Alternative Access

12/04/2025

Typically, I spend most of my time interviewing with Graduate students for research and trying to help the next generation find their path way within the mental health field. Last month was the first time doing a public interview on my practice, and I thrilled to see that the interview with is now live.

The interview talks about my background, the development of my practice, and why I serve the populations that I do.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Studer. Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? As a Chicago-land transplant, I grew up with immediate access to a much larger city and […]

11/24/2025

TLDR: Surveys are asking for volunteers' feedback on disability access.

I am working on further continuing education, CE, trainings within the disability series now that my training on Americans' with Disability Act, ADA, and employment is complete (link in comments).

I will continually be updating the surveys on this website to reflect the different projects that I am working on, however these two on ADA and education and ADA and community access are the next ones that I am tackling and I would like it to be more representative of community thoughts and feelings.

The website, WIX is not always accessible for screen readers. If anyone who is Blind or has low vision is interested in filling out the survey they can email me for a more accessible copy:
Info@alterantiveaccesscounseling.com

I am creating various community surveys designed to gather insightful data, allowing voices to be heard on critical issues affecting marginalized communities in meaningful ways.  By completing this survey, you are providing your consent for your responses to be used for educational and training pur...

11/14/2025

Congratulations to everyone presenting at the FIRST Annual Autistic Clinical Insights Conference starting today!

https://www.autisticclinicalinsights.com/

Join us for the FIRST ANNUAL Autistic Clinical Insights Virtual Conference happening November 14th-16th, 2025

11/14/2025

Free Community Conference that you may want to look into and share!

11/12/2025

I have been educating in the community for at least the last decade and with other professionals to provide CE's, continuing education, but this was the first time I have completed a presentation, both for sale and for mental health providers, independently.

It has been wonderful working with Neuropebble throughout this process, and look forward to working on the rest of the trainings that I am working on in this series.

Additionally, thank you Distaaybled for allowing me to use one of your videos for representation in the training.

https://neuropebble.learnworlds.com/course/ada-employment

11/03/2025

"Mercy Neighborhood Ministry Resources:

When people are struggling to make ends meet, they may have one overwhelming need. But most often, they need multiple types of assistance at once. Mercy Neighborhood Ministry provides the resources below to help agency workers when referring clients to seek additional help.

There are many resources available throughout the St. Louis area, but coordinating and accessing these services can be difficult if agencies do not know what services are in their area."

When people are struggling to make ends meet, they may have one overwhelming need. But most often, they need multiple types of assistance at once. Mercy Neighborhood Ministry provides the resources below to help agency workers when referring clients to seek additional help.

10/31/2025

From 5‑7:30pm on November 3rd, our food pantry will be open after hours! The last appointment will be at 7pm.

🔸 First‑time visitor?
Schedule a consultation with Emilia by 12pm day of the event by emailing Emilia@glocenter.org. Then get your order filled that night!

🔸 Requirements
✔️15-minute consultation with Emilia
✔️ Income ≤ 300% line
✔️ Resident of Southwest Missouri
✔️ Member of the LGBTQ+ Community

🔸 Offerings
Shelf-stable dry goods, frozen meat selections, hygiene products, harm reduction products, and binders.

Questions? Visit https://www.glocenter.org/glo-food-pantry/

10/31/2025

United Way
" #211 is a free, confidential service that connects people to locally available programs and resources. The millions of calls, chats, and texts are from people looking for help with stable housing, utility payments, food, mental health, healthcare, disaster recovery, transportation, and other needs."

"211 is about providing hope and support at moments when people feel most alone and unable to meet their basic needs like a roof over their head"

-Angela F. Williams, President and CEO of United Way Worldwide

Ready to make a difference in your community? We work to improve lives in more than 30 countries and territories with 1,100+ United Ways by bringing people together locally to advance community-led solutions. Start here to connect with a United Way or find a volunteer opportunity in your area.

10/31/2025

Gopuff is Donating Up to $10 Million in Free Groceries to SNAP Recipients:

Here’s how SNAP recipients can access the Gopuff program, which will run in two distinct waves:

Add a SNAP EBT card to your Gopuff account (how to). No action needed if you already have a SNAP card added to your account.

