Access Institute

02/12/2026

Our Spectrum Artist Highlight series continues with an artist whose work challenges power, value, and the world we are building around us. This piece will be up for auction at Spectrum on March 12th at Pier 27!

Deborah Oropallo is a nationally recognized multidisciplinary artist whose work has been exhibited at prominent national institutions including the Whitney Museum of American Art, San Francisco MoMA, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and The Jewish Museum in New York. Deborah’s work can also be viewed at the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum and SF MoMA, among others.

Originally trained as a painter, Oropallo layers photography, printmaking, video, and digital manipulation to create dense composite works where time, place, and power intersect. NO KINGS carries her signature intensity, merging historical symbolism with contemporary urgency in a composition that feels both regal and confrontational.

When asked why she supports Access Institute, her answer was direct:

“Everyone needs therapy right now. You continue to provide an invaluable service to this city. I am grateful to help in this small way.”

We look forward to seeing you for an evening of art and impact! Tickets available through the link in our bio.

02/06/2026

We are deeply honored to recognized Dr. Bart Magee, Ph.D. as our Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree at Spectrum Gala & Art Auction.

For more than 25 years, Dr. Magee has championed a simple, radical belief: that high-quality, trauma-informed mental health care is a right, not a privilege. After the closure of San Francisco’s community clinics in the early 2000s, he responded by founding Access Insitute— creating a nationally recognized model for accessible, holistic care and rigorous clinical training.

his lifelong commitment to social justice continues to shape our mission and impact countless lives.

Join us as we honor his legacy and invest in the future of accessible mental health care. See you on March 12th at Pier 27!

Tickets can be purchased through the link in our bio.

02/06/2026

01/29/2026

We are beyond honored to welcome Annabelle Gurwitch as our Guest Speaker for Spectrum 2026.

Annabelle is a New York Times bestselling author, actress, activist, and one of today’s most fearless voices at the intersection of humor, humanity, and mental health. You may know her from Dinner & a Movie, NPR, The New Yorker, The New York Times, or her beloved books including I See You Made an Effort. This spring, she releases her newest memoir, The End of My Life Is Killing Me, a bold, honest, and deeply human reflection on illness, survival, and finding joy amid uncertainty.

At the heart of Annabelle’s work is a question that mirrors our own mission at Access Institute: how do we care for ourselves and one another when life falls apart?

A lung cancer survivor and nationally recognized patient advocate, Annabelle brings lived experience, sharp wit, and profound compassion to conversations about grief, anxiety, healthcare inequity, and resilience. Beyond the page and stage, she leads writing workshops for young migrants seeking asylum through The Campfire Project, a therapeutic arts initiative supporting displaced communities through creativity, connection, and mental health care.

Her commitment to justice, access, and dignity aligns powerfully with Access Institute’s belief that mental health care should be available to everyone, regardless of income or circumstance.

You won’t just hear a speaker. You will experience a storyteller who reminds us that we are not alone.

01/26/2026

In a recent interview with Kron4, Dr. Bart Magee, Founder of Access Institute, shared thoughtful guidance on how to approach New Year’s resolutions with intention, compassion, and mental well-being in mind.

Rather than pushing ourselves toward rigid goals or comparing our lives to unrealistic standards, Dr. Magee reminds us to regain focus by coming back to ourselves. to pause. To take personal inventory. To ask what truly matters to us— not what the world or social media tells us should matter.

He encourages reframing resolutions to be smaller, kinder, and more relational, recognizing that sustainable change comes from alignment, not pressure. When our intentions reflect our values and current life circumstances, we create the capacity for bigger dreams over time. It’s about the journey, not the destination.

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the chaos of the world, disconnected from your center, this conversation is a powerful reminder that wellness begins with focus, self-trust, and compassion.

Watch the full interview at the link in our bio and hear Dr. Magee’s insights on making resolutions that truly support your mental health and happiness.

01/23/2026

🎨 Artist Highlight #1 | Spectrum 2026 ✨

We’re officially kicking off the Spectrum season with our first Artist Highlight, featuring Debra Cook Shapiro and Joey Enright—two incredible artists whose work will be up for auction at Spectrum 2026: A Night of Art, Community & Impact.

From layered collage inspired by memory and connection, to photography rooted in life between San Francisco’s iconic bridges, these artists remind us how creativity can inspire healing and bring people together.

