Insights for the Helpers
Caring Through the Chaos: Navigating Overwhelm in a Complex World
The world feels heavy sometimes. Whether it’s personal, local, or global, the collective weight of uncertainty, injustice, and heartache can quietly creep into the therapy room. For clinicians like you, the challenge lies not only…
Time Management Mastery: Essential Strategies for Private Therapy Practice Owners
Feeling submerged under an ever-growing pile of administrative tasks, client sessions, and the constant pressure to balance work with personal life? You’re not alone. Running a private therapy practice brings with it a unique set…
Health Affiliates Maine named 2023 Agency of the Year
By the National Association of Social Workers Maine Chapter Health Affiliates Maine is proud to have been selected by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Maine Chapter as the 2023 agency of the year….
Coming Out of the Pandemic: From Surviving to Thriving, Part 2
On the COVID-19 pandemic’s third anniversary, we’re pausing to honor the 6.6 million lives lost, reflect on the profound experience this disease has had on us as survivors, and look for meaningful paths forward. In…
Coming Out of the Pandemic: From Surviving to Thriving, Part 1
As we approach the third anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic and are hopefully transitioning to an endemic phase, we’re pausing to honor the 6.6 million lives lost, reflect on the profound experience this disease has…
Trauma-Specific Self-Care: Part 1
Self-care is important for everyone. But how do you practice self-care and self-compassion when you have been through or are currently experiencing a traumatic life event? In this first of a two-part series on trauma-specific…
How Do I Help Students Concerned about School Violence?
As summer comes to a close, parents and students across America start preparing to head back to school. Some students understandably have anxiety about returning to the classroom in light of the school shooting in…
New Year, New Experiences: Are You Ready for Private Practice?
Thinking about opening your own private practice? Way to go! Health Affiliates Maine is proud to help behavioral health professionals as they venture into entrepreneurship, making that potentially overwhelming experience a little easier to navigate….
Ask the Experts: Navigating 13 year olds, boundaries, and support
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on September 3, 2021, by Cindy Mailhot, LCSW, CCS, Assistant Director of the Outpatient Therapy Program, Health Affiliates Maine. Question: My 13-year-old is struggling with mental health and starting…
Ask The Experts: Family Troubles and How to Handle Difficulties!
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on August 15, 2021, by Marylena Chaisson, LCPC, Case Management Supervisor, Health Affiliates Maine. Question: My sister is six years older than me. Growing up, she was responsible…
New Training Opportunity: MHRT/C Domain 1 – Behavioral, Psychological and Rehabilitation Intervention Methods
This class meets the requirements for Domain 1, Behavioral, Psychological and Rehabilitation Intervention Models of the Maine MHRT/Community curriculum. Tickets: $300 Location: Online Event Presented By: Mary Gagnon, LMFT Registration: Register Online Refund Policy: Refunds…
Can Self-Reflection Help My Mental Health?
Are you feeling busy, distracted and exhausted? Even after the emotionally overwhelming year we’ve all just experienced, we haven’t slowed down and taken time for ourselves. Further, our society doesn’t value the practice of introspection,…
Ask the Experts: Help Needed for Grandparent Connection During COVID 19
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on October 21, 2020, by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: My parents live nearby but we have not seen them much in the…
What is PTSD?
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is caused by experiencing or witnessing an event such as an injury, death, war or combat, natural disaster, abuse or assault. Trauma is not rare—it’s estimated that 70% of Americans of…
Event Postponed
All three Working Successfully with Personality Disorders in Therapy events have been postponed. Dear Attendees, Due to our first presumptive case of COVID-19 in Maine and recommendations to postpone large gatherings, at this time we…
A warm HAM welcome to our new clinical supervisors!
Jay Burrows, LCPC, LADC, CCS Jay Burrows is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselor and Certified Clinical Supervisor. In addition to providing counseling services to clients, Jay assists his colleagues and helps…
HAM wins the NAMI Maine Outstanding Partner Agency
This weekend Andrea Krebs, Executive Director and Kate Marble, Case Management Program Director from Health Affiliates Maine proudly accepted the NAMI Maine Outstanding Partner Agency award on HAMs behalf. HAM is dedicated to working toward…
Ethics, Decision Making, and Our Professional Commitment to Social Justice
Training events from late November to early December in Orono, Falmouth & Lewiston.
Teen Attitudes: How to Know When Moodiness Might Be a Bigger Issue
Parents of teens understand there is a certain degree of moodiness that comes with the age. After all, it is a perfectly normal developmental stage for teens to grow away from their parents and want…
Four-Year-Old’s Battles Have Mom Rattled
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on September 13, 2018 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: Everything with my four-year-old is a battle. From brushing teeth to getting dressed,…
Teacher-Mom Wants Back-to-School Help
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on August 22, 2018 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: The transition from summer to back-to-school is always a difficult one in our…
Siblings as Strangers
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on July 16, 2018 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine QUESTION: We have two children 7 years apart in age. They do not have much…
Divorced Dad Cares About Connecting
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on June 19, 2018 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: My wife and I are split. She is a teacher and will spend…
Ask the Experts: Addiction in the Family Worries Mom
My ex-husband is an alcoholic. My kids have a good relationship with their dad and see him regularly. Their dad refuses to admit he is an alcoholic or seek help…
Curious Kids and Awkward Questions: Kids Notice Differences
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on April 16, 2018 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Comment: I really love this Q & A column. I always read it and even…
Parent Finds it Hard to Talk About School Shootings
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on March 21, 2018 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: All of these school shootings that are happening are really scary to me…
College Ahead for Mom’s Disorganized Teen
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Jan 31, 2018 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: I have a junior in high school. He gets good grades, has lots…
Ask the Experts: What to do when the MIL shares her faith
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Jan 3, 2018 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: We are not a religious family. However, my mother-in-law is quite religious. I…
Ask the Experts: Overbuying at Christmas
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Dec 6, 2017 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: I have always been a giver. This is especially true at Christmas. I…
Ask the Experts: Name-Calling
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Nov 15, 2017 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: My husband and our son do not get along very well. My husband has…
Educating Mental Health Professionals Through Personal Perspective
James Bellmore (Jimi) is reaching out to the community to share his endeavor to educate professionals by offering his personal perspective about living with mental illness. Jimi hopes to continue to grow his motivational speaking…
How Old is Too Old for Trick-or-Treating?
