MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

At Access Institute, we believe that all individuals should have access to compassionate mental health care that promotes resilience, emotional well-being, and long-term growth.

HAYES VALLEY CLINIC

A couple is engaged in a lively conversation during a therapy session with a counselor.

Our Hayes Valley Clinic is conveniently located to provide face-to-face services.

We offer individual, couples, and family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, addressing a wide range of mental health needs.

Clients receive evidence-based, culturally sensitive care in a welcoming and confidential environment. Our offices are designed to be inclusive and supportive, providing a safe space for healing, growth, and resilience for the entire family.

services at our clinic

IN-SCHOOL & ELDER CARE

We meet people where they are—both geographically and emotionally.

Our therapists work on-site at seven local public schools, building trusted relationships so students can openly share their challenges. We offer individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, and guidance for teachers and families.

At our elder care facility, we provide support tailored for older adults to manage loneliness, anxiety, depression, and life transitions with sensitivity and respect.

services in schools & elder care
intake at access

SERVICES AT OUR HAYES VALLEY CLINIC

We work with people of all ages to ensure that individual therapy is tailored to a client’s specific needs. Depending on the circumstances, treatment may be brief (fewer than 20 sessions) or longer-term. If medication is an appropriate component of care, we can arrange a consultation with a staff psychiatrist.

For couples seeking to strengthen their relationship, we offer support in understanding and expressing individual needs, breaking out of recurring conflicts, and addressing long-standing issues. Whether you’re stuck in the same arguments, uncertain about your relationship’s future, or simply want to feel more seen, heard, and connected, we help you build awareness and communication skills.

We work closely with clients and their families to improve communication and discover new ways to manage life’s challenges together. For young children, we offer play therapy—a safe and supportive space where they can express their thoughts and emotions through play. Teens and young adults, who may be more comfortable using words, can benefit from talk therapy tailored to their stage of life.

We understand that supporting a loved one through difficult times can be incredibly demanding. In addition to providing therapy for children, we support parents of children receiving therapy at Access, helping strengthen the family as a whole. Every family is different, and our therapists are committed to honoring and working within each family’s unique cultural background, values, and needs.

Therapy for older adults provides support with life transitions, grief, health challenges, and emotional well-being. It offers a space to process experiences, strengthen coping skills, and enhance quality of life while respecting each person’s values, history, and needs. Services may be covered through Medicare Part A and Part B.

For more information or to schedule a telephone intake, call our intake line at (415) 861-5449 x380 (para español, oprima extension 324) or email us at intake@accessinst.org.

Please note: some health insurance may reimburse you for services, but coverage varies—please check with your provider. While Access Institute does not bill insurance directly, we can provide a detailed statement (superbill) that you can submit for possible reimbursement.

We offer medication evaluations and follow-up visits at sliding-scale rates for adults ages 18 and up. When appropriate, medication services can be integrated with psychotherapy to provide more comprehensive, coordinated care.


For example, individuals seeking treatment for ADHD, may require a more in-depth diagnostic assessment and testing process.

For more information or to schedule a telephone intake, call our intake line at (415) 861-5449 x380 (para español, oprima extension 324) or email us at intake@accessinst.org.

Please note: some health insurance may reimburse you for services, but coverage varies—please check with your provider. While Access Institute does not bill insurance directly, we can provide a detailed statement (superbill) that you can submit for possible reimbursement.

A psychological assessment helps identify a person’s strengths and areas for growth across social, academic, and work settings. It provides a comprehensive diagnosis, guides access to accommodations, evaluates the severity of difficulties, and offers a detailed roadmap for healthcare providers. Additionally, it helps clarify and recommend effective treatment options.

Our comprehensive diagnostic testing evaluates cognitive, academic, social-emotional, and executive functioning to gain a full understanding of an individual’s strengths and challenges. This in-depth assessment helps clarify difficulties in areas like work, school, or relationships and provides essential insights for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning. Using evidence-based tools and a thorough approach—including interviews, information gathering, and standardized testing—we help answer complex diagnostic questions with clarity and care.

ISSUES WE COMMONLY ADDRESS:

  • Learning disabilities
  • Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Behavioral problems
  • Impaired cognitive functioning
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Anxiety or panic disorders
  • Depression and other mood disorders
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

We offer assessments for children of all ages to better understand emotional, learning, or behavioral challenges and identify strengths and areas for improvement, enabling us to develop a plan for success. These evaluations help address concerns about academic or developmental difficulties and guide the provision of accommodations. We work closely with families, schools, and others involved in the child’s life to create a plan for success.

