neutral restrooms. To start services, schedule a phone screen through the website or call the information line at (510) 548-8283. Volunteers staff the front desk and outreach table in three-hour shifts, and donations help sustain affordable mental health care.