Arkansas Psychological Association

Arkansas Psychological Association Join ArPA today: https://arpapsych.org/join-arpa/
Lunch & Learn Free for Members:https://arpapsych.org/arpa-events/lunch-and-learn-series/

Founded in 1949, ArPA is a non-for-profit, professional, statewide organization whose purpose is to advance psychology as a science, a profession, and a means of promoting human welfare in a challenging and changing world. Our members represent the most well trained, highly credentialed, and clinically experienced mental health care professionals in Arkansas. Across our state, our members are actively involved in providing psychological services in private practices, hospitals, and community mental health centers. Others teach in undergraduate and graduate academic programs, conduct cutting-edge research, serve in administrative positions for human service programs, and dedicate countless hours as committee members and chairs of various boards on the state, national, and international level.

02/22/2026

#11

"My parents are the worst... my life is the worst."

Often, severe distress paints the world in absolute black, blinding us to any positive reality. However, when a struggling teen can still identify moments of joy amidst the pain, it signals a crucial capacity for resilience. Recognizing this ability to hold conflicting emotions—ambivalence—is a powerful tool for clinicians to build upon.

The ability to see the gray is often the first step back toward the light.

Follow our page for clinical insights, watch the full analysis, and visit our website today.
[https://arpapsych.org/]

02/22/2026

Three in five Black children experience at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE).

Violence, abuse, neglect, parental incarceration, and household instability create toxic stress responses. These experiences change brain development and how bodies respond to stress long-term. ACEs link directly to chronic health problems, mental health conditions, and substance misuse.

Understanding this impact is the first step toward breaking intergenerational cycles of trauma.

Subscribe for deeper dives into community health, watch the complete presentation, and visit our website for more information.

[https://arpapsych.org/]

Imagine if a Boeing 747 filled with passengers crashed every single year with no survivors—that is the tragic scale of t...
02/22/2026

Imagine if a Boeing 747 filled with passengers crashed every single year with no survivors—that is the tragic scale of the su***de crisis currently facing Arkansas.

Since 2013, more than 500 lives are lost annually in the state, a statistic that transforms dry epidemiological data into a heartbreaking reality. While the numbers can be overwhelming, understanding this data is the first step in supporting the Department of Health’s vital efforts to connect at-risk individuals with life-saving in-state resources.

Follow us to stay informed on local mental health initiatives, watch the full video to understand the data behind the crisis.

02/21/2026

"Depression is a white people thing? Black people don't go to therapy? Yes, we do."

Mental health doesn't discriminate by race, ethnicity, background, or how you were raised. Help looks different for everyone—talking to friends, seeing therapists, finding community support. Whether you're a "bag of Skittles" or any shade in between, struggles are universal.

Seeking help isn't weakness; it's strength available to absolutely everyone.

Follow for inclusive mental health conversations, watch the full talk, and visit our website for more information.

[https://arpapsych.org/]

"Why aren't people doing anything? We should really be drawing more attention to this."This question often stems from a ...
02/21/2026

"Why aren't people doing anything? We should really be drawing more attention to this."

This question often stems from a place of deep frustration, but it is also the necessary spark that ignites meaningful change. This content represents the culmination of dedicated advocacy and research aimed at shattering the silence surrounding su***de, moving beyond mere observation to provide the actionable insights and vital information needed to save lives in our communities.

Follow us to join the movement for mental health awareness, watch the full video for the complete presentation on prevention strategies.

02/20/2026

What will you learn at our March 6th workshop with Dr. Jessica M. Smedley? 📚

This workshop provides practical strategies to identify bias, address racial dynamics in the therapy room, and integrate antiracist principles across assessment, diagnosis, and intervention.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
🔹 Identify ways racism operates as a chronic stressor and traumatic exposure affecting mental health outcomes across the lifespan
🔹 Apply antiracist principles to clinical decision-making, including intake, diagnosis, goal-setting, and termination
🔹 Identify signs of racialized stress responses that may be misdiagnosed as pathology

Using an antiracist and trauma-informed framework, participants will gain tools to reduce harm, strengthen the therapeutic alliance, and provide more equitable, culturally responsive mental health care.

Workshop Details:
📆 Friday, March 6, 2026
🕐 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM CST
💻 Virtual via Zoom
📜 3 CE credits | $40 members, $5 students
Registration closes March 2 at 3pm CST

02/20/2026

"A suicidal thought is often just the brain’s desperate attempt to solve a painful problem."

When in crisis, cognitive impairment often blinds individuals to their own strengths and inherent resilience. We must validate their pain and see the value they cannot currently see themselves.

Healing begins when we stop asking "what is wrong" and start affirming "you are seen."

Subscribe to our channel, watch the full video explanation, and visit our website today.
[https://arpapsych.org/]

While the science is clear that psychotherapeutics significantly reduce su***de risk when taken as prescribed, a critica...
02/20/2026

While the science is clear that psychotherapeutics significantly reduce su***de risk when taken as prescribed, a critical danger arises when treatment is suddenly interrupted.

Research identifies the cessation of medication as an "acute event" that can precipitate a crisis, triggering severe withdrawal symptoms like insomnia, anxiety, hallucinations, and deep despair. This distinction highlights that the risk often lies not in the treatment itself, but in the instability caused by stopping it, making consistent adherence and professional management vital for safety.

Follow us for essential mental health education, watch the full video to learn more about safe medication management.

[https://arpapsych.org/]

02/20/2026

"If I'm not comfortable with you, I will change doctors."

Stigma, fear, insurance gaps, transportation barriers, and racial trauma all impact mental health access. Cultural incompetence and bias from clinical professionals make finding the right fit even harder. It's okay to change doctors or therapists until you find someone who understands you.

Your comfort and cultural understanding aren't luxuries—they're essential to effective care.

Subscribe for insights on culturally competent care, watch the full discussion, and visit our website for more information.

[https://arpapsych.org/]

02/19/2026

"It's okay to ask if they're thinking about ending their life."

Identify stressors, ask direct questions, and trust your instincts even when answers seem reassuring. Remove potential hazards like pills, fi****ms, or anything they've mentioned as a method. Stay with them, find the right resources, and approach with genuine empathy.

Creating immediate safety while connecting to help can make all the difference.

Follow for life-saving guidance, watch the full crisis intervention training, and visit our website for more information.

[https://arpapsych.org/]

02/19/2026

"The suicidal thought is your brain trying to come up with a solution to a really painful problem."

When we judge suicidal thoughts, we silence the very people who need to speak the most. We must shift our perspective to see these thoughts not as failures, but as urgent communications of deep, internal distress. By listening without judgment, we can partner with individuals to address the pain rather than just the symptom.

Hearing the distress signal clearly is the first step toward finding a better solution together.

Follow our page for more compassionate strategies, watch the full video, and visit our website today.
[https://arpapsych.org/]

"I don't think there's going to be anything there."That was the initial skepticism of a researcher before uncovering a l...
02/19/2026

"I don't think there's going to be anything there."

That was the initial skepticism of a researcher before uncovering a life-saving truth: there is a distinct temporal relationship between running out of medication and dying by su***de. Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, this pivotal study highlights that medication gaps are not just logistical issues but critical risk factors, underscoring the urgent need for providers to monitor access closely and for patients to consult professionals before ever altering their treatment.

Follow us for the latest research updates, watch the full video to hear the story behind this discovery.

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PO Box 21220
Little Rock, AR
72221

Telephone

+15016146500

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