AR Nextstep Counseling Services, LLC

01/27/2026

📣 South Arkansas families — this one’s for you!

Join us February 24, 2026 in DeWitt for an informative, family-focused event on supporting children and adults with disabilities today and for the future. 💙

We’ll cover topics families are asking about right now, including Autism & CES Waivers, TEFRA, ARHIPP, alternatives to guardianship, special education advocacy, and key tools to help you plan ahead. You’ll hear directly from trusted experts and parent advocates who understand Arkansas systems.

✨ This is a FREE event.
You’re welcome to attend even if you don’t pre-register, registration will be available at the door.
Pre-registration helps us collect important data to better support South Arkansas families and the organizations involved.

👉 Pre-register here: https://form.jotform.com/260144380218147

Please share with other South Arkansas families who may benefit!

01/13/2026

🏥 Methodist Family Health opened a new children’s behavioral hospital today in Jonesboro, expanding inpatient mental health services for children and families across Northeast Arkansas.

The 70-bed facility will provide short-term psychiatric care for patients under 18, reducing the need for families to travel long distances for treatment. The hospital is set to begin serving patients later this month.

➡️ Full story at NEAReport.com
🔗 https://neareport.com/2026/01/13/methodist-family-health-opens-new-childrens-behavioral-hospital/

01/09/2026

✨ A new space. A long-held vision. A stronger response for survivors. ✨

We are proud to share that Family Crisis Center’s Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) program has officially relocated to a stand-alone center at 511 W. Monroe in Jonesboro.

This space was created with survivors in mind—offering a warm, trauma-informed environment where forensic exams can be completed outside of a hospital setting, and where survivors can meet with an advocate for ongoing support and healing, if they choose.

Survivors do not have to be recent victims to receive services. Individuals are welcome to meet with an advocate to talk through past trauma, explore resources, and receive support—whenever they are ready.

🩵Open and serving adults 18+
🩵 Walk-ins welcome
🩵24/7 Crisis Hotline: 870-933-9449

A grand opening and ribbon cutting will take place on April 22nd during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, but services are available now. More details regarding the grand opening will be announced at a later date.

12/08/2025

Our hearts are with the entire community of Manila, and especially with the families and classmates of those who were injured and lost.

💛🖤🦁

11/20/2025

🦃 Here is another Thanksgiving resource for those in need!

🍂 Community Thanksgiving Meal 🍂

Join us for a hot meal here at Greater Vision Church — open to anyone in need or anyone who just wants to share a meal and fellowship with others this Thanksgiving season. 🦃❤️

📍 529 E. Court St. Paragould, AR
📅 November 25, 2025
🕖 7:00 PM

Come hungry, come as you are, and let’s give thanks together as a community.

11/12/2025

🦃🦃🦃

Update— we have reached our number of pre-order meals for delivery. We will have a limited number of meals day of on a first come first serve basis. Day of meals will NOT be given out until pre order meals are filled.

Online orders are up!! We will be taking online orders from now until we reach 1,800 meals or Nov 25 at midnight, whichever comes first!!

09/24/2025

🙌 Our therapist, Karlee Swenson, LPC, spent time earlier this month participating in DC: 0-5 training for Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood to maintain her infant mental health certificate!

09/20/2025

🍎To all our school staff friends, K-12, check out this opportunity!!!

UPDATE: Our cohort is now full and applications are closed for this year!

Applications now open for our Fall 2025 Trauma-Informed Certificate Program! This virtual cohort is open to all school staff K-12. For more information, visit our website or click the link to apply. https://redcap.link/TRIS_cert

09/19/2025

🎡🎟️ CHECK OUT THIS OPPORTUNITY THIS WEEKEND! ⤵️

🎡🎟️🍿 Step right up for a night made just for YOU! 🎡🎟️🍿

Ag for Autism is excited to announce Sensory Night at the NEA District Fair! 🌟

📅 Date: Sunday, Sept. 21
⏰ Time: 4–6 PM
📍 Where: NEA District Fairgrounds

✨ Families with sensory and disability needs are invited to enjoy:

🎠 Carnival rides
🌽 Delicious fair food
🎯 Games & prizes
🐐 Sweet farm animals
❌ With NO loud music – just a safe and fun environment!

🎟️ This is a special ticketed event ONLY and spots are limited! Registration goes LIVE this Wednesday right here on our page – don’t miss it!

08/29/2025

✅ Day 3, the final day, of the Annual Arkansas Behavioral Health Institute put on by the Arkansas Council for Behavioral Health COMPLETED!

✨Take away from today:

LIFE. IS. A. JOURNEY that requires us to go the distance - much like the theme of the institute this year.

We noted how roadtrips, like the one we took to Hot Springs this week, requires the same essentials that it takes to help us care for our mental health, such as:

📒 Planning - preparing for the road ahead & setting goals.
🧘 Patience- learning to pace yourself & knowing the journey takes time.
💪 Flexibility - being able to adjust when the journey throws you detours & inconveniences.
🌳 Enjoy the Scenery - celebrate small victories, practice gratitude, & being present.
⛽️Pit Stops - taking breaks, both planned & unexpected, to recharge.

To all of our clients - past, present, & future - our goal is to help you, and walk beside you, as you go the distance on your mental health journey.

💚🫶

08/28/2025

✅ Day 2 of the Annual Arkansas Behavioral Health Institute put on by the Arkansas Council for Behavioral Health COMPLETED!

✨Take away from today:

Just like fishing building mental health takes patience, consistency, and the right tools!

Our team “dropped anchor” at the Fisherman's Wharf Steak & Seafood for dinner for some much needed connection and reflection after a full day of learning.

A few reminders for you:

🎣 Connection is the best catch of the day.

🌊 Calm waters don’t come without storms & progress takes time.

⚓️ Stay anchored in your supports when life feels overwhelming.

🐟No one fish can outswim the ocean, but together they thrive — the same is true for healing and resilience.

🐠 It’s not about one big fish, but about showing up consistently. Small steps, or rather “small catches,” add up to real progress - so celebrate them all.

*

☀️ Please contact us, if you’re struggling to stay afloat in rough waters. Our team is here to help you cast a line to support, resilience, and brighter days.

08/27/2025

✅ Day 1 of the Annual Arkansas Behavioral Health Institute put on by the Arkansas Council for Behavioral Health COMPLETED!

✨Take away from today:

As always we are reminded that, like healing, learning is not always linear.

Sometimes it can look like journaling - quiet reflection, scribbled insights, and “aha” moments that arrive in messy handwriting.

Sometimes it looks like taking a selfie with a statue of a mob boss outside of The Ohio Club - because after a full day of absorbing new ideas, your brain needs a break, and your heart needs a laugh.

Growth doesn’t always follow a straight path. It can loop, pause, surprise, and occasionally detours through vintage gangster photo ops.

But every moment - serious or silly - is part of the process.

Keep learning. Keep laughing. Keep showing up. Embrace the process. Even if your next breakthrough happens next to an Al Capone statue while meeting up with a coworker for a post conference dinner.

📸: Sarah Wilson, LAC and Karlee Swenson, LPC