Add SNAP-eligible groceries to your cart.

From November 1-15, 2025: use code SNAPRELIEF1 at checkout for $25 off SNAP-eligible items and FREE delivery.

From November 16-30, 2025: Use code SNAPRELIEF2 at checkout for $25 off SNAP-eligible items and FREE delivery.

Gopuff offering SNAP recipients $50 off groceries as SNAP benefits are slated to halt November 1st

10/16/2025

I am celebrating 5 successful graduations of long term client next month, and I will have openings on my caseload for new clients starting November 10th for individuals and relationship counseling (monogamous or non-monogamous).

Additionally, my calendar will be expanding to offer more intensive and adjunct therapy spots where I work with clients short a short period of time on hyper specific issues related to Disability, Neurodiversity, Gender and Sexual Identity and Expression, Alternative Relationship Dynamics, and other Alt* communities.

Throughout my career, I have been trained throughout to work alongside other therapists, providing primary therapy services, and with a team of mental and medical professionals to focusing on topics that are outside other clinicians scope of practice to excelegrate progress and growth.

More information on intensives and adjunct therapy for those that are curious:
https://www.alternativeaccesscounseling.com/post/what-are-therapy-intensives

11/06/2024

Inclusive Therapists Thank you for putting together a list of Crisis services.

If you or others are looking for further support today or place to donate, please look into these crisis agencies.

Crisis services: WARM LINES do not use police intervention
The warm-lines below offer transparency about their reporting and tracing policies:

Blackline: Peer support and counseling prioritizing BIPOC, with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens. "We do not trace or send any type of intervention under any circumstances without consent."
Call or text: 1-800-604-5841

Trans Lifeline (English, español): Trans peer support for Trans community that’s been "divested from police since day one. Run by and for Trans people." Oprime 2 para hablar con alguien en español.
US: 1-877-565-8860
Canada: 1-877-330-6366

Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line: Warmline answered by a trained peer supporters. "We do not trace or send any type of intervention under any circumstances without consent."
1-888-407-4515

StrongHearts Native Helpline: 24/7 confidential and anonymous culturally-appropriate domestic and s*xual violence helpline for Native Americans. "advocates do not request or record the contact’s identification and/or address."
Call 24/7: 1-844-762-8483 or chat online

Thrive Lifeline
Thrive Lifeline (24/7): Trans-led and operated, focusing on people with intersecting marginalized identities. Does not "engage in non-consensual active rescue".
Text 24/7: 1-313-662-8209

LGBT National Help Center: free and confidential support for LGBTQIA+ people and those with questions about s*xual orientation and/or gender identity. "We will not contact any authorities or other services or programs on your behalf."
National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
Coming Out Support Hotline: 1-888-688-5428
Youth Talkline: 1-800-246-7743
Senior Hotline: 1-888-234-7243

Crisis Services
Some crisis line workers below are mandated to report calls regarding su***de to the police (i.e. "active rescue"). If this is a concern, we encourage you to first ask about their reporting policies before sharing.

The Trevor Project Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth (mandated reporters):
866-488-7386
Text "START" to 678678
Trevor Hotline for LGBTQ+ youth
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

NAMI Helpline 24/7 (mandated reporters) to talk to a trained crisis counselor 24/7
Text "NAMI" TO 741741

National Su***de Prevention Lifeline (mandated reporters)
(800) 273-8255
(800) 799-4889 Deaf or hard of hearing
(800) 273-8255 Video relay service and voice/ caption
(888) 628-9454 Red de prevención de suicidio en Español

National Domestic Violence Hotline (mandated reporters)
(800) 799-7233

R**e, Abuse and In**st National Network (RAINN) (mandated reporters)
(800) 656- 4673

Veterans Crisis Line (mandated reporters)
(800) 273-8255

National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline (mandated reporters)
(800) 656-4673

Alcoholism & Drug Dependency Hope Line (mandated reporters)
(800) 622-2255

Lines For Life (mandated reporters) talk to a su***de or substance use specialist. They also offer support for: military & family, senior loneliness, teen-to-teen crisis help, and racial equity support.
800-273-8255

11/06/2024