Mental Health Guide 2018

The

Steve Straessle, Catholic High Principal, Knows the Price

BRIDGEWAY FP

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Let’s talk About it. #StopSuicide There is help and hope.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:

1-800-273-TALK (8255) This poster was developed under grant number 1U79SM061722-01 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The views, policies and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of SAMHSA or HHS. armentalhealthguide.com . 5

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Rebuilding lives A continuum of psychiatric, emotional, behavioral and spiritual care for children and their families throughout Arkansas

GetTherapy.com 1-888-Therapy We are a state-wide network of private mental health practices in Arkansas.

Call today to find a provider near you.

www.MethodistFamily.org

The journey to complete wellness begins with a healthy mind.

Your Path to Integrated Wellness

For more than a decade, children, adolescents and adults across Northeast, North Central and Central Arkansas have learned to enjoy healthier lifestyles through our therapeutic services.

Counseling Associates provides a full continuum of innovative, community-based behavioral health care services to enhance the quality of life for individuals in Faulkner, Conway, Perry, Pope, Yell, and Johnson counties.

www.caiinc.org 20 . Mental Health Guide 2018

LIFE IS MEANT TO BE ENJOYED! Toll-free: 877.595.8869 • familiesinc.net

“CRY, and you feel some relief, but CRY WITH A FRIEND, and you feel some HEALING.”

Changing the lives of our youth by providing preventative services, counseling and shelter to strengthen families & build stronger communities.

OUR LOCATIONS

Fayetteville Admin Office 2153 E. Joyce Blvd.

Suite 201 Fayetteville, AR 72703 phone: 479-575-9471 fax: 479-587-9392

Youth Bridge helps motivate, empower and inspire the youth in our area every day. We provide emergency shelter, clinical assistance, in-school services, therapeutic day treatment, and outpatient programs to youth dealing with issues such as abuse, neglect, homelessness, addiction, as well as behavioral, mental or social problems. We offer services in Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Fulton, Madison, Marion, Newton & Washington Counties.

Fayetteville Clinical Office 3715 Business Dr. Suite 104 Fayetteville, AR 72703 phone: 479-521-1532 or 1-800-628-2260 fax: 479-521-9940 Rogers Clinical Office 1200 W. Walnut St. Suite 1500 Rogers, AR 72756 phone: 479-636-0083 fax: 479-636-0144

Berryville Clinical Office 1004 S. Main St. Berryville, AR 72616 phone: 870-423-1077 fax: 870-741-4088 Harrison Clinical Office 114 E Crandall Ave, Suite B Harrison, AR 72601 phone: 870-741-8484 fax: 870-741-4088 Mountain Home Clinical Office 707 N Cardinal, Suite 7 Mountain Home, AR 72653 phone: 870-425-5644 fax: 870-424-2201

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“Some people will NEVER come in

and TALK TO A THERAPIST,

but they’ll get in a FLOAT TANK,” says Gansz.

C

ommunity Service, Inc. is a nonprofit agency that works with children, youth and their families to help them deal with behavioral issues so they can be successful in their homes, schools, vocations, and communities. No child is ever turned away due to their inability to pay for services.

PROGRAMS  Juvenile Justice  Mental Health Services  Prevention & Education  Rehabilitation Day Services  Substance Abuse Services  Therapeutic Foster Care  Youth Leadership Program  The First Tee Character Development Program 106 Cherokee Ln. Clarksville, AR ADMINISTRATIVE 479.754.7296 OFFICE 100 S. Cherokee St. Morrilton, AR 119 Shake Rag Rd. 501.354.4589 Clinton, AR 501.754.2956

