Local Crisis Information - Daymark Recovery Services, Wilkes County, NC
CRISIS LINE (877) 492-2785
Daymark Recovery provides mental health and substance abuse crisis services for Wilkes County.

National Suicide Hotline (800) 273-8255 ~ suicidepreventionlifeline.org:
24/7 crisis hotline and online chat. From the National Suicide Hotline website: "If you feel you are in a crisis, whether or not you are thinking about killing yourself, please call the Lifeline. People have called us for help with substance abuse, economic worries, relationship and family problems, sexual orientation, illness, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and even loneliness."

National Sexual Assualt Hotline (800) 656-4673 ~ www.rainn.org/get-help/national-sexual-assault-hotline: From the website, the National Hotline supports: “Victims and survivors of sexual assault (whether the assault took place today or decades ago), Spouses, family members, and partners of victims and survivors, Friends of victims and survivors.” The Hotline provides: “Short-term crisis intervention and support, Answers to questions about recovering from sexual assault, Basic information about medical issues, Resources that can assist with the reporting process, Referrals to resources in your area, Information for family and friends of victims and survivors.”

SAFE, Wilkes County Provider for Domestic Violence Shelter and Sexual Assault Crisis Support CRISIS LINE (336) 838-SAFE or (336) 838-7233
Office (336) 838-9169 ~ safewilkes.org
SAFE PROVIDES 24/7 EMERGENCY SHELTER and HELPLINE services to victims and survivors of sexual assault and family violence. SAFE (Sheltered Aid to Families in Emergencies) is a not-for-profit agency serving women, men, teens and children whose lives have been affected by domestic and sexual violence. We've helped people in Wilkes and surrounding counties of North Carolina since 1980. SAFE also offers advocacy services for assistance in seeking protective orders, support during court hearings, and referral to community resources. SAFE also offers counseling and support groups and the Child Advocacy Center, which provides services to children and families affected by sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. SAFE provides court advocacy and hospital accompaniment services in Spanish. For more information, please contact Court Advocate and Sexual Assault Response Coordinator Rebecca Parker at (336) 838-9169. Offices located at 1260 College Avenue, Suite 5, Wilkesboro, NC

GLBT National Help Center and Hotline (888) 843-4564 ~ glnh.org/hotline/
Monday thru Friday from 4pm to 12pm, Saturday from noon to 5pm
From the website, "The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) National Hotline provides telephone, online private one-to-one chat and email peer-support, as well as factual information and local resources for cities and towns across the United States. All of our services are free and confidential. We speak with callers of all ages about coming-out issues, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety and safer-sex information, and lots more!"

The Trevor Project GLBTQ Youth Hotline (866) 488-7386 ~ thetrevorproject.org
The Trevor Project provides 24/7 free and confidential crisis and suicide prevention services to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning youth ages 13 to 24. The Trevor Project offers the crisis phone line as well as text message and instant message services.

Trans Lifeline (877) 565-8860 ~ translifeline.org
See website for hours. This is a volunteer run hotline. From the website, "Trans Lifeline is a non-profit dedicated to the well being of transgender people. We run a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people. Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs members of our community might have. This is a FREE helpline run by volunteers and supported by the community."

Counseling Center Village, SUNY, University at Buffalo ~ ccvillage.buffalo.edu:
This site provides a directory of free, online university counseling center resources and handouts with its A - Z Virtual Pamphlet Collection on mental health issues. These can be useful for anyone, not just college counselors and students!

Self-Help and Therapist CBT Resources ~ getselfhelp.co.uk:
This is an excellent site of self-help resources using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I especially like "Unhelpful Thinking Habits," which describes common thinking errors related to anxiety and depression, and "STOPP," which includes helpful thought stopping handouts. This site is worth exploring!

"Psycheducation" Mental Health Information ~ psycheducation.org:
Site includes extensive, frequently updated information primarily focused on bipolar disorder. The author explores many recent theories about the biological elements of bipolar with information from professional medical journals. Sites like this are useful for keeping up with cutting edge ideas about mental health. Please keep in mind that like all scientific research, the ideas proposed are theories, which are ever-changing, subject to debate, and influenced by researcher bias.

Anxiety Self-Help ~ anxieties.com:
This site is affiliated with the Anxiety Disorders Treatment Center in Chapel Hill, NC and Dr. Reid Wilson. Dr. Wilson offers free self-help programs online, which can be used alone or in conjunction with therapy. You will also find his self-help books available for purchase. These are accessible texts with step by step information using the cognitive behavioral approach of immersion.

