Alcoholics Anonymous
Open AA meetings are held at 7:30 pm CST on Sunday and Wednesday evenings at the First Christian Church, located at 118 Webster Street, St Francis, KS. For more information, call 785-772-1481.

Cancer Support Group
The Cancer Support Group meets on the first Wednesday of every month from 5:30-7:30 PM CST at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Bird City, KS. For more information, contact Mindy Kissman-Bell, LCSCW, at 970-201-6886.

High Plains Mental Health Center
This community mental health center has several locations throughout the Northwest and offers counseling and medication services. Clients can utilize a 24/7 local crisis hotline and outpatient addiction care through grants from SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). Call (785) 628-2871 for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Lion's Club Medical Equipment Loan Program
The Lion's Club, located at 122 W Washington, St Francis, KS, has a wide variety of medical equipment to loan, including but not limited to walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and shower benches. To set up an appointment, call 785-332-3184.

Northwest Kansas Family Shelter
The Northwest Kansas Family Shelter provides 24/7 services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Weekly support groups for women and children are available. For more information, call 1-800-794-4624.

Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services
In October 1983, individuals from the City of Hays and Fort Hays State University began an agency to meet the needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence, stalking, and human trafficking in rural western Kansas. Since then, Options has expanded and has offices located throughout Northwest Kansas. They offer help to adults, children, women, men, the LGBTQ+ community, and their pets. Services are confidential and free. Call 785-625-4202 or click here to go to their website at www.help4abuse.org

Lion's Club Medical Equipment Loan Program
The Lion's Club, located at 122 W Washington, St Francis, KS, has a wide variety of medical equipment to loan, including but not limited to walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, canes, and shower benches. To set up an appointment, call 785-332-3184.

Aging: What to Expect
A great article from the Mayo Clinic on what to expect as we age. This includes information about how the body and mind shift as we age, and how to take care of ourselves to live our best.
Click here to read the article.

National Council on Aging (NCOA)
The NCOA believes every person deserves to age well. Since 1950, they have been improving the lives of millions of older adults. There are many resources on the website for older adults, caregivers, professionals, and advocates. Click here to view the NCOA website.

American Association of Retired People (AARP)
A resource focusing on issues pertaining to people 50 years of age and older (for example, health care, caregiving, and access to affordable, quality long-term care)
Click here to visit the American Association of Retired People (AARP)

American Federation for Aging Research

This site provides information about ongoing biomedical research dedicated to the support and advancement of healthy aging.
Click here to visit the AFAR website American Federation for Aging Research (AFAR).

Merck Manuals

This comprehensive website is my go-to for finding research and articles on aging and elderly health issues. The alphabetical search system contains thousands of resources, all for free.
Click here to access the Merck Manuals.

National Institute on Aging (NIA)
The NIA leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. NIA is the primary federal agency supporting and conducting Alzheimer's disease research. Click here to visit the NIA website.

The Attachment Project
Attachment style is one of the areas that I explore with clients quite often. Many people are surpirsed to learn that attachment styles are developed in early childhood and often define how we will view and interact in relationships as adults. 

Based on John Bowlby's attachment theory, there are four adult attachment styles including anxious-preoccupied, avoidant-dismissive, disorganized/fearful-avoidant, and secure. People with insecure attachment styles might have to put some intentional effort into resolving their attachment issues, in order to become securely attached.

I highly reccommend visiting The Attachment Project website to learn more and take a short quiz to determine your attachment style.

Therapy in a Nutshell
Emma McAdam is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and her mission is to make mental health resources easier to access. She takes therapy skills and psychological research and condenses them down into bite-sized nuggets of help. I personally love her somatic tips to calm your nervous system quickly! Click here to check out her Youtube Channel.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
From answers to common questions to official legal documents, the ADA website has everything you need to understand your rights and responsibilities under the ADA.
Click here to visit the Americans with Disabilities Act website.

Center for Parent Information and Resources: Disability Awareness
People appreciate these materials to help community members, employers, organizations, and residents learn more about disabilities and what it means for people to live with a disability or raise a child with a disability. Having information about disability awareness can be put to many different uses–from classroom instructional units, to Girl Scout information fairs, to school reports, to youth groups.
Click here to visit this comprehensive website and find even more resources.

DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center
The center is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through technology and education. It promotes awareness and accessibility—in both the classroom and the workplace—to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities and make our communities more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive. The DO-IT website is a great place to find resources for learning and scholarship opportunities.
Click here to visit the DO-It Center website.

Autism Society

Patrick Teahan, LICSW
Patrick is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and a childhood trauma specialist. He loves educating and discussing dysfunctional family systems and helping people gain new perspectives. 
Click here to check out his Youtube Channel.

Mental Health America: Is my family dysfunctional?
As a trauma-informed therapist, one of the biggest root causes of mental distress comes from a dysfunctional family system. These systems program us from early childhood and have signicant mental health consequences in adulthood. If you are wondering if you may have come from a dysfunctional family system, check out Mental Health America's website, which also offers a screening tool.

Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect
by Dr. Jonice Webb (ebook available for free checkout through the Hoopla app)

Online Dating and Dating App Safety Tips
More than 40 million Americans use online dating services or dating apps. As is the case when meeting someone new, whether online or offline, it’s wise to keep a few safety precautions in mind. Dating apps don’t conduct criminal background checks on users, so it’s up to each user to determine if they are comfortable meeting up with someone.
Click here to read the online and dating app safety tips article from the RAINN organization.

