Queer Asterisk

What Queer Asterisk does

Queer Asterisk is a Colorado-based nonprofit mental health organization founded in 2014 by Sorin Thomas and two fellow Naropa University graduate students, officially beginning operations in 2016. The organization provides queer and trans-affirming counseling, educational trainings, and community programs, serving LGBTQ+ individuals across Colorado via telehealth and limited in-person sessions at its Boulder and Denver offices.

The company's core offerings are organized into three service lines: Counseling Services (individual, relationship, family, youth, and gender-affirming therapy using evidence-based modalities including CBT, DBT, EMDR, somatic, transpersonal, and feminist approaches, plus WPATH letter-writing sessions), Educational Trainings (custom learning experiences priced at $500/hour for mental health organizations, schools, hospitals, corporations, and addiction recovery centers, with CEU certificates for clinicians), and Community Programs (free and low-cost groups, workshops, and social events, suggested donation $5-$15). Technology underpinning delivery consists of a standard telehealth video platform and clinical practice management systems; no proprietary AI/ML capabilities are evident.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure combining fee-for-service clinical revenue ($150 standard session rate, sliding scale starting at $75, in-network with Aetna, Anthem/BCBS, Cigna, ComPsych, Humana, Kaiser, Optum, United Healthcare, Medicare, and Medicaid), professional services revenue from training, donations and grants (EIN 81-2883822), and donation-supported community programming. Customer acquisition is community-led — primarily through word-of-mouth, LGBTQ+ community partnerships, and organic social — supplemented by direct sales of trainings to enterprise buyers. Founded in Boulder and operating across Colorado, the organization reports serving 1,000+ clients and conducting 1,000+ monthly counseling sessions, with staff size reported as 1-10 employees including three directors, clinical counselors, interns, and administrative support.

Name

Queer Asterisk

Legal name

Queer Asterisk

Website

https://queerasterisk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Queer Asterisk is a Colorado-based nonprofit providing queer and trans-affirming counseling, educational trainings, and community programs to LGBTQ+ individuals, primarily delivered via telehealth and in-person in Boulder and Denver.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Educational Services (611), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Outpatient Mental Health Clinics & Counseling Centers (HLAFACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

General Mental Health Therapy Platforms (Talk Therapy) (HLALAEAA), Couples & Family Therapy Teletherapy Platforms (HLALAEAG)

Keywords

• Queer counseling services
• Mental health therapy
• Gender-affirming care
• Clinical supervision services
• LGBTQ+ community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Clinical Counseling Services: Revenue from individual, relationship, and family counseling sessions. Standard rate is $150 per 53-minute session. In-network with major insurance providers including Aetna, Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, ComPsych, Humana, Kaiser, Optum, and United Healthcare, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. Sliding scale starting at $75/session for those not using insurance.
2. Educational Training Services: Custom training programs for organizations, schools, corporations, and healthcare providers on queer-affirming practices. Rate is $500 per hour, with recommended three-hour minimum for fundamentals training.
3. Community Programs: Free and low-cost community groups, workshops, and social events offered by suggested donation of $5-15 per group/event. Some programs are free. Virtual groups open to all regardless of location.
4. Donations and Grants: Nonprofit funding through individual donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships. EIN 81-2883822. Annual fundraising campaigns such as the Tending the Soil Fund for Queer Growth campaign.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Queer Asterisk delivers queer and trans-affirming mental health counseling (individual, couples, family, and youth therapy), custom educational trainings for mental health organizations, schools, hospitals, and corporations, and free or low-cost community programs including support groups and workshops. Clinical services use evidence-based modalities such as somatic, CBT, DBT, EMDR, and contemplative therapies; training services are priced at $500/hour with CEU certificates; counseling sessions are $150 (sliding scale from $75) and the organization is in-network with major insurers including Medicaid and Medicare.

Product overview

Queer Asterisk is a nonprofit mental health organization offering a suite of queer and trans-affirming services centered around three core offerings: Counseling Services (individual, youth, relationship, and family therapy using evidence-based modalities), Educational Trainings (custom professional development for organizations with CEU certificates), and Community Programs (free and low-cost groups, workshops, and social events open to LGBTQIA+ individuals regardless of location). Additional services include therapy groups, WPATH letter-writing sessions for gender-affirming care, and clinical supervision for mental health professionals. The organization operates on a sliding scale fee model and accepts various insurance plans including Medicaid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Counseling Services Queer-affirming mental health counseling for individuals, couples, families, and youth using evidence-based modalities including contemplative, transpersonal, somatic, feminist, CBT, DBT, and EMDR therapies. Delivered primarily via telehealth across Colorado with limited in-person availability in Boulder and Denver. Standard rate is $150 per 53-minute session with sliding scale starting at $75 for those not using insurance.
• Educational Trainings Custom learning experiences for organizations, schools, corporations, mental health agencies, and healthcare providers to build queer-affirming cultures. Includes gender-affirming care training, DEI programming, and cultural competency curricula with CEU certificates available for clinicians. Priced at $500 per hour with a recommended three-hour minimum for fundamentals training.
• Community Programs Free and low-cost community groups and social events including Queer Conversation groups, arts-based programs, workshops, and youth support groups. Offered by suggested donation of $5–15 per group or event, with some programs free of charge. Virtual groups are open to all regardless of geographic location.
• Therapy Groups

