Access Institute
Access Institute is a San Francisco 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing low- and no-fee psychotherapy, psychiatric, and psychological assessment services to low-income residents, embedded in a Hayes Valley clinic, seven SFUSD elementary schools, and a Bayview elder care site. It also runs APA-accredited clinical training programs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Access Institute does
Access Institute for Psychological Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health organization founded in the 1990s in San Francisco in response to community mental health clinic closures caused by healthcare funding cuts. It provides low- and no-fee psychological services to individuals and families who cannot afford market-rate care, operating a central Hayes Valley Clinic at 110 Gough Street, embedded in-school mental health programs at seven San Francisco Unified School District elementary schools (Glen Park, Grattan, Harvey Milk, Hillcrest, John Muir, Sanchez, and Tenderloin), and an elder mental health program at the Bayview Hunter's Point Adult Day Health Center. The clinical service portfolio includes individual, couples, and family therapy, play therapy, psychological assessments ($1,200–$4,800 on a sliding scale), psychiatric medication evaluation and management, and crisis intervention, all delivered using a psychoanalytically-oriented depth psychology model that integrates social context.
The organization also runs an APA-accredited clinical training division that includes a doctoral psychology internship (four interns per year), a postgraduate fellowship with school-based and elder program tracks, and a year-long psychiatric nurse practitioner internship in partnership with UCSF. Its revenue model combines donations, foundation grants, and individual fundraising events (notably the annual Spectrum Gala & Art Auction) with sliding-scale client fees. Distribution is community-led, relying on partnerships with SFUSD, Bayview Hunter's Point, and UCSF, plus outreach and volunteer engagement, rather than digital channels.
The organization served more than 700 individuals with affordable care in the most recent reported year. Leadership transitioned from founder Bart Magee, Ph.D. (now Founder & Senior Advisor) to Laura E. Mason, MNA as Executive Director. Operating geography is limited to San Francisco; no app, API, or technology platform is offered.
Access Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Access Institute
- Legal name
- Access Institute for Psychological Services
- Website
- https://accessinst.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Access Institute is a San Francisco 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing low- and no-fee psychotherapy, psychiatric, and psychological assessment services to low-income residents, embedded in a Hayes Valley clinic, seven SFUSD elementary schools, and a Bayview elder care site. It also runs APA-accredited clinical training programs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Access Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Mental Health Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12) (EDAJALAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Psychiatry & Medication Management (EDALAFAC)
Keywords
Where Access Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Access Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Grants: Access Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on individual donor contributions, foundation grants, and community support to fund operations and provide sliding-scale mental health services.
- Sliding Scale Client Fees: Clients pay fees based on income and household size. Psychological assessments range from $1,200-$4,800. Therapy services are provided at low or no cost to those who cannot pay.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | One time | Psychological Assessment Services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Access Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Access Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health clinic providing low and no-fee psychotherapy, psychiatric medication evaluation and management, and psychological assessments to individuals and families in San Francisco. It also operates three nationally recognized clinical training programs — an APA-accredited Doctoral Internship Program, a Postgraduate Fellowship, and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Training Program in partnership with UCSF — and delivers services through a central Hayes Valley clinic, on-site programs at seven SFUSD elementary schools, and an elder-care partnership at the Bayview Hunter's Point Adult Day Health Center.
Product overview
Access Institute operates as a mental health services organization offering a coordinated portfolio of clinical services and training programs. The core clinical services include the Hayes Valley Clinic (providing individual, couples, family therapy, and psychiatric services), In-School Mental Health Programs at seven SFUSD elementary schools, and Elder Mental Health Programs at clinic and partner sites. Supporting these clinical services are Psychological Assessment Services (diagnostic testing for cognitive, academic, and social-emotional functioning) and Medication Evaluation and Management Services. The training division includes three programs: the APA-accredited Doctoral Internship Program (4 interns annually), the Postgraduate Fellowship (with School-based and Elder Program tracks), and the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Training Program (in partnership with UCSF).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Spectrum Gala & Art Auction: Annual fundraising gala and art auction event supporting Access Institute's mental health care programs.