818 N. Creek Dr. Conway, AR 501.327.9788

203 N. 4th. St. Ozark, AR 479.667.5855

1408 East 8th St. Danville, AR 479.495.5177

1505 S. Oswego Ave. Russellville, AR 479.967.3370

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YOUTH HOME, INC. • 20400 Colonel Glenn Road Little Rock, AR 72210 501-821-5500 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES OF ARKANSAS • 10 Corporate Hill, Ste. 330 Little Rock, AR 72205 501-954-7470 ARKANSAS BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD • 601 S. Gaines St. Little Rock, AR 72201 501-378-2000 ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH • 4815 W. Markham St. Little Rock, AR 72205 501-661-2000 ARKANSAS FAMILIES FIRST • 4004 McCain Blvd., Suite 203 North Little Rock, AR 72116 501-812-4268 ARKANSAS JUDGES AND LAWYERS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM • 18 Corporate Hill Drive, #201 Little Rock, AR 72205 501-907-2529 BRADFORD HEALTH • 11215 Hermitage Rd. Suite 204 Little Rock, AR 72211 501-725-8000 CENTERS FOR YOUTH AND FAMILIES Elizabeth Mitchell Children Center • 6601 W 12th St. Little Rock, AR 72204 501-666-8686 or 888-868-0023 Elizabeth Mitchell Adolescent Center (EMAC) • 6501 West 12th St. Little Rock, AR 72204 501-666-8686 or 888-868-0023 Youth Emergency Shelter • 6425 W 12th St. Little Rock, AR 72204 501-666-8686 or 888-868-0023 Southeast Residential Center • 936 Jordan Dr. Monticello, AR 71655 870-460-0066 or 888-868-0023 Freeway Medical Building: Therapeutic Family Homes Program Prevention Services • 5800 W. 10th St., Suite 600 Little Rock, AR 72204 501-666-9436 or 888-868-0023

OUACHITA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS • 125 Dons Way Hot Springs, AR 71913 501-624-7111 COMMUNITY SERVICE INC. • 100 S. Cherokee Morrilton, AR 72110 501-354-4589 • 106 Cherokee Lane Clarksville, AR 72830 479-754-7296 • 818 N. Creek Dr. Conway, AR 72032 501-327-9788 Conway Day Services • 816 N. Creek Dr. Conway, AR 72032 501-329-5848 • 119 Shake Rag Rd Clinton, AR 72031 501-745-2956 • 1408 East 8th St. Danville, AR 72833 479-495-5177 • 203 North 4th P. O. Box 467 Ozark, AR 72949 479 -667-5855 • 1505 S. Oswego Ave. Russellville, AR 72802 479-967-3370 Russellville Day Services • 1415 S. Oswego Ave. Russellville, AR 72802 479-967-3370 DAYSPRING PREFERRED FAMILY HEALTHCARE • 1820 Central Ave., Suite D Hot Springs, AR 71913 501-609-0400 FAIRFIELD RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTER • 890 Houston Levee Rd. Cordova, TN 38018 901-757-7979 FAIRHAVEN OUTPATIENT CENTER • 671 N. Ericson Rd. Cordova, TN 38018 901-757-7979 FAMILIES INC. Ash Flat Clinical Office Remington Plaza • 75 Hwy. 62/412, Ste. J Ash Flat, AR 72513 870-994-7060 Jacksonville Clinical Office • 2126 N. 1st St., Ste. F Jacksonville, AR 72076 501-982-5000

Jonesboro Corporate/Clinical Office & Psychology Dept.

• 1815 Pleasant Grove Rd. Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-933-6886 Mountain Home Clinical Office • 700 S. Main St. Mountain Home, AR 72653 870-425-1041 Osceola Clinical Office • 3201 W. Keiser St. PO Box 447 Osceola, AR 72370 870-622-0592 Paragould Clinical Office • 1101 Morgan St. Suite 8 Paragould, AR 72450 870-335-9483 Pocahontas Clinical Office • 2305 Old County Rd. PO Box 630 Pocahontas, AR 72455 870-892-1005 Piggott Clinical Office • 111 South Third Ave. Piggott, AR 72454 870-598-0306 Searcy Clinical Office • 1507 E. Race Ave. Searcy, AR 72143 501-305-2359 Trumann Clinical Office • 1704 Hwy. 69 West Trumann, AR 72472 870-483-4003 Walnut Ridge Clinical Office • 1425 W. Main St. Walnut Ridge, AR 72476 870.886.5303 LITTLE ROCK COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER • 1100 N. University Ave. Suite 200, 201 & 240 Little Rock, AR 72207 501-686-9300 METHODIST FAMILY HEALTH • 1209 Hwy. 71N, Suite B, Alma, AR 72921 479-632-102 • 500 E. Main St., Suite 310, Batesville, AR 72501 870-569-4890 • 74 W. Sunbridge Dr., Fayetteville, AR 72703 479-582-5565 • 407 S. 7th St., Heber Springs, AR 72543 501-365-3022 • 100 Ridgeway, Suite 5, Hot Springs, AR 71901 501-318-6066 • 2239 S. Caraway, Suite M, Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-910-3757 • 1600 Aldersgate Rd., Suite 100B Little Rock, AR 72205 501-537-3991 armentalhealthguide.com . 31

