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I have been an educator for over 10 years, serving students and families in a variety of roles that have strengthened my passion for helping children succeed both academically and personally. I hold a Master’s degree in Instructional Leadership from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Angelo State University.

Throughout my career, I have been committed to supporting students’ growth by focusing on both their academic development and their social-emotional well-being. I believe in building strong partnerships with teachers, parents, and the community to ensure that every child has the tools and support they need to thrive.

Outside of my professional life, I enjoy spending quality time with my two children, traveling, and attending sporting events. These experiences keep me grounded and remind me of the importance of balance, family, and lifelong learning.

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🎓 Students’ Rights in School Counseling

Every student has the right to:

Be respected and treated fairly at school.

Learn in a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment.

Meet with the school counselor to talk about academic, personal, or social concerns.

Ask for help in setting goals and planning for their future.

Receive support without discrimination (regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, language, ability, or background).

Have privacy when talking with the school counselor (with the understanding that safety concerns may require information to be shared with trusted adults).

👨‍👩‍👧 What This Means for Parents

School counselors partner with families to ensure students’ success.

Counselors provide short-term counseling support and lessons that build academic, social, and emotional skills.

Student conversations are generally confidential to protect trust, except when there are safety concerns that must be shared.

Counselors connect families to community resources when additional support is needed.

Parents are encouraged to contact the counselor to discuss concerns, request resources, or collaborate on student support plans.

🍎 What This Means for Educators

School counselors collaborate with teachers and staff to support the whole child.

Counselors can provide classroom lessons that reinforce social-emotional learning, safety, and career readiness.

Teachers can refer students for individual or small-group support when challenges arise that affect learning.

Counselors respect teachers’ insight and work together to identify student strengths and needs.

Counselors provide resources and strategies to help educators support students in the classroom.

The goal is partnership—school counselors do not evaluate teachers; rather, they work alongside staff to create a safe, supportive learning environment for all students.

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According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, otherwise known as SAMHSA, more than two thirds of children reported at least one traumatic event by age 16. If you are an adult who experienced a trauma in childhood, or if you are a child who has recently undergone a traumatic event, you are not alone. These experiences are common to so many individuals and families.

Childhood trauma can have lasting impacts on an individual's ability to feel safe in the world. At the Trauma Therapist Network, we know that people can heal from childhood trauma at any age, no matter how long ago the event may have happened. Below are resources for those who have experienced trauma in childhood, along with resources for adults who support traumatized children. This is not a comprehensive list of resources for childhood trauma. This list is continuously updated. If you would like to submit a suggestion to be added to the list, please use our contact form on the home page.

Updated: 8/1/2021

Organizations offering direct services to survivors and their loved ones:

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: This is a 24-hour hotline with resources to aid in every child abuse situation.

Hotline: 800-422-4453

Textline: 800-422-4453

Chatline: National Live Chat Portal

Information/ Advocacy Websites:

Child Trauma Academy: offers free online courses about childhood trauma.

Child Witness to Violence Project: The Child Witness to Violence Project (CWVP) is a counseling, advocacy, and outreach project that focuses on young children who are the hidden victims of domestic and community violence, and other trauma-related events.

Kids Mental Health Info.com Child Trauma Information and Resources: This website was created to help parents and caregivers understand their child's mental health challenges.

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network :The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and is coordinated by the UCLA-Duke University National Center for Child Traumatic Stress (NCCTS). This website offers assistance with seeking mental health guidance and referrals, offers assistance for finding help for abused, neglected, or sexually abused children, and has a plethora of resources available for furthering one's understanding of childhood trauma.

Podcasts

Trauma Chat Episode 2: In this episode of the Trauma Chat Podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, offers an explanation to the question: "What is trauma?"

Trauma Chat Episode 3:In this episode of the Trauma Chat Podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C,discusses ways that trauma can show up in our lives.

Therapy Chat Episode 19: In this episode of the Therapy Chat Podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C discusses what she calls, "The Epidemic of Childhood Trauma." She offers resources for learning more about this public health issue which affects so many Americans.