Want a chance to bid on this artwork? Join us at Spectrum 2026.

📍 Pier 27, San Francisco
🗓 Thursday, March 12, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM VIP Reception & Silent Art Auction
⏰ 7:00 PM Dinner & Program

Tickets and sponsorships can be found through the link in our bio or visit spectrum-sf.org.

Come experience the art, the energy, and the impact—this is just the beginning.

More Artist Highlights coming soon.

01/12/2026

✨ Throwing it back to Spectrum 2024 ✨

Art. Community. Impact.
2024 Spectrum brought together artists, supporters, and mental health advocates for an unforgettable night in support of accessible care. The energy, the creativity, the shared purpose—this is what community looks like.

And we’re doing it again.

📍 Spectrum 2026: A Night of Art, Community & Impact
🗓 Thursday, March 12, 2026
📍 Pier 27, San Francisco
🕠 VIP Reception & Silent Art Auction begins at 5:30 PM
🕖 Dinner & Program to follow
👔 Cocktail attire

Spectrum 2026 marks a new chapter—celebrating renewal, honoring our roots, and continuing our mission to make trauma-informed mental health care accessible to all.

Until then, enjoy this look back at Spectrum 2024 and feel the energy that’s building once again.

Tickets are now available—link in bio.

01/10/2026

It is with deep gratitude that I write to share the results of Access Institute’s 2025 year end campaign. Thanks to your generosity and continued commitment to our mission, we raised $60,550.80 in support of affordable, community based mental health care.

Your contributions help ensure that individuals and families who need mental health support can access steady, trauma-informed care when they need it most. It also allows us to invest in the long-term strength of our field by training the next generation of community mental health professionals.

We are deeply grateful for your partnership and belief in this work. Every gift, at every level, helps build lasting pathways to healing. Together, we are nurturing a more resilient community—grounded in compassion, access, and ongoing care.

01/08/2026

SAVE THE DATE

Spectrum 2026: Gala & Art Auction
📅 March 12, 2026
📍 Pier 27, San Francisco

Join us for an unforgettable evening of art, community, and impact, supporting accessible mental health care for San Francisco. This special night will honor our founder, Dr. Bart Magee, for his visionary leadership and lifelong commitment to healing.

🎟 Sponsorships and tickets are now available.
👉 Follow the link in our bio to reserve your place.

12/12/2025

Lucia arrived in San Francisco carrying more than a backpack—she carried grief, fear, and the loss of everything familiar. Through play therapy, she found her voice, her joy, and a sense of belonging.

At Access Institute, we provide compassionate, affordable mental health care to nearly 700 children, adults, and seniors each year—people who would otherwise have nowhere else to turn.

As we close out the year, we’re raising $100,000 by December 31 to keep care accessible for everyone who needs it.

Your gift helps create safety, healing, and hope.

To donate today click the link in the bio ♥️

12/02/2025

At Access Institute, our mission is to provide vital mental health services to adults, children, and families who might not otherwise have access to care. Through our In-School Mental Health Program, our therapists work directly in elementary schools, offering free therapy to children who need a safe place to express themselves and grow.

For play therapy to be effective, our therapists need the toys and materials that bring healing to life—items that help children build stories, explore emotions, and find their voice.

This Giving Tuesday, and throughout the holiday season, we invite you to support our Toy & Therapy Supply Drive by purchasing items from our Amazon Wish List.

Every gift goes directly to children in our programs and into the hands of therapists who use these tools to create safety, connection, and hope.

Click the link in our bio to give today!

Your generosity helps us create moments of comfort, joy and hope. Thank you for standing with us this Giving Tuesday.

11/12/2025

Welcome the Nurse Practitioner Class of 2025–2026

We’re excited to welcome PD Wang-Santos and Nida Goheer, our new Doctoral Nurse Practitioner trainees, to Access Institute.

In partnership with UCSF’s Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Program, our year-long NP training offers an in-depth, psychoanalytically-oriented approach to psychiatric care. Through this program, trainees gain experience providing psychotherapy and medication management while learning within a model that values human complexity, sustained growth, and socially-conscious practice.

Join us in celebrating PD and Nida as they begin their training year dedicated to expanding access to high-quality, compassionate mental health care for our community. 💙