• 621 E. North St. Magnolia, AR 71753 870-234-0739 MILLCREEK BEHAVIORAL HEALTH • 1828 Industrial Dr. Fordyce, AR 71742 866-928-2929 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS, ARKANSAS CHAPTER • 1123 South University Ave., Ste 1010 Little Rock, AR 72204 501-663-0658 OASIS RENEWAL CENTER • 14913 Cooper Orbit Rd. Little Rock, Arkansas 72223 501-376-2747 OUACHITA CHILDREN’S CENTER • 339 Charteroak St. Hot Springs, AR 71901 501-623-5591 OUACHITA COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER • 638 California Ave. Camden, AR 71701 870-836-1000

RIVENDELL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES OF ARKANSAS • 100 Rivendell Dr. Benton, AR 72015 501-316-1255 SPRINGWOODS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH • 1955 W. Truckers Dr. Fayetteville, AR 72704 888-521-6014 THE BRIDGEWAY • 21 Bridgeway Rd. North Little Rock, AR 72113 501-771-1500 THE GUIDANCE CENTER Fort Smith Center • 3111 South 70th St. 479-452-6650 Van Buren Center • 2705 Oak Lane 479-474-8084 Ozark Center • 1600 North 18th St. 479-667-2497 Booneville Center • 174 North Welsh Ave. 479-675-3909

CARE.

From first light, to long into the night. Our team is here doing what we do best, providing you with quality care.

• Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Care • Transitions Counseling Services

Paris Center • 415 South 6th St. 479-963-2140 Mena Center • 307 South Cherry St. 479-394-5277 Waldron Center • 1857 Rice St. 479-637-2468 VALLEY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM • 10301 Mayo Dr. Barling, AR 72923 866-305-8282 WOLFE STREET FOUNDATION • 1015 S Louisiana St. Little Rock, Arkansas 72202 501-372-5662 WOODLAND INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH GROUP • 910 Autumn Rd. Little Rock, AR 72211 800-611-4873 WOODLAND NORTHWEST • 609 W Dyke Rd, Rogers, AR 72758 479-927-3000 ARKANSAS STATE HOSPITAL • 305 South Palm St. Little Rock, AR 72205 501-686-9000 PINNACLE POINTE BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM • 11501 Financial Centre Pky. Little Rock, AR 72211 501-223-3322 UNITED METHODIST BEHAVIORAL HOSPITAL • 1601 Murphy Dr. Maumelle, AR 72113 501-803-3388

Levi Hospital, 300 Prospect Ave., Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901 Levi Hospital – Healing Mind & Body Since 1914 Main Number 501.624.1281 • Transitions Counseling 501.622.3580 Inpatient Unit 501.622.3520 • Email jarrison@levihospital.com

Levi Hospital is a 501 (C) - (3) non-profit organization. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

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VANTAGE POINT OF NORTHWEST ARKANSAS • 4253 Crossover Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72703 866-387-7814 BIRCH TREE COMMUNITIES AHC BRANCH • 6701 Hwy. 67 South, Bldg. 4 Benton, AR 72015 501-315-3344

COUNSELING ASSOCIATES, INC. OUTPATIENT OFFICE • 350 Salem Rd., Suite 1 Conway, AR 72034 501-336-8300 COUNSELING CLINIC, INC. • 110 Pearson St. Benton, AR 72015 501-315-4224 DELTA COUNSELING ASSOCIATES • 790 Roberts Dr. Monticello, Arkansas 71657 870-367-2461 HEALTH RESOURCES OF ARKANSAS, INC. • 25 Gap Rd. Batesville, AR 72503 870-793-8900 MID-SOUTH HEALTH SYSTEMS • 2707 Browns Lane Jonesboro, Arkansas 870-972-4000 OZARK GUIDANCE HOME • 2400 S 48th St. Fayetteville, AR 72762 479-750-2020 OZARK GUIDANCE CENTER, INC. • 2400 S. 48th St. Springdale, AR 72762 479-750-2020 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS PSYCHOLOGICAL GROUP • 1706 E Joyce Blvd. #3 Fayetteville, AR 72703 479-442-9381 NORTHWEST PSYCHIATRY MANA • 4700 S Thompson St., Ste. C-103 Springdale, AR 72764 479-571-6363 SOUTH ARKANSAS REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER • 715 North College Ave. El Dorado, AR 71730 870-862-7921 SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, INC. • 2500 Rike Dr. Pine Bluff, AR 71613 870-534-1834

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNSELING & MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, INC. • 2904 Arkansas Blvd.

