988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Free, confidential emotional support for people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress, available 24/7 across the United States and its territories.
What level of support do you want right now?
Healing does not have to happen alone. Use this guide to quickly find the kind of support that fits your present need: guided self-help, immediate help, licensed therapy, peer connection, or spiritual care.
Immediate support
If you are in acute distress, feel unsafe, or need to speak with someone right away, start here.
Crisis Text Line
Text-based crisis support with a live, trained crisis counselor. Helpful for people who would rather text than call.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are outside the United States, seek your local emergency number or a national crisis hotline in your country.
Licensed mental health care
When you want more structure, safety, and professional support for what this workbook may bring up, these resources can help you find therapy.
Psychology Today Therapist Directory
Search by location, specialty, insurance, and treatment approach to find a licensed therapist.
TherapyDen
An inclusive therapist directory that helps people find identity-affirming and values-aligned care.
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
Affordable therapy access for people who need lower-cost care, including online and in-person options.
What to look for in a therapist
Consider filtering for trauma, PTSD, dissociation, somatic therapy, EMDR, attachment, or nervous-system informed care depending on your needs.
Peer support and community care
Sometimes healing moves best in connection with others who understand. These options can help you find community, information, and nonjudgmental support.
NAMI HelpLine
The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers support, information, and referrals, plus access to peer-led groups and education programs.
SAMHSA National Helpline
Free, confidential 24/7 treatment referral and information service in English and Spanish for mental health and substance use support.
7 Cups
Online emotional support chats and community spaces that can offer a gentle first step into connection.
Other local options
- Community mental health centers
- Grief, trauma, or recovery support groups
- School or workplace counseling services
- Trusted friends, family members, or mentors
Self-guided support
You can stay here. You do not have to leave to begin. If you feel present enough to work gently, this site and the workbook are designed to help you take one step at a time.
1. Choose the closest state
Start with what feels most true right now: numb, grief, confused, overwhelmed, processing, or growing. You do not need to choose perfectly. Just choose what feels nearest.
2. Keep it small
Begin with one page, one image, one prompt, or one short practice. Healing often moves best in manageable steps.
3. Alternate contact and grounding
Move gently between noticing, coloring, reflecting, and returning to the room around you. Regulation comes before insight.
4. Stop before overwhelm
If you become flooded, unreal, highly agitated, or unable to stay present, pause. Ground first. More is not always better.
This path is appropriate when you feel steady enough to remain present and work gradually. If you feel unsafe, acutely distressed, or unable to stay grounded, use the other support options on this page.
Faith-based and spiritual support
For people who find strength in faith, prayer, compassionate presence, or spiritual guidance, these resources can help you find support grounded in relationship and care.
Stephen Ministries
One-to-one confidential Christian care through trained lay caregivers in participating local churches.
ACPE Spiritual Care Directory
ACPE can help people locate accredited pastoral and spiritual care programs and centers.
Local clergy, chaplains, or spiritual leaders
Many clergy and chaplains offer counseling, guidance, prayer, and compassionate presence regardless of where you are in your journey.
Search terms for local care
- Christian counseling near me
- Pastoral counseling near me
- Spiritual director near me
- Chaplaincy support near me
No matter which path you choose, you deserve support, safety, and care. If the workbook ever feels overwhelming, pause, ground, and reach toward connection.
Choose a path
Start with your present state, browse all pathways, or search for the kind of support your system needs right now.
Select based on your current state
These pathways are designed to help people find the right level of support rather than push too hard or stay too vague.
Continue this work in the full workbook
If this approach resonates with you, the full Trauma Healing Coloring Workbook offers a guided, structured process you can move through at your own pace.