College Dating Safety Tips
I found this article to be very useful for in-person dating. I would add the following tip: Do not leave food and drinks unattended. If you are at a bar, place a coaster over your glass and give it to the bartender. They will know that you intend to come back, and they will protect it for you.
Click here to read the article on college dating safety tips.

Healthy Boundaries in Relationships
Time and time again, I have seen people struggle with healthy boundaries because they may not know how to effectively set and maintain them. They may have also had parents or past partners who have no respect for boundaries or treat them as a one-way street. Boundaries in relationships work both ways: they create emotional health and are created by people with emotional health. They are something you can start working on today with the people close to you, and you’ll begin to notice a difference in your self-esteem, confidence, and emotional stability.
Click here to read a guide to strong relationship boundaries.

Losing a beloved pet 

The death of a pet can be such a huge loss. These fur-family members may serve as faithful friends and playmates, enriching our lives with their magnificent and comical personalities. It is important to honor their story as it intertwines with our own narrative.
Click here to read an article from the ACA about this type of loss and how to cope.

The Dougy Center
This website has many resources and toolkits for all ages in the grieving process. I particularly like the sections on self-care. Click here to visit the Dougy Center website to learn more.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)
If you have recently suffered a loss of a loved one due to suicide, start here. Know that it is OK to grieve. Find out where you can turn for help. Learn about the grieving process and how it can be different when the loss is due to suicide. Click here to access the SAVE website.

Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services

Founded in 1985, The Center for Grief Recovery and Therapeutic Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit housing eight independent practitioners who are dedicated to empowering individuals to heal themselves and enrich their lives.
Click here to visit their website, which contains dozens of resources.

Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth

Anyone can support LGBTQIA+ youth in America. Through compassion and taking a humanistic approach, people can advocate and end the violence and hate. Check out the Human Rights Campaign website to learn 5 simple ways to support LGBTQIA+ youth. 

Mickey Atkins, LCSW

Mickey is a therapist and a social worker who likes to "yell about therapy things." She does a lot of reaction videos to the many scammers out there giving dangerous advice. She also talks about feminism, fat positivity, social justice, healthy sexual boundaries and exploration, and much more! 

Click here to check out her YouTube Channel.

Trevor Project LifeLine: 1-800-788-7386

Trans Lifeline: 1-877-565-8860

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for LGBTQ Communities: 1-800-273-8255

www.ManTherapy.org
This organization was created by a multidisciplinary team of suicidologists, mental health experts, marketing strategists, and creatives to make mental health approachable by using humor to break the stigma and help men take action with tools and resources. I was impressed by the sheer number of topics and resources available that were specific to men's mental health and well-being!

www.infoaboutkids.org
Geared toward parents, educators, and behavioral health specialists, the site covers common parenting concerns, such as sleep difficulties, drug and alcohol use, puberty, and much more. 

The National Parent Helpline: 1-855-427-2736
They are here for you and are open to parents and caregivers of children and youth of all ages. 

Parents Helping Parents Line: 1-800-632-8188
This hotline is dedicated to parents helping parents with children of all ages. Their website also has resources for support groups within communities and virtually. Check them out by clicking here.

Doctor Ramani
Dr. Ramani is a specialist in narcissistic personality disorder and abusive personality types. She carefully explains the psychology and manipulative tactics that certain people use in abusive relationships. She also has a podcast called Navigating Narcissism. Click here to check out her Youtube Channel.

Angie Atkinson
Angie is a survivor of narcissistic abuse and started her research in 2006. She was a certified life coach and an aspiring marriage and family therapist. She held certifications in life coaching, level 2 therapeutic model, CBT coaching, and integrative wellness coaching. She was a certified trauma support coach, certified family trauma professional, and held a Professional PTSD counseling certification.
Click here to check out her Youtube Channel.

Why Does He Do That: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men
by Lundy Bancroft (ebook also available)
This powerful book takes a deep look at various abusive personality types and the behaviors that these individuals display. There are also several resources throughout the book. I personally found this book to be incredibly helpful and use it in sessions frequently.

National Network to End Domestic Violence - Understanding Financial Abuse
Financial abuse is a common tactic used by abusers to gain power and control in a relationship. The forms of financial abuse may be subtle or overt but in in general, financial abuse – along with emotional, physical, and sexual abuse – includes behaviors to intentionally manipulate, intimidate, and threaten the victim in order to entrap that person in the relationship. In some cases, financial abuse is present throughout the relationship and in other cases financial abuse becomes present when the survivor is attempting to leave or has left the relationship. Click here to go to the NNEDV website.

Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault
This website is one of the most comprehensive sites I have found, with resources for survivors, caretakers, foster parents, teachers, and more. There are also many resources to help individuals stay safe and be aware of legal protections and rights, including sexual harassment in the workplace.
Click here to visit HelpingSurvivors.org. 

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

RAINN - The nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization website

Dr. Tracey Marks
Dr. Marks is a psychiatrist in Atlanta with over 20 years of experience. Her channel teaches you about mental health issues and self-improvement. Why? Because education empowers. You will learn about bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, and more.
Click here to check out her Youtube Channel.

Kati Morton, LMFT
Kati is a licensed therapist, author, and public speaker who is well-known for her YouTube channel focused on mental health, where she covers a wide range of topics, including family dynamics, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, trauma, and more. In her videos, Kati offers valuable insights and practical advice on how to navigate the complex world of mental health. She also has some keen advice on what to look for when finding a therapist and has been very open about her own mental health struggles.
Click here to check out her Youtube Channel.