Online Therapy | MD & VA
General Resources
Phone Numbers
- 988 Lifeline: free, confidential, 24/7, a counselor will introduce themself and ask if you are safe, then the counselor will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.
- The Trevor Project 1.866.488.7386: free, confidential, 24/7, a counselor who is understanding of LGBTQ issues and won’t judge you will listen to you and offer support.
- Trans Lifeline 877.565.8860: free, confidential, 1:00pm-9:00pm EST Mon-Fri excepting holidays, a trans / nonbinary peer operator will listen to you, whether you're actively in crisis or not, whether you're sure you're trans or not.
- BlackLine 1.800.604.5841: free, confidential, 24/7, provides a space for peer support, brief counseling, reporting of mistreatment, witnessing, and affirming the lived experiences for people who are most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens. BlackLine prioritizes Black, Black LGBTQI, Brown, Native and Muslim community, however, no one will be turned away from the Hotline.
- DeQH Helpline 908.367.3374: free, confidential, 8:00pm-10:00pm EST Thursdays and Sundays, Desi LGBTQ+ Helpline for South Asians, a trained South Asian LGBQ/TGNB+ peer support volunteer will listen to your questions, concerns, struggles, and hopes.
- StrongHearts Native Helpline 1.844.762.8483: free, confidential, 24/7, a domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives offering peer support, advocacy, personalized safety planning, crisis intervention, local referrals, etc.
- National Domestic Violence Helpline 1.800.799.7233: free, confidential, 24/7, get help to identify abuse and plan for safety because everyone deserves healthy relationships.
- LGBT National Help Center 888.843.4564: free, confidential, 2:00pm-11:00pm EST Mon-Fri and 12:00pm-5:00pm EST Saturday, a support volunteer who identifies as part of the LGBTQIA+ community will provide peer support, information, and local resources.
- Psychedelic Support Line 623.473.7433: free, confidential, 2:00pm-1:00am EST 365 days per year, support during and after psychedelic experiences. You can also schedule a "TripCheck" where someone will contact you to check in during your journey.
- 911: free, 24/7, an operator will guide you through a sequence of questions to quickly obtain information necessary to dispatch the right responders to the right location, and may also provide instructions about what to do until help arrives. Please be aware that police are NOT equipped to provide mental health support and may even pose serious danger to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, Transgender, Mentally Ill, Neurodivergent, and Disabled people.
Websites
- LGBT Near Me: local resources nationwide by zip code offering access to over 20,000 LGBTQ+ community resources throughout the US and Canada from community centers, doctors & lawyers, social groups, sports teams, youth support and more. https://www.lgbtnearme.org/
- LGBT PridePath: a free tool designed to help you make an informed decision around relocation, based on the laws and protections that are important to you, or to compare other communities with your own. https://www.lgbtpridepath.org/
- NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness: the US' largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. https://www.nami.org/
- PFLAG: the US' first and largest organization uniting parents, families, and allies with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer. PFLAG National is the national organization, which provides support to the PFLAG network of local chapters. https://pflag.org/
- GLAAD - Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation: a non-profit organization founded in 1985 focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change working to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation and creates national and local programs that advance LGBTQ acceptance. https://glaad.org/
- Pronouns Matter: an accessible educational website about why pronouns matter (for cisgender people to learn), how to share your pronouns with others, what to do if you make a mistake and mis-pronoun someone, etc. https://pronouns.org/
- Transwhat?: an accessible guide breaking intersex and trans identities down for cisgender people to learn. https://transwhat.org/
- Human Rights Campaign: a bipartisan organization that works to advance equality based on sexual orientation, gender expression, and identity including lobbying Congress, mobilizing grassroots action in diverse communities, investing strategically to elect a fair-minded Congress, and increasing public understanding through innovative education and communication strategies. https://www.hrc.org/
Books
- Marsha: The Joy And Defiance Of Marsha P. Johnson, by Tourmaline
- Gender Magic: Live Shamelessly, Reclaim Your Joy, & Step into Your Most Authentic Self, by Rae McDaniel
- Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy, by Jessica Fern
- Headcase: LGBTQ Writers and Artists on Mental Health and Wellness, edited by Stephanie Schroeder and Teresa Theophano
- Trans Reads: the world’s largest collection of free trans-focused literature offering a wide variety of books, essays, zines, chapters, articles, and more! https://transreads.org/
Maryland Resources
Phone Numbers
- 211 Maryland: the state's most comprehensive health and human services information and referral system connecting people with 7,500+ resources related to available housing, food, healthcare, and other community resources.
