Queer Affirming Mental Health Provider Queer Affirming Autism Specialized Therapist Queer Affirming Psychiatrist Queer Affirming Pediatric Therapist
Because finding affirming care shouldn’t feel impossible.
Finding affirming mental health support shouldn’t feel like navigating a minefield of vague promises and hidden agendas. With QueerPsych, it’s as simple as naming what matters most and connecting with providers we’ve already vetted—no conversion therapy, no harm.
Not all providers are created equal–
Especially when it comes to finding mental health professionals who actually understand the nuances of Queer and neurodivergent life. Trying to find someone who will help you navigate complex trauma, sexuality, relationships, unparenting, and more means whoever you select needs to wear a lot of hats. And it can make you shut down before you’ve even gotten through the first few links the internet spits out at you.
As queer and neurodivergent individuals ourselves, we understand the countless hours sifting through clinician profiles, wondering if this person was a safe gamble, hopping from therapist to therapist, and even at times, giving up! And this–this right here is the reason QueerPsych exists.
It all started with a very unhappy ending.
As much as it hurts to say, this story starts like many queer stories, with a life lost too young.
Our founder, Tara Shapiro, lost her cousin, Alana, to suicide after years of trauma caused by religious indoctrination and conversion therapy. Although affirming mental health care was eventually provided, it came along too late to save Alana. And with that, Tara and her family founded the Alana Faith Chen Foundation to ensure every queer person at risk of suicide has access to the mental health treatment and therapy they need.
But as the foundation grew and grew, Tara noticed there were so many queer people not yet in crisis who vitally needed queer-affirming mental health care to ensure they never did become in crisis. However, finding a provider who would be safe and affirming was next to impossible. And that answer is unacceptable. After turning the internet upside down, trying to find providers for the ever-growing list of Queer individuals who needed support, Tara eventually stopped looking for a solution and created one instead.
Welcome to the World,
We may not be able to fix all the world's problems, but we certainly can fix our little corner of it.
Since then QueerPsych has grown and now has a strong team of Queer Humans at the helm to ensure Queer Individuals everywhere can connect with a 2SLGBTQIA+ and Neuro-Affirming Mental Health Professional. But how can we know that our network of providers is as affirming as we say?
Thanks to our QueerPsych verification team, every provider in our network has been personally verified to ensure they meet our strict verification standards.
Meet Our QueerTeam
Meet Our QueerTeam
Meet Our QueerTeam
She/Her
Tara Shapiro
Founder
Tara’s passion throughout her work is to use her own story and the stories of countless others in the LGBTQ+ community to support, inspire, and grow together. Social justice action is a part of her DNA; she fights for those who cannot fight for themselves and recognizes this as a privilege.
In addition to her role at QueerPsych, Tara is also the President and Co-founder of the Alana Faith Chen Foundation. AFCF is a 501c3 nonprofit that offers free to low-cost therapeutic grants for those in the LGBTQ+ community suffering from SI and other serious mental health concerns who cannot afford the help they deserve.
She/They
Molly Hicks
Marketing Director
From helping all Queer people everywhere discover QueerPsych, to keeping the flow of all the behind-the-scenes tech things, Molly is the strategic mind that keeps the flow going. As a bipolar, autistic, and Tourretic human–Molly understands firsthand how important safe and affirming mental health care is to Queer and Neurodivergent individuals.
Outside of QueerPsych, Molly is a business consultant for neurodivergent business owners and brand strategist in their Lincoln, Nebraska, office. When not typing frantically behind the computer or in a Video Conference, you’ll find them playing some iteration of Pokemon with their kiddo or spending some hard-to-carve-out quality time with their partner.
She/Her
Sami Fong
Community Engagement & Brand Strategy Manager
From designing vibrant brands to building brave, inclusive spaces, Sami brings grounded creativity and deep heart to every part of QueerPsych. As a multiracial, queer artist and branding consultant, she now leads all things member experience—onboarding, community building, and making sure every queer clinician feels seen, supported, and celebrated. Her work as co-founder of the Queer Conscious Collective and Makers & Mics reflects that same core mission: community care with intention and joy.
Outside of QueerPsych, Sami is a creative director and brand consultant helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs tell their stories with clarity and soul. When not shaping community magic or reimagining brand strategy, she’s likely creating art, playlist-hopping, or laughing too hard with her chosen family over a perfectly chaotic dinner table.
They/Them
Nia Patterson
Social Media Consultant
From crafting scroll-stopping content to keeping our messaging aligned and intentional, Nia is the strategic creative behind QueerPsych’s social media presence. As a passionate brand marketing professional, they bring a deep understanding of purpose-driven storytelling and community-centered visibility. Nia ensures our online spaces reflect the care, nuance, and power of queer mental health professionals doing the work.
Outside of QueerPsych, Nia partners with mission-led brands to build authentic marketing strategies that connect and convert—without the burnout. When they’re not planning content or analyzing algorithms, you’ll find them advocating for social justice, caring for their beloved pets, or recharging with close friends and intentional conversation.
The world may feel like it’s crumbling–but our commitment to social justice stands firm.
At QueerPsych, our commitment to social responsibility runs deep. We acknowledge that society has many systemic flaws that must be addressed, and we are committed to helping that happen.
We accept that, as humans, we learn from our mistakes, and when presented with those mistakes, we will make every effort to understand and challenge ourselves to do better because we can always do better. We want to identify a way to improve, and we’d love to hear from you!
Supporting Organizations That Support Us
Supporting Queer community members in crisis gain access to mental health
We are proud to support the Alana Faith Chen Foundation, an organization dedicated to positively impacting the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals. Their mission ensures that every Queer person has access to the mental health resources and care they rightfully deserve at the times when they need it most.
QueerPsych contributes 10% of all new memberships to help ensure that everyone has access to the mental health resources and care they deserve.