About
Getting mental healthcare can be such an arduous process, especially since good behavioral healthcare really depends on having a good rapport with your therapist/counselor/etc. As a queer/trans Asian-American, I'm still trying to find a culturally responsive provider that also takes my insurance. Some kind people on Lex were willing to share the resources they use. While I have not been able to vet all these resources personally, I am choosing to trust in our community to keep us safe. Links below are mostly in the LA area. Very much a work in progress, drop me a line if you have any resources you personally recommend!
New to mental health wellness? Start here!
Types of TherapyWhen starting a search for a therapist, it can be really hard to tell who you'll vibe with or what modalities(therapy styles) you'll mesh well with. Psychology Today, which is a therapist directory, provides a starting list of the types of therapies that are available and practiced. It's not comprehensive, since the field of therapy expands every day with new findings, but it's a good place to start! Personally, I have benefitted from these practices: discussing attachment styles, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR, internal family systems, mindfulness, and more. Good luck!
The ADHD Analog Brain ToolThe ADHD Analog Brain Tool is a choose-your-own-adventure style toolkit to help you break through the executive dysfunction that can happen sometimes for people with ADHD. If you have something you want to do but you're having trouble getting started, use this tool! If you're having trouble even figuring out what you want to do, this tool can help you identify what you're feeling and where to go from there! Try it out! Vetted by a friend.
Organizations
LA LGBT CenterThe Los Angeles LGBT Center has 9 facilities across LA and has a wide range of support services that they offer. They have health services, social services, and housing support along with community events, advocacy, and leadership opportunities.
Trans Lounge"Welcome to Trans* Lounge, the Los Angeles LGBT Center’s groundbreaking empowerment program for social connection and support, serving the TGI/ENBY+ (Trans, Gender Non-Conforming, Intersex, Non-Binary, Gender Expansive) communities!" Gonna check this one out soon, so more info to come!
Directories
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color NetworkThe National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is a healing justice organization that actively works to transform mental health for queer and trans people of color in North America. Healing justice includes practitioner development, a QTPOC Mental Health Practitioner Directory, their mental health fund, and more. Mainly, I've been checking out their Mental Health Directory.
ZocdocNOT SPECIFICALLY QUEER; just a tool to find local doctors in various departments that take your insurance. Not limited to mental health either.
Asian Mental Health CollectiveNOT SPECIFICALLY QUEER; there are a number of gender expansive Asian therapists listed on their directory -46 based in the US actually AND there's a number of languages spoken. Even cantonese! Really hoping this one works out for me personally, once I finish my war against my shit insurance.
Inclusive Therapists"Inclusive Therapists offers a safer, simpler way to find a culturally responsive, LGBTQ+ affirming, social justice-oriented therapist. We center the needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and 2SLGBTQIA+ intersections (QTBIPOC). We amplify the voices and expressions of Neurodivergent and Disabled Communities of Color. We are a mental health liberation movement creating change through decolonial education, collective care, and activism." Vetted by a friend, thanks James!
Open Path Collective"Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nonprofit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office and online mental health care—at a steeply reduced rate—to clients in need." Sessions can be between the $30-60 range for individuals and $30-80 range for couples, but that's just been my own search results, yours may vary! Vetted by a friend, thanks James!
Community
Cuties LAAt this point in time, Cuties Los Angeles is a Black-femme owned virtual and socially distanced outdoor events organizer. Some community events they've organized include meditation sessions, community clinics, and poetry nights. I've been to the poetry nights, and they're a cozy space. Being able to access community is so important for your mental health and this is a really good space!
Reach LA"Where young LGBTQ people of color use creative arts, health/wellness, personal development and social enterprise to increase self sustainability." Recommended by LEX! Also, I just saw that they host gamer nights every Wednesday, so that's kinda banger...
VIP's LGBT+ ClinicThe Violence Intervention Program is an LA-based resource for anyone undergoing family violence and sexual assault, but have expanded their reach. Vetted by a LEX user for their mental health resources, but they're more than that so I'm listing them here as a community thing.
Matilija Lending LibraryThe Matilija Lending Library, located in El Monte, is a community library, bookstore, and creative space centering BIPOC stories. They host numerous community events, from Mid-Autumn celebrations to grief writing workshops to game nights! Vetted by a friend, thanks James! They really enjoyed this one and I know a lot of my friends want to check this place out. Show up for your local no-profit organizations!
Latinx Equality AllianceLEA is a nonprofit organization that advocates for the "equity, safety, and wellness" of Latinx LGBTQ+ people and they also host numerous events in LA! At the time of writing, they re putting together a Calavera LGBTQ Festival, with drag performances and altar making events. Really cool organization I found out about through work!
Queer Asian Social ClubQASC is a community organization for Queer Asians (meaning APIDA + SWA) to gather together. They host mental health workshops biweekly and put together lots of really fun programming. The beach day they hosted was really fun! I've personally checked out the vibes, and I liked it.
Practitioner
Niko Tiare, Peer CounselorFrom her site: "Niko Cariño Tiare (pronouns: they and she) is a queer, transgender, Filipina/Boricua based in so-called New Mexico. Since 2013, she has worked in 4 LGBT Centers primarily focusing on identity development, empowerment, and crisis counseling, especially in Black and Indigenous young people of color ages 18-24. They believe that community care can transform lives."
Rae Amirian, LCSW"[They are] a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Mental Health from the University of Southern California. I have treated children, teens, and young adults struggling with depression, anxiety, substance use, past trauma, and those wanting to further explore their sexual orientation and gender identity." Recommendation from LEX!
Sam Weiss, Clinical director/therapist"Sam is the kind of therapist that will lovingly validate your experience AND give you skills to move through the challenges that you’re facing. He sees your strength and knows the self-trust, confidence, and vibrancy on the other side of what you’re going through. Sam is a trans-man and is also an LGBT-affirmative therapist. Sam uses his experience with his own gender journey to help individuals make stronger connections to their own sense of gender and sexuality." Recommendation from LEX!