Texarkana, AR 71854 870-773-4655 ARKANSAS COUNSELING & PSYCHODIAGNOSTICS • 2607 Caddo St., Ste #6 Arkadelphia, AR 71923 870-230- 8217 WESTERN ARKANSAS COUNSELING & GUIDANCE CENTER • 3111 S. 70th St. Fort Smith, AR 72903 479-452-6650

PREVENTION RESOURCE CENTERS OPERATED BY PREFERRED FAMILY HEALTHCARE, INC. D/B/A DECISION POINT • 614 E. Emma Ave., Suite M426 Springdale, AR, 72764 479-927-2655 OPERATED BY NORTH ARKANSAS PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH EDUCATION • 303 N. Main St. Harrison, AR, 72601 870-365-6518 OPERATED BY PREFERRED FAMILY HEALTHCARE, INC. D/B/A HEALTH RESOURCES OF ARKANSAS • 106 Mountain Place Dr. Mountain View, AR, 72560 866-533-1759 • 1800 Myers Ave. Batesville, AR, 72501 870-793-8925 OPERATED BY CROWLEY’S RIDGE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, INC • 2401 Fox Meadows Lane Jonesboro, AR, 72404 870-933-0033 • 593 Highway 243 Marianna, AR, 72360 870-298-2250 OPERATED BY HARBOR HOUSE, INC. • 3900 Armour Ave. Fort Smith, AR, 72904 479-785-4083 • 4425 Jefferson Ave., Suite 115 Texarkana, AR, 71854 870-773-0997 • 124 S. Jackson St., Suite 411 Magnolia, AR, 71754 870-901-3551

OPERATED BY CONWAY COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICE, INC. • 100 South Cherokee St. Morrilton, AR, 72110 501-354-4589 • 1505 South Oswego Ave. Russellville, AR, 72802 479-967-3370 OPERATED BY CHI ST. VINCENT HOSPITAL HOT SPRINGS • 1 Mercy Lane, Suite 507B Hot Springs, AR, 71913 501-622-2105 OPERATED BY FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY, INC. • 628 West Broadway St., Suite 300 North Little Rock, AR, 72114 501-372-4242 OPERATED BY COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT COUNCIL, INC • 4701 Dollarway Rd. Pine Bluff, AR, 71602 870-536-8484 OPERATED BY PHOENIX YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES • 310 North Alabama St. Crossett, AR, 71635 870-364-1676

ARKANSAS DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS DISTRICT VETERAN SERVICE OFFICES DISTRICT 1 • 2200 Fort Roots Dr., Building 65, Room 119 North Little Rock, AR 72114 501-370-3820 DISTRICT 2 • 2143 W. Martin Luther King Blvd.

Fayetteville, AR 72701-6219 479-387-6610 DISTRICT 3 • 1600 South College St., Room M204 Mountain Home, AR 72653 870-404-6944 DISTRICT 4 • 104 S. Rochester Ave. Russellville, AR 72801 479-747-5671

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DISTRICT 5 • 2311 East Nettleton Ave. Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-933-5085 DISTRICT 6 • 616 Garrison Ave. #101 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-966-5295 DISTRICT 7 • 300 Eldrige, Suite 2 Forrest City, AR 72335 870-736-7360 DISTRICT 8 • 205 Smith Rd., Suite A Hope, AR 71801 870-826-4899 DISTRICT 9 • Drew County Courthouse, 210 South Main St. Monticello, AR 71655 870-623-6900

SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VETERANS LITTLE ROCK VET CENTER • 201 W. Broadway St., Suite A North Little Rock, AR 72114 501-324-6395 VETERANS HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OF THE OZARKS • 1100 North College Ave. Fayetteville, AR 72703 479-443-4301

HELP FOR VETS AND THEIR SURVIVORS AND DEPENDENTS BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING • 202-461-6530 VET CENTER CALL CENTER • 877-WAR-VETS (927-8387) Health Care • 877-222-8387 Mental Health • mentalhealth.va.gov NATIONAL RESOURCE DIRECTORY • nrd.gov 34 . Mental Health Guide 2018

STATE DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS • va.gov/statedva.htm SPECIAL HEALTH ISSUES • 800-749-8387

10TH DISTRICT SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM DBA NEW BEGINNINGS, C.A.S.A. • 412 York St. Warren, AR 71671 870-226-9970

TELECOMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR THE DEAF • 800-829-4833

RECOVERY CENTERS OF ARKANSAS • 1201 River Rd. North Little Rock, AR 72114 501-372-4611

VA BENEFITS • 800-827-1000 VETERANS CRISIS LINE • 800-273-8255 WOMEN VETERANS • 202-461-1070

SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PROVIDERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES OF ARKANSAS • 10 Corporate Hill, Ste. 330 Little Rock, AR 72205 501-954-7470 PREFERRED FAMILY HEALTHCARE, INC. DBA DECISION POINT • 602 N. Walton Blvd.

Bentonville, AR 72712 833-893-4315

STATEWIDE MEDICAL DETOX QUAPAW HOUSE LITTLE ROCK MEDICAL DETOX/CORT PROGRAM • 7600 Enmar St. Little Rock, AR 72209 501-686-9393

SUICIDE PREVENTION EMERGENCY SERVICES • 911 ARKANSAS CRISIS CENTER • 888-274-7472 NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE • 800-273-TALK (8255) AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION ARKANSAS CHAPTER • afsp.org/arkansas ARKANSAS SUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK • arsuicideprevention.org/

PREFERRED FAMILY HEALTHCARE, INC. DBA HEALTH RESOURCES OF ARKANSAS • 3204 E. Moore Searcy, AR 501-268-7777

RECOVERY SERVICES

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH CENTER DBA MID SOUTH HEALTH SYSTEMS • 2707 Browns Lane Jonesboro, Arkansas 870-972-4000

ARKANSAS REGIONAL SERVICE COMMITTEE OF NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS • 800-338-8750

QUAPAW HOUSE, INC. • 812 Mountain Pine Rd., Hot Springs, AR 71913 501-767-4456

ARKANSAS ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS • 501-664-7303

ARKANSAS AREA AL-ANON/ ALATEEN • arkansasalanon.org SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION • samhsa.gov

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An Approach to Adolescent Drug & Alcohol Related Problems that Works The Seven Challenges is a comprehensive counseling program for young people that incorporates work on alcohol and other drug problems. It is designed to motivate youth to evaluate their lives, consider changes they may wish to make, and then succeed in implementing the desired changes. It supports them in taking power over their own lives.

ting p e c c Soon A clients!* id Medica y ate Pa

The Seven Challenges® Program • Is Developmentally Appropriate For Ages 13-24 • Is Evidence Based • Offers Cultural Sensitivity • Addresses Co-Occurring Problems

& Priv urance epted s In e t *Priva tly Acc Curren

501-954-7470 • BHSArkansas.org

NEW VISION IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD RECOVERY NEW VISION is an inpatient Medical Stabilization Service for people with drug, alcohol & related health issues.

New Vision accepts adult patients, aged 18 & older, who are experiencing incapacitation due to substance use or are experiencing acute withdrawal symptoms. Treatment consists of a medically supervised hospital stay for inpatient stabilization which typically lasts 3 to 5 days.

The inpatient stay includes: pre-screening assessment, admission, medical stabilization, and appropriate discharge planning.

New Vision has a fully qualified treatment team who utilize a multi-disciplinary team approach in the individualized treatment of each patient. Upon admission to the hospital, assessments of the patient’s fundamental needs are accomplished. These assessments include a medical history, physical, a complete laboratory workup and a nursing assessment. Patients who are under the influence of chemical substances, opiates, including prescription painkillers and heroin, and/or have other medical co-morbidities, will be closely observed and stabilized.

The hospital accepts appropriate patients who are experiencing problems and incapacitation due to substance use and/or abuse, or are experiencing acute withdrawal symptoms from cessation of use of certain substances. The service accepts most insurance, Medicaid and Medicare plans.

unity-health.org/new-vision (800) 939-2273 New Vision™ is a medically supervised, hospital based service for adults who experience acute withdrawal symptoms due to alcohol, and/or drug abuse. Only a licensed physician can determine those who qualify. SpecialCare Hospital Management administers New Vision for the hospital, and has a financial interest in this service. New Vision, Inner Vision and New Vision for Expectant Mothers is a trademark brand of SpecialCare Hospital Management Corporation 2015®.

