Youth & Young Adults

Side by Side has a wide variety of available support programs and resources. We’re here to help.

Counseling

Sometimes our youth need additional 1:1 support in dealing with mental health needs. Services can be obtained with one of our consulting clinicians either in person or virtually through telehealth. Side by Side contracts with counselors to provide 1:1 mental health support to youth at no cost to you or your family. To be eligible for Side by Side’s counseling services:

  • Financial Need: Youth who have limited or no access to financial means to pay for clinical services or families that have limited or no resources to obtain clinical resources

  • Emotional Need: Youth that have ben identified as needing services to address gender dysphoria, gender/sexual identity, intersecting identities; or if other underlying clinical needs are related to the aforementioned concerns.

  • Participation: Youth that have participated for a minimum of 4 weeks in Side by Side services (e.g. support groups, events, or housing program)will be eligible. Continued participation is preferred while receiving clinical services. If youth discontinue other Side by Side services while receiving clinical services, they will be permitted to complete their 8-session cycle but ay not be eligible for a renewal. This will be managed on a case-by-case basis.

  • Age: 11-25 (within the age ranges for participation in Support Group and/or Housing Programs

  • Parental Permission: required for any youth under 18 to access clinical services.

Referral Process

  1. Youth can self-refer themselves through a staff member or support group facilitator; youth can also be refereed by a Lead Facilitator

  2. Director of Youth Programs and Services will contact the youth to complete a screening

  3. Eligibility will be assessed by the Director of Youth Programs and Services during the referral process

There is an 8-session term for youth accessing services. After 8 sessions, if a youth would like to continue in the program they must write a letter to their counselor outlining how they intend to use the additional services. If there is space in the program , funding available, and the recommendation is given by their counselor, they will be able to start another 8 session period.

To learn more about our counseling services, please contact us at info@sidebysideva.org.

Our Counselors

We understand the challenges of receiving support specifically gender affirming treatment and services. Our clinicians are able to provide letters of support using the WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) standards of care.

Click on each counselors image to learn more about them and their work.

Jasmine Griffin, LPC-S (She/Her)

Todd Stonell, LPC (He/Him)

Patricia “Patty” Horner, LPC, ACS, RPT-S, EMDR Certified Therapist (She/Her)

Alnique “Nik” Deloatch, LPC (She/Her)

Jo Laing, Counseling Intern (They/Them)

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Richmond Youth Center

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The Side by Side Richmond Youth Center hosts several additional services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults in our programs including:

The Steven Midgett Memorial Library
Thanks to the generosity of our community, Side by Side host a wonderful library of LGBTQ+ books and books by LGBTQ+ authors at our Richmond Youth Center. These are available for check-out to anyone in our community. Please connect with a staff member for details or contact us at info@sidebysideva.org.

Hygiene Products
Come during drop in hours and pick up free hygiene items from our closet—from shampoo & lotion to deodorant & bubble bath. There is no cost for any of these items.

Lockers
Lockers are available to any youth or young adult in our programs to store important documents, clothing, or other items they need to secure. To use a locker, please connect with any Side by Side staff.