Emotional Support Resources
Therapist Directories
United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia
Psychology Today – Psychology Today has the most comprehensive online directory and search engine of therapists in the United States. It’s the “go to” resource in the U.S. They also provide listings for therapists in a few other English-speaking countries. Visit the home page and click on the “Find a Therapist” link at the top.
United States
National Alliance on Mental Illness – The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website has a lot of information about what to do if you or a loved one are suffering from a mental illness. There’s information to read up on if you think you may have a mental illness. There’s also an area for you to find support online or in your area. These services are broken down into teens and young adults, members of the LGBTQI+ community, veterans, law enforcement, and more.
Support Group Directories
United States, Australia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Nepal
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – You can follow this link to a multinational search for support groups in your area. Each item that the search brings up will have information on the support group, the location, and how you can get connected.
United States
Psychology Today – Psychology Today has an excellent directory and search engine to find a support group near you. Click on the “Find a Therapist” link at the top. In the search parameters, switch from “Find a Therapist” to “Find a Support Group.”
Books
Boundaries:
Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud — Gain control of your life by setting healthy boundaries with the people around you.
Breakups:
Rebuilding (When Your Relationship Ends) by Bruce Fisher — Use Bruce Fisher’s “divorce process rebuilding blocks” to rebuild your life after a marriage or serious dating relationship has ended.
Codependence:
Facing Codependence: What It Is, Where It Comes from, How It Sabotages Our Lives by Pia Mellody — Identify codependent thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and learn the best approach to recovery.
Depression:
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David Burns, MD — Discover drug-free practices to treat anxiety, guilt, pessimism, procrastination, low self-esteem, and other aspects of depression.
Grief:
On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross — Identify the five stages of grief and receive practical advice, inspiration, and theory based on Kübler-Ross’s professional experience.
Growth:
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, PhD — Learn how to achieve growth and success simply by improving your perception of your own talents and abilities.
Nutrition:
The Mood Cure by Julia Ross, MA – This book focuses on nutrition and supplements to reduce the symptoms of depression, anxiety, irritability, stress, and other negative emotional states. I have used the nutritional plans and supplement recommendations and have found them both very helpful. It isn’t a substitute for good medical and mental health care, but I found it did help.
Perseverance:
The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday — Learn the stoic process for resilience: focus on what you can control, let go of what you can’t, and turn every obstacle into an opportunity to improve.
Trauma:
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk, MD — Trauma reshapes our bodies and brains, inhibiting our capacity for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. Learn treatment options to reclaim your life after trauma.
Online Resources
Suicide Prevention Wikia – The Suicide Prevention Wikia is a directory of suicide prevention hotlines, online chats, text lines, and other helpful resources.
International Association for Suicide Prevention – IASP aims to prevent suicidal behavior, alleviate its effects, and provide a forum for discussion on an international level. You can begin browsing by continent and narrow it down until you find help in your area.
National Alliance on Mental Illness – The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website has a lot of information about what to do if you or a loved one are suffering from a mental illness. There’s information to read up on if you think you may have a mental illness. There’s also an area for you to find support online or in your area. These services are broken down into teens and young adults, members of the LGBTQI+ community, veterans, law enforcement, and more.
The Trevor Project – The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. The website has information for you to get help if you need it, training if you want to become a volunteer, and access to Trevor Space – which is a support community for people ages 13 to 24.
Authentic Happiness – Authentic Happiness is a website run by the University of Pennsylvania with Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman. This page has a lot of information about Positive Psychology and some questionnaires – specifically, the CES-D Questionnaire which measures depression symptoms – that can help further research and give you an idea of your own happiness level. You will need to register with a username and password if you want to utilize the questionnaires.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Statistics – Learn the truth about suicide in America. Statistics are measured by age range, race/ethnicity, and suicide method. There’s also a link to some information if you’d like to volunteer as a field advocate. There are a lot of misconceptions and outdated information circulating about suicide. This information is up-to-date and as accurate as it can be.
The Feelings Wheel — When we can name our feelings, we can better communicate them. Reference the feelings wheel to help identify what you’re feeling.
The Second Noble Truth of Buddhism — Learn about the Second Noble Truth of Buddhism, that expectation is at the root of suffering.
Depression Assessments
Patient Health Questionnaire 9 – This is a commonly used depression assessment form used by medical doctors in the United States (and perhaps elsewhere) to determine if depression symptoms are significant to consider medical treatment.