Quantifiable outcome

• Provides 1,000 counseling sessions monthly to queer and trans clients across Colorado
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.

• Governor Jared PolisnotableOthers · 8 June 2024Colorado Governor Jared Polis recognized Queer Asterisk and its founders, demonstrating governmental support for LGBTQ+ mental health services. Photo and letter from the Governor featured on the organization's press page.
• Cherry Creek School DistrictnotableImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQueer Asterisk provided customized training to Cherry Creek School District, including district protocol and equity framework integration. Training was professional, interactive, relevant, and well-received by diverse audiences.
• Boulder Community HealthcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQueer Asterisk provides ongoing Gender Awareness and Responsiveness training to Boulder Community Health staff and providers. Training equips healthcare workers to better serve trans and non-binary patients, addressing fears and difficult questions around gender identity.
• RSF Social FinancenotableOthersQueer Asterisk featured in RSF Social Finance's 2021 Annual Report, highlighting the organization's work in providing affordable, culturally responsive queer and transgender mental health services.
• Community Organizations NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueer Asterisk maintains reciprocal relationships with multiple LGBTQ+ community organizations including Q Chat Space, imi, OUT Boulder County, PFLAG, The Center on Colfax, OASOS, Queer Nature, Trans Youth Education & Support (TYES), School of Lost Borders, Envision:You, and Heart Mind Connect. These partnerships provide referrals, shared resources, and collaborative programming.
• Harmony FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerQueer Asterisk staff members Luca and Sorin appeared on a podcast interview with Harmony Foundation discussing caring for queer and transgender individuals in recovery. Content created for The Harmony Foundation Blog.
• Windhorse Community ServicesnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaff member AM DiGiacomo also works at Windhorse Community Services. Queer Asterisk staff participated in a conversation about inclusion moderated by Chuck Knapp with Windhorse Community Services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Talkspace: Large publicly-traded online therapy platform with broad therapist network including LGBTQ-affirming providers. Not niche-specialized but competes for the same client demand via telehealth at scale, with insurance and subscription billing similar to QA.
• BetterHelp: Leading direct-to-consumer online therapy platform. Competes for the same end-clients seeking accessible counseling, with broader therapist supply and national reach. Differentiates QA on cultural specialization rather than platform convenience.

Direct peers

• Envision:You: Colorado-based nonprofit advancing LGBTQ+ mental health through education, advocacy, and support. Directly comparable mission, geographic overlap, and a similar mix of community programming and provider education. QA lists Envision:You as a community partner.
• The Trevor Project: National nonprofit providing crisis intervention and mental health support specifically for LGBTQ+ youth. Comparable mission focus on LGBTQ+ mental health with both direct service and education/training components, but at significantly larger national scale.

Emerging players

• Q Chat Space: Online LGBTQ+ youth chat community facilitated by mental health professionals. Directly comparable in LGBTQ+ youth mental health support delivered virtually; QA lists Q Chat Space as a community partner and Q Chat Space serves a subset of QA's youth audience.
• Plume: Telehealth platform providing gender-affirming hormone therapy and letters. Directly comparable in the gender-affirming care space where QA provides WPATH letters; Plume extends into prescribing where QA refers out.
• Folx Health: Digital LGBTQ+ healthcare platform offering telehealth therapy, gender-affirming care, and HRT. Comparable LGBTQ-affirming clinical model delivered via telehealth, but venture-backed and national in scope versus QA's nonprofit, state-limited model.

Regional players

• OUT Boulder County: Boulder-based LGBTQ+ community organization providing education, advocacy, and support services. Same Colorado service area and overlapping community programming; explicit community partner of QA driving referral flow.
• PFLAG: National LGBTQ+ family and ally support organization with local chapters in Colorado. Comparable in mission and community-program orientation, with overlap in serving families/partners of LGBTQ+ individuals; QA lists PFLAG as a community partner.
• The Center on Colfax: Denver's LGBTQ+ community center offering programming, resources, and support groups. Overlapping community programming and Denver geographic footprint; QA lists The Center on Colfax as a reciprocal community partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/queerasterisk
• Instagraminstagram.com/queerasterisk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Queer Asterisk