  • Identifying strengths and weaknesses areas for growth (interpersonally, academically, in work)
  • Providing a comprehensive diagnosis and access to accommodations in school or testing settings
  • Evaluating the severity of a person’s difficulties
  • Offering an in-depth road map for a person’s other providers
  • Recommending and clarifying treatment options

Our assessments range in fee from $1,200- $4,800 based on a person’s income and household size. From start to finish, the whole assessment will take 8-10 weeks. One month of this will include regular meetings with the clinician. Call our Assessment Line at (415) 861-5449 x344 to get started.

For more information or to schedule a telephone intake, call our intake line at (415) 861-5449 x380 (para español, oprima extension 324) or email us at intake@accessinst.org.

IN-SCHOOL & ELDER PROGRAMS AND CRISIS/SUPPORT LINES

Compassion, Consistency, and Care: Supporting Children & Families in Public Schools

Our In-School Mental Health Program brings therapy directly to families in their communities, removing the barriers that clinic visits can create. By meeting children and families where they are, we ensure more have access to the mental health support they need.

We work with children who have experienced trauma such as divorce, homelessness, loss, domestic violence, and serious illness, as well as those on the autism spectrum, with ADHD, brain-based challenges, and complex learning disabilities.

We take a holistic view of each child’s life—considering their history, culture, environment, and school experience—to tailor interventions to their unique needs. Our approach fosters collaboration by building a support team that includes parents, teachers, and school staff, helping create more understanding and supportive environments both at home and at school through ongoing consultation and education.

We are pleased to partner with the San Francisco Unified School District and the following elementary schools: Glen Park, Grattan, Harvey Milk, Hillcrest, John Muir, Sanchez, and Tenderloin Elementary Schools.

SUPPORT THROUGH THE AGING PROCESS

Elders often face deep stigma around their emotional health, which can lead to social isolation, depression, cognitive decline, and greater health risks. Our mission is to address these emotional needs with dignity, compassion, and continuity of care, creating a trusting space where seniors feel safe to share experiences they may have long kept private due to shame or stigma.

We offer comprehensive mental health services for at-risk elders, including individual and group therapy, milieu therapy, psychiatry, and detailed psychological, cognitive, and memory assessments. Our care supports a wide range of challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and loss, dementia, psychosis, and medical illness or disability, all with the goal of enhancing emotional well-being and reducing loneliness.

Services are available at our Hayes Valley Clinic and through partnerships with organizations like The Bayview Hunters Point Adult Day Health Center. To further strengthen care, we provide training for nursing and social work staff at partner sites, enhancing their ability to support seniors with disabilities, severe mental illness, and dementia.

For more information or to schedule a telephone intake, call our intake line at (415) 861-5449 x380 (para español, oprima extension 324) or email us at intake@accessinst.org.



CRISIS LINES

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

Warm Line  1-855-845-7415
A confidential, free phone service offering non-crisis mental health support.

Friendship Line: 1-800-971-0016 
crisis and warm line for older adults

The TALK Line: (415) 441-KIDS (5437)
24-hour crisis and counseling for parents with children under 18 experiencing parenting issues and needing support

SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL
Psychiatric Emergency Services (24 hours)
(415) 206-8125
1001 Potrero, #1B40, San Francisco, CA

WOMAN INC: (415)  846-4722
24-hour Domestic Violence Line

WESTSIDE CRISIS & OUTPATIENT SERVICES: (415) 355-0311

LA RAZA CENTRO LEGAL
474 Valencia St., #295, San Francisco, CA 
(415) 575-3500 www.lrcl.org/

SF RAPID RESPONSE NETWORK
(415) 200-1548 for San Francisco only
(510) 241-4011 for Alameda
Immigration lawyers & report ICE activity
938 Valencia St., San Francisco, CA
https://sfilen.org/resources/sf-rapid-responsenetwork/

SF RAPE TREATMENT CENTER
(415) 437-3000
2727 Mariposa St. # 100, San Francisco, CA

SF WOMEN AGAINST RAPE
(415) 647-7273
3543 18th St., San Francisco

MEN OVERCOMING VIOLENCE (MOVE)
(415) 626-6683
1385 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

MEN’S CRISIS LINE (415) 924-1070

ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES: 
(415) 355-6700 or 1-800-814-0009

CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
(415) 558-2650 or 1-800-856-5553

T.A.L.K. LINE (FOR PARENTS UNDER STRESS) (415) 441-5437

COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES 24-HOUR ACCESS HELPLINE
(415) 255-3737
Available to SF residents who receive
Medi-Cal, SF Health Plan members, and other
San Francisco residents with limited resources.

SAN FRANCISCO PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION REFERRAL SERVICE 
(415) 681-3063
Provides a list of low-fee psychologists.

intake at access