Common Thinking Errors/Negative Thoughts ~
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2009/15-common-cognitive-distortions/:
The concept of thought distortion is key in cognitive behavioral therapy. Many of us who experience mood disorders or anxiety are in the habit of negative thinking and distorted perceptions. Learning about thought distortions can help increase awareness of these tendencies and provides a starting point for challenging these thoughts. There are lots of these lists online, just search "thinking errors" to find more.

The Necessary and Sufficient Conditions of Therapeutic Personality Change by Carl Rogers ~
A powerful and influential writing on a fundamental counseling approach, person-centered therapy. I highly recommend this article to anyone in a helping field. This quotation summarizes my view on Rogers' work: "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction." — E. F. Schumacker

The Bipolar Disorder Survival Guide: What You and Your Family Need to Know (2nd edition, 2010) by David Miklowitz ~
If you buy one book on bipolar disorder, buy this one. This is an excellent, accessible, and practical introduction to current ideas about living with bipolar.

Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder (1993) by Marsha Linehan ~
Marsha Linehan developed Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which created an important modification to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She saw that coping skills, dealing with crises, and suicidal tendencies were missing pieces in CBT, leading her to develop DBT and this excellent skills manual. She also integrates mindfulness into her skills repertoire. This workbook is highly recommended for borderline personality, bipolar disorder, and others suffering from difficulties regulating emotions and coping.

The Anxiety & Phobias Workbook (2011) by Edmund Bourne ~
This self-help workbook is great on its own or in conjunction with therapy. The introductions to each section provide readable and reliable information that helps clients understand their anxiety. Exercises help you learn about what's happening and how to make changes.

When Too Much Isn't Enough: Ending the Destructive Cycle of AD/HD and Addictive Behavior (2005) by Wendy Richardson ~
Richardson's book is written in a popular style based on her experience as a therapist with minimal jargon or citation. There is a lot of research out there supporting the claim that AD/HD is often paired with addiction. One of the most readable and informative mental health books I've read in a long time!

The 'Busy' Trap (2012) by Tim Kreider ~
Interesting opinion piece about our 'culture of business' and choices about how we spend/value our time.

Relaxation Exercises - Adobe Acrobat Download ~ traumacenter.org/resources/pdf_files/relaxation_exercises.pdf:
This excellent handout gives a explanation of breathing exercise, progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, and "quick" relaxation techniques. You can do these regularly to help improve well-being and mood and decrease anxiety. These are great to have in your toolbox of coping skills.

Introduction to Mindfulness, Psychology Today ~ psychologytoday.com/basics/mindfulness:
These links can help you gain a beginning understanding of mindfulness, a stand-alone philosophy and an integral part of Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Alcoholics Anonymous North Carolina ~ aanorthcarolina.org/:
Includes information on meetings, events, and links to resources in NC.

Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book Online ~ aa.org/bigbookonline/en_tableofcnt.cfm:
Over 25 million copies sold in English alone! This book describes the principles of AA and includes personal stories of recovery.

FIRST at Blue Ridge ~ firstinc.org:
Long-term, low to no-cost licensed therapeutic treatment community in Black Mountain, NC.

TROSA ~ trosainc.org:
Long-term, no-cost therapeutic treatment community in Durham, NC.

NC Foundation for Alcohol & Drug Studies (NCFADS) ~ ncfads.org/:
NCFADS runs the Summer School in the Greensboro area and the Winter School in Wilmington each year to provide training for folks providing addictions treatment. I enjoyed presenting at the summer school in 2011, and I highly recommend this intensive training.

Al Greene Addictions Institute (AGAI), Appalachian State U ~ agai.appstate.edu/:
Named for a true addictions counseling legend (and my amazing internship supervisor), Al Greene, the AGAI provides a marathon week of training in the field of addictions. I've been privileged to participate in and present at this excellent conference. Don't miss it!

American Counseling Association ~ counseling.org:
The ACA is a not-for-profit, professional and educational organization that is dedicated to the growth and enhancement of the counseling profession.

ACA Ethical Codes ~ counseling.org/ethics:
U.S. ethical codes of the counseling profession.

National Board for Certified Counselors ~ nbcc.org:
The NBCC sets the national standards for counseling and provides certification.

North Carolina Board Licensed Professional Counselors ~ ncblpc.org:
The NCBLPC regulates counseling activities in the state according to the Licensed Professional Practicing Counselor Act. They issue licenses and conduct investigations, among other activities.

North Carolina Counseling Association ~ nccounselingassociation.org
The NCCA promotes growth of the counseling profession in NC.