Information & Resources for Survivors & Returning Citizens
​Open Path Collective | Affordable Counseling | Affordable Therapy
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Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nonprofit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office and online mental health care—at a steeply reduced rate—to clients in need.
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Rape Crisis and Recovery Centers | Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault | MCASA | Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault
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Rape Crisis and Recovery Centers provide the following confidential services to adult and child victims, as well as their families, partners, and loved ones:
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Crisis intervention, counseling, and referral.
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Victim accompaniment to hospitals, police interviews, and court to provide support and information about options.
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24-hour Crisis Hotline with counselors trained to listen and offer information.
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Individual, group, and family psychotherapy.
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Assistance navigating the legal and judicial systems.
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All crisis-intervention, referral, and accompaniment services are free. Clinical services provided by specially trained psychologists, social workers, and paraprofessionals are either free or based on a sliding scale according to individual financial resources. Programs may also accept private insurance, medical assistance, or Medicare, and most offer subsidized fees. No one is turned away due to inability to pay for services. Click here for a complete list of all Maryland centers.
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For a list of RCCs close to Maryland college and university campuses, click here.
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If you are unsure of where to seek help, contact 211 or go to 211md.org to find more information on helpful resources in your area.
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The Women’s Prison Association, founded in 1865, is the nation’s oldest service and advocacy organization committed to helping women with criminal justice histories see new possibilities for themselves and their families. WPA offers a host of useful information and resources on issues facing these women and our families, in addition to housing, health, employment and family services and leadership and advocacy training.
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If you are in immediate danger, and feel comfortable involving law enforcement, please call 911.
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The U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline provides free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224, or chat online at TheHotline.org.
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NNEDV’s WomensLaw Email Hotline provides basic legal information, referrals, and emotional support related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
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The StrongHearts Native Helpline is a free, safe, anonymous, and confidential domestic violence and dating violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy. Call 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) or chat online at StrongHeartsHelpline.org.
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If you are outside the United States, Lila.Help lists gender-based violence helplines and NGOs for almost every country in the world.
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Mesothelioma Cancer | Causes, Symptoms & Treatment (mesotheliomahope.com)
Dedicated to providing hope and support for cancer patients. We have an extensive team of patient advocates committed to:
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Connecting patients with top specialists in their area
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Navigating available treatment options, including recruiting clinical trials
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Helping patients, survivors, and loved ones join support groups and connect to community resources
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Other Resources and Job Opportunities
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Thrive Reentry Program DC
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Get Help for Yourself or a Friend
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Domestic violence encompasses a spectrum of behaviors that abusers use to control victims. The following list includes warning signs that someone may be abusive. If you or a friend experience these behaviors from a partner, remember: it is not your fault and there are advocates waiting to help.
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“Red flags” include someone who:
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Wants to move too quickly into the relationship.
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Early in the relationship flatters you constantly, and seems “too good to be true.”
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Wants you all to him- or herself; insists that you stop spending time with your friends or family.
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Insists that you stop participating in hobbies or activities, quit school, or quit your job.
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Does not honor your boundaries.
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Is excessively jealous and accuses you of being unfaithful.
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Wants to know where you are all of the time and frequently calls, emails, and texts you throughout the day.
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Criticizes or puts you down; says you are crazy, stupid, and/or fat/unattractive, or that no one else would ever want or love you.
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Takes no responsibility for his or her behavior and blames others.
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Has a history of abusing others.
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Blames the entire failure of previous relationships on his or her former partner; for example, “My ex was totally crazy.”
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Takes your money or runs up your credit card debt.
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Rages out of control with you but can maintain composure around others.
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Abuse is never the fault of the victim and it can be hard for many reasons, including safety, to end the relationship. If you experience these “red flags,” you can confide in a friend or reach out for support from a domestic violence advocate. If you believe a friend or relative is being abused, offer your nonjudgmental support and help.
LIFE COACH VS. THERAPIST
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One of the most common misconceptions about life coaching is that it is therapy in disguise – or worse yet –therapy from an unlicensed practitioner. In reality, life coaching is truly its own unique service designed to help ambitious achievers meet the outcomes that will bring them success and fulfillment in any and all areas of life. Here are some of the differences between a life coach vs. therapist and a basic guide for when each service is appropriate.
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DEFINING TERMS:
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What is therapy? Therapy, also called counseling or psychotherapy, is a long-term process in which a client works with a healthcare professional to diagnose and resolve problematic beliefs, behaviors, relationship issues, feelings and sometimes physical responses. The idea behind therapy is to focus on past traumas and issues to change self-destructive habits, repair and improve relationships and work through painful feelings. In this sense, therapy focuses on the past and on introspection and analysis, with the hope of resolving past issues and creating a happier, more stable future.
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What is life coaching? In life coaching, a client works with a coach who is not a healthcare professional to clarify goals and identify obstacles and problematic behaviors in order to create action plans to achieve desired results. The main way that a life coach vs. therapist works is that the life coach takes the client’s current starting point as an acceptable neutral ground and is more action-based from that point onward. A life coach enables the person receiving treatment to take control of their life and take action to steer it toward their goals.