Mental Health and Collective Health Resources for Latine Theater Artists
We know that being a theater artist in New York City means navigating uncertainty, pressure, and a constant push to keep creating – even when your mental health needs attention.
This guide was created with care for our community: a collection of grants, directories, therapists, healing spaces, and podcasts that center the mental health needs of Latine indie theater artists.
Whether you’re looking for financial support for therapy, a competent mental health provider, or a space to reconnect with yourself or others – these resources are here to help you.
You deserve care. You deserve rest. You deserve healing.
We hope this guide helps make that a little more possible.
Grants and Funding Resources for Mental Health and Access-Centered Care
IndieSpace Mental Health Grant – The IndieSpace Mental Health grant awards individual indie theater artists $500 grants to use toward therapy, medication, meditation classes, and any other mental health-related costs. As the number of grant requests outnumbers our budget, we hold an opportunity drawing at the end of each month. It is our hope that by providing this financial resource, we can help remove barriers that prevent artists from seeking and receiving the care, support, and information they need to care for their mental health.
Alejandre Foundation Therapy Dinero - Grants for eight therapy sessions at $100 per session to individuals and families in the Latinx community, regardless of immigration status. The grant may open again in 2025 for its next round.
Inclusive Therapists BIPOC Therapy Fund - Funds are open to people who are seeking therapy for the first time and support 12 sessions. The application is closed through June 2025 but is accepting signups for when the grant opens again.
HealthWell Foundation – Provides financial assistance to people living with chronic or life-altering illnesses, including mental health conditions. If you qualify, they may cover co-pays or premiums.
The Psychotherapy for All Fund - Offers a reduced fee therapy program and a therapy equity program especially focused on supporting individuals from historically marginalized communities.
Entertainment Community Fund Artists Health Insurance Resource Center – Every Artist Insured provides individual enrollment consultations; webinars on Affordable Care Act plans, Medicaid and Medicare; and enrollment assistance.
NYC-Based Mental Health Resources and Therapists
ZenCare – A directory of New York City-area therapists who specialize in artists’ mental health.
Jessica Garet - Licensed Clinical Social Worker and first generation Latina specializing in body-centered therapy. With a background in the arts and vocal performance, she brings a unique and creative perspective to her practice, particularly in supporting those who walk the path of creativity. Provides therapy in English and Spanish.
Bob Montero - Licensed Clinical Social Worker currently seeing adult clients online. He brings his history of working as a business owner in the music recording industry and breadth of experience that has helped business professionals and artists feel better understood and validated. Provides therapy in English and Spanish.
Tyrone Grandison - Specializes in relational therapy within the sports, arts, and entertainment industries, improving performance and execution of the artists and athletes. Provides therapy in English and Haitian Creole.
Rebecca Rodas - Specialties include trauma, LGBTQ+ identity exploration, anxiety, depression, non-monogamous relationships, and creativity. She is passionate about using art therapy to help people heal from trauma, express themselves creatively, explore emotions, and cope with grief. Provides therapy in English and Spanish.
Jessica Cabrera - Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in New York State. Provides therapy in English and Spanish.
Natalie Asalgado - Latine social worker and psychotherapist who works with young adults exploring what their race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality mean to them. Some of her clients are also experiencing anxiety and depression, adjusting to new environments, or improving their communication with loved ones. Provides therapy in English and Spanish.
Creatives Care – A New York City nonprofit that provides free, personalized guidance and referrals for artists and creatives seeking mental health treatment.
Low Cost Therapy NYC – A comprehensive guide to different kinds of low-cost therapy services in New York City.
211 – 211 New York is a free, confidential service that connects residents to local health and human services across the state. Available 24/7 by phone, text, or online, it assists with needs like housing, food, mental health care, and more. Simply dial 2-1-1 or visit 211newyork.org to find support in your area.
988 (fka NYC Well) – 988 is New York City’s mental health hotline covering everything from immediate suicide prevention and crisis counseling, to referrals to further resources. You can call the hotline, text, or chat with an operator via the website. Operators are available 24/7 in more than 200 languages. You can also call 988 to request a Mobile Crisis Team for yourself or another person.
Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Performing Artist - Official specialty provider for the Metropolitan Opera, Battery Park Dance and the Local 802 Musicians Union and also provides care for cast and crew members of the area’s theater, television and film community, as well as students enrolled at The Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music and Marymount College and their alumni. Artists can get treatment for voice disorders, physical symptoms, physical injuries, neurological disorders, anxiety and other conditions.
