I feel blessed to share my recent interview and talk with Tara Shapiro and Carissa Chen, the co-founders of the Alana Faith Chen Foundation. They both exemplify love in action and how the painful side of love can fuel us to keep our loved one alive by continuing their mission and purpose. Alana was love in action and lived her life to help others. The quote above was taken from Alana’s writings and teh foundation was created to make her dream come true. Please share this story and recording because it so important to give hope and help to those with mental illness who feel alone, marginalized, and lack access to effective treatment.
The loss of Alana through suicide sent waves of shock and rage through those who loved her. This pain quickly turned to passion to bring Alana’s dream alive and continue to help people, especially LGBTQ+ individuals who are often suffering alone, or worse experiencing religious abuse and the ultimate form of non-acceptance.
Listen to the full interview HERE
On December 8th, 2019 Alana Faith Chen died by suicide. Alana was a daughter, sister, cousin, niece, and friend to so many. Though she was quiet, she was expressive through her paintings, music, and poetry. She loved the outdoors and playing Ultimate Frisbee in high school and college. From an early age, Alana fell in love with Jesus and the teachings of the Catholic Church. She dedicated many years as a youth group leader, leading bible studies, and helping those experiencing homelessness in Boulder, CO.
When she was about 14 years old she told a trusted priest at her Catholic Church that she thought she was attracted to women. That priest responded by telling Alana that being gay, impure thoughts, and acting out on those desires was a mortal sin and that she’d go to hell if she became a lesbian. He also told her not to tell her family because they would accept her as a lesbian. At 14 years old, she listened to that priest.
Alana endured 7 years of this miseducation, “pastoral counseling,” conversion therapy, and religious abuse, which resulted in years of severe depression, self-harming and extreme suicide ideation. When Alana’s parents found out, Alana began to get the help she needed through in-patient and out-patient therapies, and several different specialized therapies. Alana applied to get her Master’s in Counseling so she could become a therapist herself one day. While Alana was getting professional help, the religious abuse and psychological torture that Alana experienced for many years was too much to bear. On December 8th, 2019 we lost Alana to suicide.
Alana always said she wanted to write a book about her experience. Her story is meant to be shared, to spark change, and to help anyone suffering by religious abuse and abuse and exclusion of any kind know that they are not alone.
Go to Alana Faith Chen Foundationfor more information on how you can help or how to receive help.
Sending love and kindness,
Patty and The Sacred Treehouse Faculty
Just email us at [email protected] to set up individualized mindfulness coaching.
Patty Thomas Shutt, founder of Sacred Treehouse, is a licensed psychologist and co-owner of Therapeutic Oasis of the Palm Beaches. Dr. Shutt is passionate about helping others discover the benefits of mindfulness and meditation. She offers Beginner Meditation & Advanced Meditation classes at Sacred Treehouse, in addition to Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Mindful Self-Compassion and various book studies throughout the year.