Therapy Chat Episode 244: In this episode of the Therapy Chat Podcast, Laura Reagan, LCSW-C sat down with Sharon Martin, LCSW: a licensed therapist, counselor, and mental health and wellness writer based in San Jose, CA. They discuss surprising sources of childhood trauma.

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According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, otherwise known as SAMHSA, more than two thirds of children reported at least one traumatic event by age 16. If you are an adult who experienced a trauma in childhood, or if you are a child who has recently undergone a traumatic event, you are not alone.

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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

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Mental illnesses are common in the United States. It is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (57.8 million in 2021). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Two broad categories can be used to describe these conditions: Any Mental Illness (AMI) and Serious Mental Illness (SMI). AMI encompasses all recognized mental illnesses. SMI is a smaller and more severe subset of AMI. Additional information on mental illnesses can be found on the NIMH Health Topics Pages.

Definitions

The data presented here are from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). For inclusion in NSDUH prevalence estimates, mental illnesses include those that are diagnosable currently or within the past year; of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV); and, exclude developmental and substance use disorders.

Any Mental Illness

Any mental illness (AMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder. AMI can vary in impact, ranging from no impairment to mild, moderate, and even severe impairment (e.g., individuals with serious mental illness as defined below).

Serious Mental Illness

Serious mental illness (SMI) is defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. The burden of mental illnesses is particularly concentrated among those who experience disability due to SMI.

Prevalence of Any Mental Illness (AMI)

Figure 1 shows the past year prevalence of AMI among U.S. adults.

In 2021, there were an estimated 57.8 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States with AMI. This number represented 22.8% of all U.S. adults.

The prevalence of AMI was higher among females (27.2%) than males (18.1%).

Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of AMI (33.7%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (28.1%) and aged 50 and older (15.0%).

The prevalence of AMI was highest among the adults reporting two or more races (34.9%), followed by American Indian / Alaskan Native (AI/AN) adults (26.6%). The prevalence of AMI was lowest among Asian adults (16.4%).

Figure 1

*Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. NH/OPI = Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander | AI/AN = American Indian / Alaskan Native

Mental Health Services - AMI

Figure 2 presents data on mental health services (including virtual services) received within the past year by U.S. adults aged 18 or older with any mental illness (AMI). NSDUH defines mental health services as having received inpatient treatment/counseling or outpatient treatment/counseling, or having used prescription medication for problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health.

In 2021, among the 57.8 million adults with AMI, 26.5 million (47.2%) received mental health services in the past year.

More females with AMI (51.7%) received mental health services than males with AMI (40.0%).

The percentage of young adults aged 18-25 years with AMI who received mental health services (44.6%) was lower than adults with AMI aged 26-49 years (48.1%) and aged 50 and older (47.4%).

Figure 2

*Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. Note: Estimates for Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander and, American Indian / Alaskan Native groups are not reported in the above figure due to low precision of data collection in 2021.

Prevalence of Serious Mental Illness (SMI)

Figure 3 shows the past year prevalence of SMI among U.S. adults.

In 2021, there were an estimated 14.1 million adults aged 18 or older in the United States with SMI. This number represented 5.5% of all U.S. adults.

The prevalence of SMI was higher among females (7.0%) than males (4.0%).

Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of SMI (11.4%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (7.1%) and aged 50 and older (2.5%).

The prevalence of SMI was highest among AI/AN adults (9.3%), followed by adults reporting two or more races (8.2%). The prevalence of SMI was lowest among Asian adults (2.8%).

Figure 3

* Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. NH/OPI = Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander | AI/AN = American Indian / Alaskan Native.

Mental Health Services - SMI

Figure 4 presents data on mental health services received within the past year by U.S. adults 18 or older with serious mental illness (SMI). The NSDUH defines mental health services as having received inpatient treatment/counseling or outpatient treatment/counseling or having used prescription medication for problems with emotions, nerves, or mental health.

In 2021, among the 14.1 million adults with SMI, 9.1 million (65.4%) received mental health treatment in the past year.

More females with SMI (67.6%) received mental health treatment than males with SMI (61.3%).

The percentage of young adults aged 18-25 years with SMI who received mental health treatment (57.9%) was lower than adults with SMI aged 26-49 years (67.0%) and aged 50 and older (71.0%).