Products and services
- Hayes Valley Clinic
- In-School Mental Health Program
- Elder Mental Health Program
- Psychological Assessment Services
- Medication Evaluation and Management Services
- Doctoral Internship Program
- Postgraduate Fellowship
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Training Program
Quantifiable outcome
- Served 700+ individuals with affordable mental health care in one year
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Access Institute
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Access Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Access Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- UCSF Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner ProgramscoreAccess Institute partners with UCSF PMHNP Programs to offer a year-long clinical internship for Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners seeking training in psychiatric care and psychotherapy from a psychoanalytic perspective. The program runs September to August with 16 hours/week commitment.
- San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)corePartnership with SFUSD to provide in-school mental health services at 7 elementary schools: Glen Park, Grattan, Harvey Milk, Hillcrest, John Muir, Sanchez, and Tenderloin Elementary Schools.
- Bayview Hunter's Point Adult Day Health CentercorePartnership to provide culturally sensitive, psychoanalytically-informed psychotherapy to marginalized seniors, including individual, group, and milieu therapy.
- American Psychological Association (APA)coreAccess Institute's Doctoral Internship Program is accredited by the APA's Commission on Accreditation. Next review period is 2026. Address: 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Access Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Seneca Family of Agencies: Bay Area nonprofit delivering community-based mental health and intensive school-linked services to children and families; directly comparable to Access Institute's embedded SFUSD school-based mental health program.
- Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS): San Francisco-based nonprofit providing sliding-scale mental health and social services to underserved communities; comparable mission, payment model, and clinic-based delivery to Access Institute.
- Felton Institute: San Francisco-based nonprofit delivering outpatient mental health and community-based services across multiple sites; directly comparable in mission and multi-program operating model.
- Edgewood Center for Children and Families: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit providing mental health, assessment, and therapy services for children and families; comparable as a child/family-focused clinical nonprofit with assessment offerings.
- Jewish Family & Children's Services of San Francisco: Bay Area nonprofit offering sliding-scale mental health, psychiatric, and case management services across multiple locations; directly comparable multi-site, sliding-scale outpatient model.
- Baker Places: San Francisco-based nonprofit providing mental health services to adults; directly comparable as a SF safety-net mental health provider serving low-income residents.
- Westside Community Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit offering outpatient mental health and prevention services comparable to Access Institute's community-based outpatient clinic model.
- Progress Foundation: San Francisco-based mental health nonprofit offering crisis residential and community support programs; comparable as a SF safety-net mental health organization serving low-income populations.
Broad incumbents
- UCSF Department of Psychiatry: Large academic psychiatry department that partners with Access Institute for PMHNP training; broader scope and resources, with overlapping clinical and training capabilities acting as a broader incumbent.
- Kaiser Permanente Mental Health: Large integrated health system providing mental health services throughout San Francisco; represents the broader incumbent payer/provider alongside which safety-net nonprofits like Access operate.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
Access Institute social profiles
Digital presenceAccess Institute compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Access Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Access Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Access Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Access Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Access Institute
What does Access Institute do?
Access Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mental health clinic providing low and no-fee psychotherapy, psychiatric medication evaluation and management, and psychological assessments to individuals and families in San Francisco. It also operates three nationally recognized clinical training programs — an APA-accredited Doctoral Internship Program, a Postgraduate Fellowship, and a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Training Program in partnership with UCSF — and delivers services through a central Hayes Valley clinic, on-site programs at seven SFUSD elementary schools, and an elder-care partnership at the Bayview Hunter's Point Adult Day Health Center.
Is Access Institute a public or private company?
Access Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Access Institute founded?
Access Institute was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Access Institute based?
Access Institute is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Access Institute make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Grants are the primary driver. The others are sliding Scale Client Fees.
Who are Access Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Seneca Family of Agencies, Richmond Area Multi-Services (RAMS), Felton Institute, Edgewood Center for Children and Families, Jewish Family & Children's Services of San Francisco, Baker Places, Westside Community Services and Progress Foundation. Broad incumbents are UCSF Department of Psychiatry and Kaiser Permanente Mental Health.
Does Access Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Access Institute.
What industry is Access Institute in?
Access Institute's product category is Community Mental Health Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJALAG, Mental Health Counseling & Therapy Services (K–12), with a secondary code of EDALAFAC, Psychiatry & Medication Management. Its NAICS code is 621330 and its SIC code is 8000.