- Grassroots 24-Hour Crisis Line 410.531.6677: free, 24/7, confidential crisis intervention and supportive counseling hotline offering assistance on matters including suicide, family and relationship problems, violent or threatening domestic situations, loneliness or depression, substance use issues, housing needs and others.
Where to Go in a Crisis
- Grassroots Crisis Intervention, 410.531.6677: free, confidential, 24/7, walk-in crisis assistance located in Columbia, MD. Anyone in need of immediate assistance may walk into Grassroots at any time to see a counselor for free without any appointment needed. An individual or family will meet with a compassionate crisis counselor, peer recovery specialist, or urgent care clinician, who will support them, provide resources and guide them toward a positive resolution. Individuals can also access Grassroots’ free, 24-hour food and hygiene pantry with various items available to anyone who is need of support including non-perishable food items, hygiene products like diapers, shampoo, body wash and more. https://grassrootscrisis.org/walk-in-crisis/
- Sheppard Pratt Towson Campus Psychiatric Urgent Care, 410.938.5302: Monday – Friday, 10:00am–9:00pm; Saturdays 11:00am–3:00pm; closed on Sundays, specially designed for people who need an immediate psychiatric triage located in Towson, MD. https://www.sheppardpratt.org/care-finder/psychiatric-urgent-care/
- Sheppard Pratt Baltimore/Washington Campus Psychiatric Urgent Care, 410.938.5302: Monday-Sunday, 10:00am-9:00pm, specially designed for people who need an immediate psychiatric triage located in Elkridge, MD. https://www.sheppardpratt.org/care-finder/psychiatric-urgent-care/
- Walk-In Crisis Care Center, 301.662.2255: free, confidential, 24/7, you will meet with a crisis specialist who will work with you to resolve your concerns and connect you with appropriate supports located in Frederick, MD. https://fcmha.org/how-we-help/behavioral-health/
Mobile Crisis Teams
Mobile crisis responders provide in-person support to people when they experience a serious mental health or substance use challenge, including a crisis as the person defines it. These teams, which include trained professionals, go to wherever the individual is in the community - such as their home, school, or other public places. Services are provided to de-escalate the situation, evaluate the individual's behavioral health, stabilize the situation, and make connections to treatment and support services. The table provides the contact number for each provider. However, people in every jurisdiction can also call 988 and be connected to a Mobile Crisis responder.
Know Your Rights
A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Rights - A joint project produced by
Maryland Commission on Civil Rights and Maryland Office of the Attorney General Civil Rights Division
Virginia Resources
Phone Numbers
- 211 Virginia: the state's most comprehensive health and human services information and referral system connecting people with information on available housing, food, healthcare, and other community resources.
Where to Go in a Crisis
- Merrifield Crisis Response Center (MCRC) at the Community Services Board (CSB)'s Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health, 703.573.5679: free, confidential, 24/7, MCRC provides 24-hour comprehensive walk-in psychiatric emergency services to individuals of all ages who are experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis located in Fairfax, VA. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/services/sharon_bulova_center
- Region Five Crisis Receiving Center (CRC), 757.656.7755: free, confidential, 24/7, CRC is an emergency behavioral health service that offers supportive care for individuals in crisis located in Suffolk, VA. Guests are allowed to stay up to 23 hours and will be offered an array of services and resources to help in times of crisis. The CRC team will pick you up and drop you off when your time with us has ended. Prior to discharge, all guests will be provided a discharge plan and linkage to services. https://region-five.org/crisis-continuum-of-care/crisis-receiving-center/
Mobile Crisis Teams
- Mobile crisis responders provide in-person support to people when they experience a serious mental health or substance use challenge, including a crisis as the person defines it. Responders specialize in providing these services in the community to individuals who are experiencing a mental health emergency and who need, but are unwilling or unable to seek, mental health treatment. https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/community-services-board/services/mobile-crisis-unit https://www.turningpointinterventions.com/mobile-crisis-response/