Figure 4

*Persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race; all other racial/ethnic groups are non-Hispanic. Note: Estimates for Asian, Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander, and American Indian / Alaskan Native groups are not reported in the above figure due to low precision.

Prevalence of Any Mental Disorder Among Adolescents

Based on diagnostic interview data from National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A), Figure 5 shows lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder among U.S. adolescents aged 13-18.¹

An estimated 49.5% of adolescents had any mental disorder.

Of adolescents with any mental disorder, an estimated 22.2% had severe impairment and/or distress. DSM-IV based criteria were used to determine severity level.

Figure 5

Data Sources

1. Merikangas KR, He JP, Burstein M, Swanson SA, Avenevoli S, Cui L, Benjet C, Georgiades K, Swendsen J. Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in U.S. adolescents: results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication--Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A). J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2010 Oct;49(10):980-9. PMID: 20855043

2. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP22-07-01-005, NSDUH Series H-57). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-annual-national-report .

Statistical Methods and Measurement Caveats

National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)

Diagnostic Assessment:

The NSDUH AMI and SMI estimates were generated from a prediction model created from clinical interview data collected on a subset of adult NSDUH respondents who completed an adapted (past 12 month) version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR Axis I Disorders (Research Version, Non-patient Edition) (SCID-I/NP; First, Spitzer, Gibbon, & Williams, 2002), and was differentiated by level of functional impairment based on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF; Endicott, Spitzer, Fleiss, & Cohen, 1976).

The assessment included diagnostic modules assessing the following: mood, anxiety, eating, impulse control, substance use, adjustment disorders, and a psychotic symptoms screen.

The assessment did not contain diagnostic modules assessing the following: adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders (although the assessment included a psychotic symptom screen).

People who only have disorders that are not included in these diagnostic modules may not be adequately detected. However, there are known patterns of high comorbidities among mental disorders; these patterns increase the likelihood that people who meet AMI and/or SMI criteria were detected by the study, as they may also have one or more of the disorders assessed in the SCID-I/NP.

Population:

The entirety of NSDUH respondents for the AMI and SMI estimates were the civilian, non-institutionalized population aged 18 years old or older residing within the United States.

The survey covered residents of households (persons living in houses/townhouses, apartments, condominiums; civilians living in housing on military bases, etc.) and persons in non-institutional group quarters (e.g., shelters, rooming/boarding houses, college dormitories, migratory workers' camps, and halfway houses).

The survey did not cover persons who, for the entire year, had no fixed address (e.g., homeless and/or transient persons not in shelters); were on active military duty; or who resided in institutional group quarters (e.g., correctional facilities, nursing homes, mental institutions, long-term hospitals).

Some people in these excluded categories had AMI and/or SMI, but were not accounted for in the NSDUH AMI and/or SMI estimates.

Data regarding sex of the respondent was assessed using male and female categories only. Gender identity information was not collected in the survey.

Survey Non-response:

In 2021, 53.0% of the selected NSDUH sample of people 18 or older did not complete the interview. This rate of non-response is higher than in previous years. Please see the Background on the 2021 NSDUH and the COVID-19 Pandemic section below for more information.

Reasons for non-response to interviewing include the following: refusal to participate (30.1%); respondent unavailable or never at home (18.8%); and other reasons such as physical/mental incompetence or language barriers (4.2%).

People with mental illness may disproportionately fall into these non-response categories. While NSDUH weighting includes non-response adjustments to reduce bias, these adjustments may not fully account for differential non-response by mental illness status.

Data Suppression:

For some groups, data are not reported due to low precision. Data may be suppressed in the above charts if the data do not meet acceptable ranges for prevalence estimates, standard error estimates, and sample size.

Background on the 2021 NSDUH and the COVID-19 Pandemic:

Data collection methods for the 2021 NSDUH changed in several ways because of the COVID-19 pandemic: the 2021 NSDUH continued the use of multimode data collection procedures (both in-person and virtual data collection) that were first implemented in the fourth quarter of the 2020 NSDUH. Overall, 54.6% of interviews were completed via the web, and 45.4% were completed in person. In 2021, the weighted response rates for household screening and for interviewing were 22.2% and 46.2%, respectively, for an overall response rate of 10.3% for people aged 12 or older.