The tapping of

ink pens provides a drumbeat for the lesson...

this is your journey. begin healing with us.

B E H AV I O R A L H E A LT H

Begin to heal in our adult inpatient treatment program.

An upcoming expansion of services will include an adult inpatient addiction treatment program, and, an adolescent inpatient mental health program.

Call Today: (501) 302-4477 | conwaybh.com | 2255 Sturgis Rd Conway, AR 72034

n Anna Karenina, writer Leo Tolstoy posits that “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” But perhaps the quote’s popularity masks its truth; as family estrangement becomes more prevalent in society, the myriad ways that families are unhappy seem to increase unceasingly, according to Little Rock-based family counselor Rebecca Ward. Families are complex, and so are the reasons they fall apart – but regardless of why family members cut ties, mental health issues like depression, anxiety and even personality disorders are never too far behind.

Family estrangement refers to situations where the relationship between family members dissolves to the point that they are no longer in contact with each other. It could be that one family member is estranged from the rest of the family, or just one family member estranged from one parent or sibling. Sometimes families even break into groups on either side of an argument, Ward says.

Families fall apart for a vast array of different reasons, says Howard Turney, a marriage and family therapist in Little Rock.

Family estrangement could stem from childhood abuse, or money that was loaned but never paid back. Sometimes parents reject their children after they come out as queer. Children may hold resentment from childhood if they feel that their parent was too strict or showed favoritism to another sibling. Family ties might break if a child marries someone who doesn’t get along with their new in-laws. Divorce, criminal behavior or the death of a family member can lead to estrangement too.

Relationships can even fail because of simple misperception; counselors call it cognitive distortion, or a misunderstanding of how others feel about a given person. A child or parent might feel that the other never really liked them, and then they feel a critical void in their life. This causes them to lash out, and can eventually lead to estrangement, Turney says.

“There’s just so many reasons, but I guess it’s just a failure of expectations and a sense of being mistreated that causes a lot of estrangements,” Ward says.

When families experience estrangement, it inevitably leads to distress. “Families of origin,” or biological families, are

everyone’s earliest relationship, and the familial relationship shapes how people behave in future relationships, Turney says.

When there’s something wrong with a biological family unit, everyone feels the effects.

“You’ve got a family that’s got holes in it, and everybody reacts to the holes,” Ward says. “There’s something missing, there’s tension…

It’s just not normal to have a family member who has disappeared.

I’ve seen several families where I ask about their siblings, and they say, ‘I have a brother but I haven’t seen him in 30 years.’

What happened? They’re not sure. ‘Oh he got mad at Daddy about something.’ Sometimes they won’t even know the reasons.”

Even when anger and resentment surrounds family estrangement, it can still be psychologically damaging to anyone who is no longer in contact with a family member. When people lose the closest relationships from their formative years, it always leaves a mark. People who experience family estrangement may develop depression or anxiety because of the lost relationship, or they might have trouble forming new relationships. They may even develop more serious personality disorders if the problem persists, Turney says.

Dealing with family estrangements is always tricky, because all families are different. For therapists, the work is to try to help them understand that there are two sides to every story, and that both people involved in the fractured relationship have to come up with some form of understanding it in a different way.

For people experiencing family estrangement, reunification with family members may not be the goal. They may just want to learn how to have healthy relationships again or move past the anger they have for their family, Turney says. No matter the goal, issues surrounding family estrangement must be dealt with so that they don’t lead to larger problems.

“Family estrangement is not something that families just accept and get over, it’s always a part of the fabric of that family,” Ward says. Though Ward deals with family estrangement often in her practice, she acknowledges that for every family she helps, “there’s probably 10 times, 100 times that many who wouldn’t think of going to counseling for it.”

Unhappy families, indeed. ◊

LET US HELP YOU ON YOUR JOURNEY TO RECOVERY

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1-844-881-3603 50 . Mental Health Guide 2018

505 W. Grand Avenue Hot Springs, AR 71901

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Laura Tyler is executive director of Ozark Guidance Center in Fayetteville.