Resources for Everyone
The work of living well, extends far beyond the therapy room. I hope these resources can help bridge the gap and lead you into a more full life. It’s a very limited list, so reach out if you’re looking for something not listed. I’d also love to hear of any you find especially useful or any not listed that you’ve found helpful. They’re ever-evolving, so check back later!
Free or Low-Cost Local Support
Crisis Support
Georgia Crisis and Access Line
1-800-715-4225 - The Georgia Crisis and Access Line is the standard, state-run crisis and resource hotline. It is available 24/7 to help you or someone you care for in a crisis. They can provide emergency telephone intervention services, dispatch a mobile crisis team, and assist in finding an open local crisis or detox bed.
Call Blackline
1-800-604-5841 - Call Blackline centers care for BIPOC, LGBTQ+ folks through a black femme lens. They also have an app available.
Thrive Lifeline
1-313-662-8209 or text "THRIVE" - A trans-led and operated crisis support line that prioritizes autonomy and support for those who are underrepresented and experiencing obstacles because of your identities.
Wildflower Alliance
1-888-843-4654 - Wildflower Alliance is a grassroots Peer Support, Advocacy and Training organization with a focus on harm reduction and human rights.
Therapeutic Support
Community Service Boards
These organizations provide free, publicly-funded psychiatric and therapeutic services. The local organization is now called Claratel Behavioral Health.
The Link Counseling Center
The Link is a nonprofit organization located in Sandy Springs that provides high-quality free and sliding scale therapeutic services.
Addiction Groups
12-Step Groups
The most well-known addiction recovery communities. Created as Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935, there are now more than 30 types of groups addressing a wide range of compulsive and addictive behaviors. They offer in-person and virtual meetings. 12-step groups are known for their large, supportive communities. Most are sobriety-based. Many find this helpful, while others choose a different path.
Recovery Dharma
RD is a free addiction community that applies Buddhist practices and principles to addiction recovery. They offer in-person and virtual meetings that are generally inclusive of various addictions. You’ll find an emphasis on compassion and mindfulness in many meetings.
SMART Recovery
SMART offers a secular, cognitive approach to recovery via free in-person and virtual meetings. They are typically inclusive of various addictions.
Yoga for 12-Step Recovery
Y12SR integrates yoga into the 12-step recovery process. These donation-based, in-person and virtual groups are open to all impacted by addiction. As a certified Y12SR guide, I can answer any questions you may have.
LGBTQIA+ Groups
ATL trans masc support group
This wonderful trans masc support group meets every other Wednesday at 6:30p in Candler Park. Message them for additional details.
Charis Books
This "independent, feminist bookstore" in Decatur, GA offers several free, recurring groups for trans and gender-creative teens and adults.
Nonbinary & Genderqueer Atlanta
An active group of support and connection on Facebook.
The Essentials: Atlanta Trans Resource Guide
A beautifully designed and deeply informative guide to services, support, and connection for trans people in metro Atlanta.
Activity Groups
Atlanta Outdoor Club
A welcoming, large grassroots community with outdoor adventures of varying type and intensity constantly sprouting up.
Meetup
Find special interest groups of so many kinds on this great database of activity and connection.
Multimedia
Books, workbooks, and tools to supplement your healing, changing, liberating journey.
*I figure most of us end up using Amazon, so the links below lead there. I’ll get a wee-little kickback if you purchase. If you’re adventurous, I encourage you to go thru a local bookstore – such as Charis in ATL. They’re fantastic.
Books
General
- Happiness Trap – Wade into the transformative work of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy via this insightful, accessible, practical book by Russ Harris.
- The Myth of Normal – Gabor Mate has had a profound impact on our understanding of the long-lasting, diverse impact of trauma on our health and well-being. This magnum opus is a powerful and thorough invitation into that research and opportunities for healing.
Addiction
- Biology of Desire – Lewis explores addiction as an ingrained pattern of behavior sparked by attempts by our brain to help us amidst suffering. This framework empowers readers to find freedom by creating new values-aligned patterns.
- Never Enough – A deep dive into the neuroscience of addiction and a way out that’s littered with compelling and insightful anecdotes and stories.
Career/Vocation
- Designing Your Life – Bill Burnett invites you to be strategic and values-driven to create the possibility of a career that becomes vocation and contributes to a truly vibrant life. There’s also an accompanying workbook.
