Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Anne Kieran, PsyD.
Hi Rachel Anne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey to founding StorieBrook started like so many stories do — with a question: What would it look like if therapy truly honored every part of who we are?
I began as a clinical psychologist in more traditional settings, but I quickly realized that much of the mental-health system was built for the majority — and not for those of us living at the intersections of queerness, neurodivergence, disability, body diversity, and alternative spiritualities. Over time, I saw that many clients weren’t struggling because they were “broken,” but because the world wasn’t built to fit them.
That realization inspired me to create StorieBrook Therapy & Consulting, a practice grounded in cultural humility, community, and collaboration. What started as a small private practice has grown into a collective space that offers affirming therapy, professional training, and a sense of belonging for those who often feel like the “rainbow sheep” in their families or communities.
More recently, that vision has expanded into two companion projects: The StorieBrook Foundation for Mental Health Access, which raises funds to dismantle financial barriers to affirming mental-health care, and StorieTree Professional Education, our educational branch offering workshops and training for providers on affirming practice. Together, they represent the heart of my mission — helping people find and shape their stories in ways that honor their wholeness.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth is not the word I’d use — meaningful, yes; but not always smooth, no.
As a neurodiverse introvert and PSYPACT provider who was already interested in telepsychology, the pandemic years were actually less difficult for me than for many others. I found ways to adapt, and in some ways, virtual work fit my natural rhythms. What’s been harder has been watching the world grow increasingly polarized — seeing hatred and fear platformed against the very communities I’ve dedicated my life to supporting. That takes a real toll. It can make it difficult to keep believing that the work matters, but I’ve learned that this is exactly when it matters most: when compassion and connection feel most under threat.
Another significant challenge has been finding a physical space that truly embodies our values — a place that is supportive, accessible, warm, and welcoming, yet still financially sustainable in a field where we also strive to make therapy affordable and inclusive. It took patience, creativity, and community collaboration to bring that vision to life, but it was worth every obstacle. Our current space now reflects what StorieBrook stands for — a practice rooted in community and authenticity, where everyone who walks through the door feels they belong.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
StorieBrook Therapy & Consulting offers affirming therapy and consultation for sexual, gender, and relational diversity; neurodiversity; disability; and body liberation. We specialize in creating bespoke, collaborative spaces where clients can explore their stories — not as problems to fix, but as paths to wholeness and meaning.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to intersectionality, accessibility, and community care. We don’t just provide therapy; we nurture connection. Our community room serves as a gathering place for workshops, restorative yoga, support groups, and creative events that remind people that healing doesn’t have to be a solitary process. It’s a space built for belonging — for people who have too often been told they don’t fit anywhere.
Our Foundation for Mental Health Access extends that mission by collecting donations to directly reimburse therapists for providing care to marginalized clients — because affirming care should be a right, not a privilege. And StorieTree Professional Education is our growing educational branch, offering professional trainings and collaborative learning experiences that bridge therapy, affirmation, spirituality, and social justice.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that people describe StorieBrook as “a place that feels like exhaling.” That’s what we strive for — to be a space where authenticity, care, and community flow together.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is authenticity — the freedom to live and connect as our whole selves, not the edited versions the world demands of us.
Authenticity is the thread that runs through everything we do at StorieBrook. It’s about showing up real — messy, joyful, uncertain, grieving, growing — and knowing that you don’t have to perform to belong. But I also recognize that authenticity isn’t equally available to everyone. The freedom to live openly, safely, and truthfully is a privilege denied to so many, and that inequity has profound effects on both mental and physical health.
That’s why our work is as much about justice as it is about healing. Creating spaces where people can safely be themselves — in therapy, in community, in their daily lives — is a form of resistance and repair. Our practice, our community room, our Foundation, and our education efforts all exist to expand access to that freedom: to make authenticity possible for everyone, not just those who already have safety and support.
For me, authenticity, justice, and community are inseparable. When we are rooted in those values, we not only heal individually — we help shape a world where everyone has the chance to be whole.
Pricing:
- Sliding fee scale available
- Insurance billing available
- Low cost therapy available
- Space rental available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.storiebrook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiebrooktx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiebrooktx/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/storiebrook/