Given the use of multimode data collection procedures throughout the entirety of the collection year and the rate of non-response, comparison of estimates from the 2021 NSDUH with those from prior years must be made with caution.

Please see the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health Methodological Summary and Definitions report for further information on how these data were collected and calculated.

National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A)

Diagnostic Assessment and Population:

The NCS-A was carried out under a cooperative agreement sponsored by NIMH to meet a request from Congress to provide national data on the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders among U.S. youth. The NCS-A was a nationally representative, face-to-face survey of 10,123 adolescents aged 13 to 18 years in the continental United States. The survey was based on a dual-frame design that included 904 adolescent residents of the households that participated in the adult U.S. National Comorbidity Survey Replication and 9,244 adolescent students selected from a nationally representative sample of 320 schools. The survey was fielded between February 2001 and January 2004. DSM-IV mental disorders were assessed using a modified version of the fully structured World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview.

Survey Non-response:

The overall adolescent non-response rate was 24.4%. This is made up of non-response rates of 14.1% in the household sample, 18.2% in the un-blinded school sample, and 77.7% in the blinded school sample. Non-response was largely due to refusal (21.3%), which in the household and un-blinded school samples came largely from parents rather than adolescents (72.3% and 81.0%, respectively). The refusals in the blinded school sample, in comparison, came almost entirely (98.1%) from parents failing to return the signed consent postcard.

For more information, see PMID: 19507169 and the NIMH NCS-A study page.

Last Updated: March 2023

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An overview of statistics for mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are common in the United States. One in six U.S. adults lives with a mental illness (43.4 million in 2015). Mental illnesses include many different conditions that vary in degree of severity, ranging from mild to moderate to severe.

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Local Emergency and Non Emergency Support Services Local Hospitals

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Local Emergency and Non Emergency Support Services Local Hospitals

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🆘 Emergency & Non-Emergency Contact Numbers

ServiceContact InformationEmergency (Police/Fire/Medical)911Fort Worth Police (Non-Emergency)817‑392‑4222Tarrant County Sheriff (Non-Emergency)817‑884‑1213City Services (311)311 or 817‑392‑1234Emergency Management Office817‑392‑6170 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; extended during emergencies)

🧠 Mental Health & Crisis Support

ServiceContact InformationMHMR Tarrant County (ICARE Crisis Line)1‑800‑866‑2465 (24/7) / TTY: 817‑569‑4488JPS Psychiatric Emergency Center817‑702‑4151 (24/7)Suicide & Crisis Lifeline988United Way 2‑1‑1Dial 2‑1‑1 or 817‑258‑8100 for referrals to mental health services and other resources

🏥 Hospitals & Medical Centers

FacilityContact InformationMedical City Fort WorthMain: 817‑336‑2100 / ER: 817‑347‑5830John Peter Smith (JPS) Hospital817‑702‑3431Cook Children’s Medical CenterMain: 682‑885‑4000 / ER: 682‑885‑4000Baylor Scott & White All SaintsMain: 817‑926‑2544 / ER: 817‑922‑7070Texas Health Huguley HospitalMain: 817‑293‑9110Surepoint Emergency Center817‑428‑4055

🚨 Victim Assistance & Crime Support

ServiceContact InformationTarrant County District Attorney Victim Assistance Unit817‑884‑2740Fort Worth Police – Crimes Against Children Unit682‑382‑1500National Crime Victims Hotline (HOPE Line)1‑800‑656‑HOPE (4673)SafeHaven of Tarrant County (Domestic Violence)1‑877‑701‑7233 (24/7 Hotline)One Safe Place (Family Justice Center)817‑916‑4323The Women’s Center of Tarrant County (Rape Crisis)817‑927‑4039 (24-Hour Crisis Line)National Domestic Violence Hotline1‑800‑799‑SAFE (7233)

👶 Child Protective Services (CPS)

ServiceContact InformationTexas Abuse Hotline (CPS)1‑800‑252‑5400 (24/7)Cook Children’s C.A.R.E. TeamReferral through CPS or law enforcement; provides medical evaluations for suspected abuse

