Mental Health Therapy in Holyoke

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Therapists in Holyoke

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Kathleen O’Connor

Holyoke, Massachusetts - Clinical Social Worker/therapist
Online

I am a Master’s Prepared Clinical Social Worker with diverse experience. I have a passion for helping others to achieve their goals and realize their full potential. As part of my MSW program I participated in a multi-disciplinary consortium and earned a certificate, Specialized Mental Health Provider, focusing on the severely mentally ill and the dually diagnosed. I am currently licensed in Massachusetts as an LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) and was previously licensed in both Indiana and Ohio and have also held certification as a Chemical Dependency Counselor in Ohio. I have over 25 years’ experience providing direct service in a variety of settings to clients ages 3 to 102. I began my journey as a Social Services Director in a 114-bed nursing home in 1995 and have worked with folks in a variety of settings including but not limited to substance abuse treatment, criminal justice settings, dialysis clinics, psychiatric emergency rooms, and in the community. I have worked in rural areas and the inner city and have provided in home therapy as well as community-based crisis and most recently have been providing telehealth via phone and video during the pandemic. I believe that the key is to meet the you where you are currently, empower you and travel with you to where you are going (goal); whether this is a short-term connection or journey of several years depends on you and the complexity of your goal. My counseling style is interactive, with frequent checking in to ensure that I am hearing you and maintain open communication. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. Although my current approach primarily combines motivational interviewing, mindfulness, CBT, DBT, and TFCBT; I am always seeking to learn new things and will tailor our dialog and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. It takes courage to seek for a more fulfilling and happier life and by coming here and searching you have already taken the first step towards a change. If you are ready to take the next step I am here to support and empower you. I look forward to working with you!

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Free Mental Health Resources in Massachusetts

NAMI Massachusetts is an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Its work statewide delivers free peer/family support groups, educational workshops, professional training for educators and first responders, and assistance navigating the mental health system through its helpline (617-704-6264). Programs are facilitated by people with lived experience.
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) is a free 24/7 service connecting residents to immediate clinical support for mental health and substance use issues. Individuals can get treatment referrals, access crisis intervention, search online for resources, and receive guidance through phone, text, or live chat. No insurance is required and accommodations for hard-of-hearing individuals are available.
The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) website offers a collection of MA-based helplines and online resources to connect residents to mental health providers, crisis services, and treatment options through referral assistance (617-742-7452). MAMH's work also includes policy reform advocacy, creating educational resources on behavioral health, developing programs for older adults, and supplying legal assistance resources for healthcare access and guardianship issues.
The Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Helpline is a tool operated by the Department of Public Health. It offers individuals free, confidential 24/7 help including referrals, harm reduction initiatives (like naloxone distribution and syringe programs), treatment program information, support group details, and recovery services for substance use and disordered gambling.
Provide Services for
Eating Disorders Substance Abuse
Call2Talk is a confidential mental health and emotional support call line working 24/7 to assist Massachusetts residents with crisis intervention and suicide prevention. Individuals experiencing distress or suicidal thoughts can get immediate help via phone and text in a safe environment. Call2Talk also provides weekly check-in calls for isolated seniors, support groups for suicide loss survivors, and community education workshops on mental health awareness.
Mass.gov Mental Health and Counseling Services are official informational resources operated by the state of Massachusetts. Individuals can receive guidance on how to get on Medicaid, access psychiatric evaluations, psychological counseling, helplines (833-773-2445), inpatient/outpatient treatments, medication management, crisis intervention, treatment matching services, insurance navigation assistance, and multilingual support in over 200 languages.
North Shore LGBTQIA+ Resources is a collection of online and local resources for North Shore area LGBTQ+ individuals. Residents can browse educational forums on LGBTQ+ issues like transgender rights, disability awareness, and legal updates. Their website's catalog of offerings connects community members to health services, crisis intervention, addiction recovery, elder care, and violence prevention programs throughout Massachusetts.
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Teens & Students BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women Disability
Boston Medical Center's Community Behavioral Health Center provides 24/7 crisis intervention, mobile crisis teams, urgent mental health care, substance use treatment, community stabilization units for youth and adults, psychiatric evaluation, and ongoing therapy for all ages in Boston and Brookline. Residents can access services on a sliding scale and apply for financial assistance.
The Justice Resource Institute provides free HIV/STI testing, PrEP, mental health counseling, and drop-in centers for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13-29) in Boston and Framingham. MA youth can access support groups, leadership opportunities, programs for minorities, and in-home therapy. They also administer initiatives offering essential resources like food, toiletries, and computer access.
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Teens & Students BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women Disability
The Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth connects MA LGBT youth to safe spaces and gender-affirming online and in-person mental health care resources. The commission hosts community events, implements initiatives to reduce suicide risk among LGBTQ students, and advises government entities on youth policies while operating the Safe Schools Program that trains schools statewide.
Provide Services for
Teens & Students BIPOC LGBTQ Men Women
The Massachusetts Behavioral Health Access (MABHA) is an online platform connecting MA residents with available openings in behavioral health services in the state. Individuals can browse a searchable database of youth and family services, find substance use disorder treatment programs, and locate mental health resources within their communities.
The Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) Online Service Directory offers Massachusetts residents a confidential search tool to locate mental health and substance use services near them. Individuals can filter results by service type, payment options, cost (including centers accepting uninsured individuals), distance, and specialized needs. A phone line (833-773-2445) offering 24/7 assistance is also available.
Veterans Affairs Boston helps Massachusetts veterans access treatment for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Services available include medication management, individual, group, and family therapy, residential housing with treatment programs, telehealth appointments, and specialized employment assistance. Their website lists phone numbers and addresses for VA clinics in important MA cities.
Provide Services for
Men Women Seniors Veterans Depression PTSD Anxiety Grief Substance Abuse
The Statewide Advocacy for Veterans Empowerment (SAVE) Program is an initiative providing veteran-to-veteran outreach to prevent suicide and address mental health challenges. MA veterans can obtain personalized assistance to access benefits, healthcare support, housing aid, counseling for transition challenges and civilian reintegration, and employment services through three Massachusetts offices.
Provide Services for
Men Women Seniors Veterans Depression PTSD Anxiety Grief Substance Abuse
Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) is a network of centers providing mental health and substance use services and treatment at over 25 Massachusetts locations. These centers are one-stop-shops for addressing MA residents' immediate needs regardless of insurance status. 24/7 crisis intervention, individual and group therapy, psychiatric evaluations, addiction medication, and peer support are available.
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