The LIFESCAPE Study

LGBTQIA+ Initiative For Empowerment, Support, Coping, and PTSD Education

LGBTQIA+ communities' experiences have not been centered in PTSD research. Let's change that.

About the LIFESCAPE Study: LIFESCAPE is a research study comparing two counseling treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We are investigating which treatment works best for improving wellbeing and reducing PTSD symptoms among LGBTQIA+ people.

The treatments in this study are available in English and Spanish (the anticipated enrollment for the Spanish treatments is May 2025).

LGBTQIA+ communities often face significant trauma and stigma. Trauma and PTSD can hurt our lives, our sense of self, and our mental health. But trauma-focused treatment and LGBTQIA+ affirming support can help.

What happens if I participate?

If you participate:

You will receive free trauma-focused therapy: If you participate, you will receive free one-on-one, in-person or telehealth therapy from an LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist from the Alliance Health Project. Therapy will be delivered once a week for about 3-4 months.

You will complete surveys: You will be asked to complete four surveys over a 12-month period (1 before therapy begins and 3 surveys over time after therapy begins)

You will be paid $300 total for completing all surveys. There is no cost to participate.

Who is eligible to participate?

Call today to see if you are eligible to participate: (650) 497-7112.

You may be eligible if you meet the following requirements:

You identify as LGBTQIA+
You live in the state of California
You are 18 years old or older
You have experienced trauma or have PTSD
You speak English or Spanish

What is PTSD?

People often experience a range of emotions and difficulties during and after scary, dangerous, or extremely upsetting events. Examples of traumatic events include experiences of violence, abuse, natural disasters, or car accidents. It is normal to feel overwhelmed after these kinds of experiences.

After traumatic experiences, some develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Some people may develop PTSD soon after experiencing the trauma while others may develop it later.

PTSD is a mental health condition that involves symptoms like flashbacks, emotional distress, negative thoughts and beliefs, hypervigilance, relationship problems, and more.

If you think you may have PTSD and are interested in joining the LIFESCAPE Study, please call (650) 497-7112. If you are looking for mental health and LGBTQIA+-affirming resources, please visit the Resources page of our site.

If you need immediate support or care, please call 911 or 988.

About Cognitive Processing Therapy

CPT is an effective treatment for PTSD. It is a trauma-focused therapy that teaches skills to examine and change negative thoughts and helps you process — or work through — the emotions related to specific traumatic events. CPT teaches you how to evaluate and change the upsetting thoughts you have had since your trauma. By changing your thoughts, you can change how you feel.

CPT requires about 12 hours for in-person or telehealth therapy plus time outside of therapy to complete weekly activities (up to or around 30 minutes per day). Every week during therapy, you complete a PTSD checklist to monitor symptoms, and this takes about 10 minutes to complete.

About STAIR Narrative Therapy

SNT is an effective treatment for PTSD. It is a multi-component therapy that teaches you how to better manage your emotions and how to improve your relationships. These are skills that traumas often disrupt or wear down over time. By learning these skills, you will improve your functioning and ability to cope with day-to-day stressors. SNT also explores the impact of your trauma on your beliefs about yourself and relationships.

SNT requires about 16 hours for in-person or telehealth therapy plus time outside of therapy to complete weekly activities (up to or around 30 minutes per day). Every week during therapy, you complete a PTSD checklist to monitor symptoms, and this takes about 10 minutes to complete.

Community Engagement in LIFESCAPE

When we started this study, we learned that the lack of research on PTSD among LGBTQIA+ people made it difficult to advocate for needed policies, for providers to provide the best possible care for LGBTQIA+ people, and for patients to access needed care.

We are grateful to be working with the LIFESCAPE Patient Leadership Team. This is a team of LGBTQIA+ patient advocates from California who are sharing their expertise, insights, and experiences to guide the design, implementation, and dissemination of this research so LIFESCAPE may be useful to LGBTQIA+ people with PTSD who are seeking mental health care.

We are also grateful to be working with the LIFESCAPE Stakeholder Advisory Board. This advisory board is comprised of healthcare advocates, representative of LGBTQIA+-serving clinics across the country, stakeholders in payor systems, and stakeholders in major health systems. This advisory board is working with us throughout this research project to inform the design, implementation, and dissemination of this research.

LIFESCAPE is funded by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Clinical trials registration: NCT06367764