Children's Books
- A Bad Case of Stripes, The Black Dog, and There’s No Such Thing as a Dragon – These three expertly and unintentionally introduce the core ACT practice of defusion (finding space from thoughts and feelings to allow for free, values-based behavior) in enjoyable and effective ways.
- Be Mindful of Monsters – This sweet little paperback encourages curious, mindful acceptance of emotions.
- In My Heart – This delightful picture book helps readers and listeners learn more about and open up to their emotions.
- Kobi Yamada – Anything by Yamada and Hurst is gold. Gentle, beautiful stories that awaken magical, compassionate reflections of ourselves and our world.
Grief
- When Life Hits Hard – A gentle guide to finding movement and meaning again amidst grief and loss grounded in mindfulness, self-compassion, and concrete processes.
Neurodiversity
- ADHD is Awesome – A fun, engaging, practical invitation to embrace your ADHDness with boldness, skill, and compassion.
- Divergent Mind – A depathologizing, liberative exploration of life for neurodivergent women amidst a patriarchal, white supremacist, neurotypical society.
- Unmasking Autism – Devon Price offers an invitation to provocatively embrace your full self focused on those who discover their neurodivergence as adults.
Parenting
- Good Inside – Kennedy argues for “prioritizing connection over correction” in this compassionate, practical guide for overwhelmed parents.
- No-Drama Discipline – Siegel and Bryson explore more compassionate and effective (the two are linked) ways to navigate “tantrums, tensions, and tears” with your children.
- Raising Mentally Strong Kids – Dive into the world of developmental neuroscience through the research, stories and tools provided in this book.
- The Anxious Generation – Haidt compellingly explores the impact of modern social technologies on youth mental health and presents his vision for a “healthier, freer childhood.”
- There Are Moms Way Worse Than You – This irreverent adult picture book and its companion for Dads will have you wheezing in laughter and being just a bit more kind to yourself amidst the impossibilities of parenthood.
Poetry
- Mary Oliver – She brings the earth and the heart delightfully to life. Everything’s great but you could start here with Devotions.
- Rumi – This Sufi mystic invites you into the soul of life through his poetry. I’m partial to these translations by Coleman Barks.
Relationships
- ACT with Love – A gentle, practical, compassionate guide to the possibility of growth and change at every stage of the relationship.
- All About Love – Bell Hooks offers her sharp insight in this socially grounded and relationally liberating invitation to more rich, love-filled relational experiences.
- Nonviolent Communication – A classic, foundational tool for more effective communication amidst all the kinds of relationships we inhabit.
Trauma
- My Grandmother’s Hands – A rare blend of compassion and conviction course thru this examination of the embodied harm of white supremacy throughout every American thread and identity. Includes experiential practices offered variously for people of color, white people, and police officers.
- The Body Keeps the Score – A groundbreaking exploration of the lasting and complex impact of trauma on the mind and body.
- What My Bones Know – A dark, compelling, beautiful autobiographical exploration of experiencing and healing from complex childhood trauma.
Workbooks
- Healing Through Words – Poet Rupi Kaur has put together a delightful poetry workbook that facilitates mindful reintegration and healing through the creative written word.
- The Mindful Self-Compassion Workbook – A gentle, practical guide to strengthening mindfulness and self-compassion towards a more liberated and liberating life.
- The Racial Healing Workbook – A local Atlanta author created this guide to confront and heal from the racist messaging and constructs of society and take action for a more liberated and loving world.
- The Wisdom to Know the Difference – The foundational experiential ACT workbook for substance abuse recovery.
- Your Life, Your Way – An entertaining, fun, and practical workbook for teens to learn and build Acceptance and Commitment Therapy skills to better navigate emotions and build resilience.
Tools
- Little Otter Emotions Deck – These emotions cards with adorable animal art reflection prompts on the back are terrific for both kids and adults.
- Little Renegades Mindful Kids Deck – This cute deck provides little mindfulness exercises designed especially for the youngest among us.
- Live Your Values Deck – A go-to resource for in-person clients, this deck is useful to return to time again to discern what most matters in a given moment and context to guide your next steps.
- Nature Meditations Deck – Experiential prompts that facilitate a deeper connection to self and nature. Grab a card and enjoy a new experience down the same road.
- Restorative Yoga Deck – This beautiful deck provides guidance to loving your body well thru a variety of restorative yoga poses. Props will be needed.
- The ACT Deck – A boring but accessible way to familiarize yourself with key principles and practices of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.