Support Groups to Help Gay and Bisexual Men
Stay HIV-Negative
AHP’s REACH (Risk Evaluation and Counseling for Health) Program offers both drop-in and ongoing support groups to help gay and bisexual men stay uninfected.
Drop-In Groups take place every week, and participants can show up as often as they want—without registering or having an intake interview. REACH offers a drop-in group for HIV-negative or untested men and a Sex, Drugs, and Alcohol drop-in group (also known as the Reality Check Group), which is open to men regardless of whether they are HIV-positive, HIV-negative, or untested.
Ongoing Groups take place weekly, generally for 14 weeks. To register for a group, prospective members must be able to commit to attending all the sessions of the group. They must also complete a REACH “intake” assessment, an appointment with a REACH counselor where the member’s needs (and the possibilities of the REACH program meeting those needs) are discussed. Ongoing groups have closed membership; that is, no new members enter the group after its first week. These groups include: Man-to-Man groups, general support groups for HIV-negative men; and Sex and Sobriety groups, designed for HIV-positive or HIV-negative men who currently have at least three months of sobriety from alcohol and all drugs.
FAQ about REACH Support Groups
Groups for Gay and Bisexual Men Regardless of HIV Status
AHP offers prevention-focused support groups for gay and bisexual men regardless of HIV status. These groups focus primarily on substance abuse, sex, and intimacy. Two are offered by REACH; one is offered by AHP’s AIDS and Substance Abuse Program (ASAP).
Sex and Sobriety
14-week group. Sex and Sobriety focuses on topics such as navigating sober sex and attaining emotional intimacy. For gay and bisexual men, regardless of whether they are HIV-positive, HIV-negative, or untested, with at least six months of current, continuous sobriety. For information call 415-476-3902.
Meditation Drop-In Group
Currently not meeting.
Reality Check Drop-In Group
Sex, Drugs, and Alcohol
Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The Reality Check Drop-In Group is for gay and bisexual men—HIV-positive or HIV-negative—who are abstaining from their drug of choice or trying to do so. The group offers an opportunity for participants to create a sober sexuality, deal with HIV disclosure and safer sex, or learn how to handle loneliness and intimacy. The group is a non-judgmental space to talk about ways in which sex or relationships can trigger and affect drug use and influence overall well-being. To learn more, call 415-476-3902, or drop in.
ASAP Drop-In Group
Thursdays , 10:30 am to 12:00 noon. The ASAP Drop-In Group is for people with substance use concerns, especially related to living with HIV or staying HIV-negative. Topics often include: strategies for harm reduction, maintaining physical health, and dealing with depression and other emotional issues. There is no needs-assessment interview or registration required. Please arrive five to ten minutes prior to group start time and check in at the front desk.
SNAP Talk! Support for Gay and Bi Men Who are New to San Francisco
Thursdays from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.Young gay men move to San Francisco all the time. But, being new to the city isn't easy. Finding a job, an apartment, friends, or a boyfriend all can be tough.Young gay newcomers often say they feel disconnected and isolated. All of this can make them more vulnerable to not-so-healthy coping strategies such as substance abuse and HIV-related risk behaviors. SNAP Talk! is a weekly drop-in group for gay and bi men in their twenties and thirties who are new to San Francisco or the Bay Area and who want to talk about sex, jobs, boyfriends, roommates, HIV and other STDs, and anything else about getting settled here.
SNAP Talk! meets at the LGBT Center, 1800 Market Street, San Francisco, and is open to participants regardless of HIV status. The group is co-facilitated by a counselor from AHP and a staff member of SNAP. Participants can show up without registering, or call 415-865-5614 for more information.
SNAP Talk! is a collaboration of the REACH Program of AHP and the San Francisco Newcomers' Assistance Program (SNAP) of the LGBT Center. SNAP offers numerous social and other programs for gay, bi, and trans men who are new to living in San Francisco.
Groups for HIV-Negative and Untested Gay and Bisexual Men
REACH offers a variety of support groups for HIV-negative and untested gay men. These groups include a weekly drop-in group and Man-to-Man groups.
HIV-Negative Drop-In Group
Wednesdays, 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The HIV-Negative Drop-In Group offers a forum for gay and bisexual men to talk about safer sex, HIV testing, isolation, and other HIV-related issues. Drop in to the group or call 415-476-3902.
Man to Man: Groups for HIV-Negative Gay and Bisexual Men
Various Times. Man-to-Man groups, which run 14 weeks and occur on various nights, offer participants the chance to talk with other men about dating, sex, relationships, isolation, and other HIV-related issues. To learn more, call 415-476-3902.
