Resources
American Art Therapy Association
The American Art Therapy Association (AATA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, non-partisan, professional, and educational organization dedicated to the growth and development of the art therapy profession. Founded in 1969, the American Art Therapy Association is one of the world’s leading art therapy membership organizations. Learn More
Illinois Art Therapy Association (IATA)
The Illinois Art Therapy Association (IATA) is an affiliate chapter of the American Art Therapy Association. IATA is an organization of professionals dedicated to the belief that the creative process involved in the making of art is healing and life-enhancing. IATA was established to provide opportunities to exchange information on the therapeutic use of art. Learn More
-
![]()
Anti-Racism Resources
We are committed to being intentionally conscious about race and racism, and to taking actions to address racial inequities in our daily lives and our wider communities. Expanding our connections to the thinking and writing of others is an ongoing way to move us in this direction.
-
![]()
LGBTQIA+ Resources
We seek to provide a safe space for people who span the gender and sexual orientation spectrum in order to explore their identities and thrive. We also find these resources helpful in connecting within this community.
-
![]()
Food and Housing Resources
Food and housing stability are the foundation of stable mental health. We all need support at times, or we may want to offer our time and energy to support others. These Chicago resources are here to provide strength to our communities.
-
![]()
Ecoanxiety Resources
We provide climate-aware therapy, and find these resources helpful for managing the difficult emotions surrounding the ongoing and profound impact of climate change on our lives and our collective futures.
-
![]()
Comprehensive Care Referrals
We recommend these medical mental health professionals and organizations in the Chicago area to provide comprehensive services that address the physical components of mental wellness. These services can support successful outcomes in individual therapy.
Animal-Assisted Interventions in Therapy
We live in a stress filled world. Prolonged or excessive stress negatively affects learning, behavior, and health across the life-span. To alleviate adverse effects of stress in our brains and bodies, stressors should be reduced, and support and effective interventions provided. Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have shown beneficial effects on health and wellbeing, including significant stress reduction as evidenced by decreased acute cortisol levels following interventions with therapy dogs. In addition to stress hormone regulation, animal assisted interventions with therapy dogs have been shown to support healthy oxytocin levels, a chemical marker associated with increased trust, physiological safety, and mood stabilization. Access to a therapy dog can also help people learn to accept themselves more fully as we benefit from the acceptance and loyalty that a canine co-therapists offer in our healing work.
Below are organizations that have more information on the training and community application of therapy dogs:
In the Case of An Emergency
Suicide Hotline
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.
1-800-273-8255
Sexual Assault Hotline
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org & rainn.org/es) in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense.