Schedule an Appointment
For students who desire to work with an Embedded Counselor, individual therapy appointments can be made through the mySHR portal.
Counseling Services
USC Counseling and Mental Health (CMH) provides a range of mental health support services for LGBTQ+ students, including LGBTQ+-identifying counselors located in the LGBTQ+ Student Center and support groups for various LGBTQ+ topics or identities.
Schedule an Appointment
For students who desire to work with an Embedded Counselor, individual therapy appointments can be made through the mySHR portal.
Counseling and Mental Health (CMH) partners with the LGBTQ+ Student Center to provide embedded counselors and liaisons for LGBTQ+ students in need of mental health and wellness support. The LGBTQ+SC’s Embedded Counselors serve and support the entire student community and are located in the LGBTQ+ Student Center (Student Union 415).
In addition to the LGBTQ+SC, Embedded Counselors can be found in all Student Equity and Inclusion Programs centers, including: Asian Pacific American Student Services (APASS), the Center for Black Cultural and Student Affairs (CBCSA), the First Gen+ Success Center (FG+SC), La CASA, and the Veterans Resource Center (VRC). Students can also work with embedded therapists with the Office of International Services.
After establishing care, your therapist will discuss your care and a treatment plan to meet your goals. The treatment plan might include additional sessions; referral to psychiatry and medication management; open-ended therapy with an insurance-based private practice (including the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Services practice, located on the 5th floor of the Engemann Building); or recommendation for an appropriate therapy group in USC Student Health.
CMH also provides 30-minute Let’s Talk drop-in sessions, individual 1:1 appointments with a counselor, group counseling, and workshops.
For students who desire to work with an Embedded Counselor, individual therapy appointments can be made through the mySHR portal (https://usc.edu/myshr).
Meet our Embedded Counselors
(he/him/his)
At LGBTQ+SC every Wednesday & Friday (by MySHR appointment only)
Matthew Brinkley, PsyD, LMFT, earned his Doctorate of Psychology in Marital and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology with a focus on LGBT Human Services and Mental Health. He received his MA in Marital and Family Therapy from Syracuse University and BA in Political Science from Iowa State University (ISU). He competed on the men’s track and field team at both ISU and Syracuse.
Matthew has specialized training in trauma-informed care and transgender mental health, and has professional interests in the areas of: individual, couples, and group psychotherapy, gender expression, sex positivity, relationship satisfaction, social justice, Black mental health, LGBT mental health, LGBT athletes, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), and solution-focused therapy.
In his spare time, Matthew enjoys his guilty pleasure of watching reality competition tv, attending music events, exercising, fashion, playing video games and dancing.
(she/her/hers)
At HSC (by MySHR appointment only)
Dr. Ekta Kumar is our SEIP Embedded Counselor at the Health Sciences Campus (HSC) and works at the Eric Cohen Student Health Center or through virtual sessions. Her areas of specialty and passion are the following: multicultural psychology, trauma, identity issues, and working with South Asian, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clients. Dr. Kumar helps connect our HSC students to the amazing work we do at the cultural centers and works to provide a multiculturally-affirming therapeutic space. You can book sessions with her through mySHR!
Support Groups
CMH offers weekly therapy sessions facilitated by licensed professional clinicians in USC Student Health Counseling and Mental Health Services. The meetings are sequenced to help members make progress in their individual journey toward desired change, so it’s not a drop in service.
Students interested in joining a group should go to MySHR and create a new message, and submit a “Counseling Group Interest Form.” For more information about other counseling groups offered by Counseling and Mental Health, please visit the CMH website.
Led by Matthew Brinkley, PsyD, LMFT
This identity specific support group is meant for Black-identified LGBTQ+ folks to have a safe and non-judgmental space to celebrate the intersections of race, gender, sex, sexuality, and various marginalized identities, while processing the mental health struggles this specific community endures in response to our current political climate and day-to-day stressors.
Led by Guru Shabd Khalsa, LMFT
This is a supportive environment to listen and talk with others about life and issues related to gender identity. You will find that others can relate and share their experiences. Topics discussed during this group can include exploring your identity, trust and relationships, coping with stresses of campus life or transitioning.
Led by Madeline Eccleston, PsyD
This group addresses life and relationship issues related to sexual orientation and identity. Talk openly with other students about being pansexual, asexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, questioning or other sexual identities. Topics are based on students’ interest and can include exploring your identity; trust and relationships; dealing with hetero-sexism or internalized homophobia; social justice and advocacy; intersections of sexuality; dating; family and societal expectations; and self-esteem.