La Casa de Salud - Bronx-based, bilingual primary health care centers offering integrated Primary Care, Behavioral Health & Addiction services to help individuals of all ages achieve physical and mental wellness. Accepts most insurances and offers sliding scale fees. Undocumented and uninsured patients are welcome.
National Mental Health Resources and Counseling Directories
Inclusive Therapists – A social justice and liberation-oriented mental health directory, community, and resource hub that centers on the intersections of racial, 2SLGBTQIA+, Neurodivergence, and Disability Justice.
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective – A nonprofit that provides low-cost therapy services to those who do not have health insurance, or whose insurance lacks adequate mental health coverage.
Latinx Therapy - Offers a directory of therapists and psychiatrists as well as immigration evaluation providers, and wellness resources.
Lower Cost Prescription Drugs – There are a number of resources for finding lower-cost prescription drugs. These vary in accessibility and affordability. Some are also funded by drug manufacturers, which makes them complicated. Two resources that are generally accepted as helpful are GoodRx and NeedyMeds.
Healing Spaces and Resources
LxNY | Latinx Arts Consortium of New York - Intersectional network of Latinx-serving cultural organizations based in New York City with the mission to foster knowledge exchange, resource-sharing, and collective action towards systemic change.
NAMI NYC Spanglish Virtual Support Group - Virtual, bimonthly support group in both English and Spanish for adults who identify as Hispanic, Latina, Latine, or Latino and are living with mental health issues. Offers support for those experiencing unique challenges like concerns about seeking help due to undocumented status.
NAMI NYC De Persona a Persona - Free 8-week course in Spanish for adults living with mental health conditions who want to better understand their condition and start the road to recovery.
The Clemente - The Clemente is a Puerto Rican and Latinx cultural space rooted in the Lower East Side to connect and co-create with contemporary artists, cultural workers and small arts organizations by offering subsidized studios, exhibition, rehearsal, office and venue spaces.
El Taller - Community-based non-profit arts and education institution bridging the gap between Latin and North Americans through the language of art, dance, and music and offering its community Spanish language classes, arts programming, and music.
Mexican Coalition for the Empowerment of Youth and Families - Offers the Confidant Friend Program that brings psychologists from universities in Central America and Mexico to offer emotional counseling for people going through complex situations and needing support.
Current Latine Support Podcasts and Videos
Latinx Therapy - Explores culturally relevant topics like generational trauma, mental health barriers, self-care, and personal growth. Hosted by Latinx mental health professionals and provides relatable conversations and actionable insights to help you prioritize your well-being. Episodes in English and Spanish.
Latina to Latina - Host Alicia Menendez talks to remarkable Latinas about making it, faking it, and everything in between. Features interviews with artists, journalists, creative executives, entertainment attorneys.
Se Regalan Dudas - Spanish-language podcast hosted by two friends who chat with specialists to help make informed decisions on the endless path called self love.
Entiende Tu Mente - Popular Spanish-language podcast hosted by two psychologists to share ideas that help listeners understand themselves better and make changes in their day-to-day lives.
Fritanga by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation - Cultural convening for Latinos to find comfort, connection, information, identity, and inspiration by exploring what makes us so complicatedly compelling and how to move forward with greater unity.
Locatora Radio - Hosted by two friends, this podcast breaks down pop culture, current events, and feminism through nuanced interviews with Latinx creatives and artists.
Archived Latine Support Podcasts and Videos
While these resources are not actively updated, they may be helpful for you.
HEROINE with Majo Molfino - Features female experts and authors in creativity, leadership, business, feminism, and personal growth about their own journeys and what they’ve learned along the way.
[Draws in Spanish] - Latinx visual artists explore their creative journeys and how they got to where they are today. Host and Chilean-American illustrator Fabiola Lara brings humor and empathy to the conversation, uncovering how the artist’s culture and Latinx identity informs their artwork.
The Buena Salud® Guide to Understanding Depression and Enjoying Life - Downloadable as both English and Spanish PDFs, this book addresses depression, self esteem, and treatment options while acknowledging many Hispanics’ core beliefs and values and the factors that keep people from seeking help for depression.
National Latino Behavioral Health Association Mental Health Toolkit - Contains fact sheets, infographics, booklets, and resources about mental health and the challenges faced by Hispanics and Latinos. Downloadable in both English and Spanish.
Disclaimer:
This guide includes resources and providers that have been recommended to us by members of our community. While we’ve done our best to share supportive and reputable options, IndieSpace is not affiliated with and does not formally endorse any of the organizations, practitioners, or services listed here. We encourage you to do your own research and choose the options that feel right for you.
If you have feedback on this guide or would like to share a resource, please contact IndieSpace at communications@indiespace.org. We appreciate it!