🏢 Key Local Addresses

FacilityAddressFort Worth City Hall100 Fort Worth Trail, Fort Worth, TX 76102Tarrant County Courthouse100 W. Weatherford St., Fort Worth, TX 76196A.D. Marshall Public Safety & Courts Building1000 Throckmorton St., Fort Worth, TX 76102

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Lake Worth ISD provides a range of resources to support students' mental health and well-being. Their counseling department offers information on topics such as recognizing signs of suicidal thoughts in teenagers, supporting children through grief, and addressing concerns like e-cigarette use. These resources are designed to assist parents and educators in supporting students' emotional health.

1. Azle Pastoral Counseling Center

Address: 229 S Stewart St, Azle, TX 76020

Phone: (817) 444-2929

Website: Not available

2. Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas

Address: 5402 Arapaho Rd, Dallas, TX 75248

Phone: (972) 437-9950

Website: jfsdallas.org

3. The Parenting Center

Address: 2928 W 5th St, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Phone: (817) 332-6348

Website: theparentingcenter.org

4. Walsh Counseling Center (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)

Address: 4540 Frazier Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76115

Phone: (817) 923-1921 ext 3570

Website: swbts.edu

5. The WARM Place

Address: 809 Lipscomb St, Fort Worth, TX 76104

Phone: (817) 870-2272

Website: thewarmplace.org

6. Dr. Shelly Smith Cavin, LPC, Ph.D.

Address: 4005 Merrett Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76135

Phone: (817) 999-5335

Website: drshellyphd.com

7. Safe Harbor Counseling Center

Address: 1515 Fort Worth Hwy, Weatherford, TX 76086

Phone: (817) 441-9345

Website: safeharborcounseling.org

8. Lena Pope Home

Address: 3200 Sanguinet St, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Phone: (817) 255-2500

Website: lenapope.org

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Break the Stigma Around Children's Mental Health

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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems. LWISD empowers all learners through meaningful connections to discover their future and prepare for success. LWISD: The innovative district of choice where all are empowered through personalized learning and leaders are made.

The vision of Marine Creek Leadership Academy's counseling program is that all students will reach academic success, social-emotional growth, and will become college and career ready. Students will be empowered to reach their maximum potential and will gain the necessary skills to become lifelong learners that sustain personal growth and contribute to society with compassion and pride in an ever-changing world.

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School & Community Programs:

Marine Creek Leadership Academy (MCLA) Food Program

Services: Free after-school supper for all children ages 1–18.

Address: 4801 Huffines Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76135

Phone: (817) 306-4270

Website: mcla.lwisd.org

TCHATT Program

Services: Therapeutic and counseling support for students (check with school counselor for enrollment).

Contact: Lake Worth ISD Counseling Department for referrals.

Helping Hands

Services: Local nonprofit providing food, clothing, and family support.

Address: 503 Hulen St, Fort Worth, TX 76107

Phone: (817) 332-6348

Website: theparentingcenter.org (Often collaborates with local schools)

🧠 Mental Health & Crisis Resources

Region 11 ESC – Mental Health & School Counseling

Services: Support and resources for school counselors and educators to implement effective mental health programs.

Website: ESC Region 11

MHMR Tarrant County / ICARE Crisis Line

Services: 24/7 mental health support, crisis intervention, and referral services.

Phone: 1‑800‑866‑2465 / TTY 817‑569‑4488

Website: mhmrtarrant.org

JPS Psychiatric Emergency Center

Services: Psychiatric emergency care and stabilization.

Phone: 817‑702‑4151

Address: 1600 W. 4th St., Fort Worth, TX 76102

Website: jpshealthnet.org

United Way 2-1-1 / Emergency Referrals

Services: Food, housing, counseling, and other community resources.

Phone: 2‑1‑1 or 817‑258‑8100

Website: unitedwaytarrant.org

Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Services: 24/7 confidential support for people in crisis or at risk of suicide.

Phone: 988

Website: 988lifeline.org

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) – North Texas Chapter

Services: Suicide prevention education, community programs, research support, and survivor outreach.

Website: AFSP North Texas