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Oct 10, 2017 by Mary Gagnon, LMFT; Health Affiliates Maine Question: I have a thirteen-year-old son. He brought up his desire to go trick-or-treating with friends this…
Disciplining My Child’s Friend
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Sep 21, 2017 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: My son’s friend has ADHD. He often comes to our house to play…
What is Gender Fluid?
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Aug 24, 2017 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: My 13-year-old daughter recently told me that she is gender fluid. I’ve heard…
Parenting Through Politics
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Jul 19, 2017 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: My husband and I do not agree politically. It has never been too…
Blending Family Needs Careful Process
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Jun 21, 2017 by Luanne Starr Rhoades, LCPC, LADC, CCS; Health Affiliates Maine Question: I was widowed last year and am now the single mum to 2…
How to Help Someone Who Is Thinking of Suicide
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on May 30, 2017 by Mary Gagnon, LMFT; Health Affiliates Maine What do you do when someone you love is feeling down? We’ve all been down at some…
Stop That Whining!
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on May 11, 2017 Question: My seven year old whines a lot….a lot…a whole lot. He whines so much that I am beginning to get resentful and lose…
Body Changes Cause Self-consciousness
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Apr 12, 2017 Do you have a question for our experts? Email kaytd@macaronikid.com with “Ask the Experts“ in the subject line. (Please note: If we select your…
Help! My Son is Angry All the Time.
This article originally appeared in Macaroni Kid on Mar 9, 2017 Do you have a question for our experts? Email kaytd@macaronikid.com with “Ask the Experts“ in the subject line. (Please note: If we select your question…
Health Affiliates Maine Joins Red Cross Disaster Response Team in West Virginia
Three clinicians from Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) have responded to a request from the American Red Cross of Maine in providing relief efforts within areas of West Virginia. We are deeply grateful for the volunteer…
#strikeoutthestigma Inaugural Co-Ed Softball Tournament
Play Ball! Join us for the Inaugural #StrikeOuttheStigma Co-Ed Softball Tournament. We are pleased to accounce Health Affiliates Maine is partnering with NAMI Mainein support of raising behavioral health awareness in our community. Let’s #StrikeOuttheStigma together! This…
Self-Worth & Acceptance
Hi again! I am back with another blog. I was re-reading my first one “Shame: Managing Stormy Days” the other day and thought it was, “to my surprise” not bad.I say this not with an…
New Counselor Joins Health Affiliates Maine
(Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency announces the recent hiring of Kim Morrison, LMSW-CC. Morrison joins Health Affiliates Maine’s growing team of affiliate counselors as a Licensed Master…
Maine’s Opiate Epidemic
According to Maine’s Attorney General’s Office, the evident opiate epidemic in Maine has resulted in 50 more deaths in 2014 from just 4 years ago. In response to WMTW’s series on Maine’s Heroin Epidemic this…
Health Affiliates Maine Statement on Lisa Cox and Suicide Prevention
“To those feeling hopeless, no matter how bad you are hurting, we want you to know …you are not alone and you matter.” In light of the recent news from the Brunswick Police Department regarding missing…
Health Affiliates Maine & NAMI Maine Call on Everyone to “Go Stigma Free” and Learn the Symptoms of Mental Illness
(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) October 4 – October 10, 2015 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. Health Affiliates Maine a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Maine are…
Health Affiliates Maine Exceeds Fundraising Goals for NAMI Maine
(Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is thrilled to announce they exceeded this year’s fundraising goal for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Maine by over…
Health Affiliates Maine Awarded Contract to Provide Services to Maine National Guard
(Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) is proud and honored to announce it has been awarded a contract with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide services to members of the…
2015 Fourth Annual Consortium
Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) recently celebrated their 4th Annual Consortium, which honored HAM’s fifth year as an Agency and was a time to celebrate all of HAM’s nearly 400 mental health professionals and staff. The…
New Tobacco-Free Policy at Health Affiliates Maine Paves the Way for Health and Wellness
(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) on July 1st 2015, Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency, will take an important step in supporting the health of its employees, clients, vendors and visitors by…
HAM Clinician, Asa Gustavsson, Spotlighted On WCSH 6 For Equine Therapy
Have you ever heard of Equine Assisted Therapy? Horses can really connect to human emotions, which is why this approach helps multiple mental health disorders, such as eating disorders and drug/alcohol abuse. One of our…
HAM Aids MMCC With Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Services
“In my work with MMCC, I partner with educational personnel, school psychologists, and behavioral analysts to treat youth with developmental disorders, autism, and mental health diagnoses.” -Dr. Bowker-Kinley (Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM)…
New Counselor Joins Health Affiliates Maine
(Portland, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency announces Dawn Stratton, LCPC, as a new affiliate. Stratton joins HAM as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and will be providing…
Health Affiliates Maine Opens New Clinical Office
ELLSWORTH – Health Affiliates Maine (HAM), a growing mental health and substance abuse agency based in Auburn, is opening a brand new clinical office in Ellsworth. HAM is hosting an open house on Wednesday, April…
Health Affiliates Maine offers Free Trainings for Case Managers
(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a growing statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is excited to offer a free cutting edge seminar open to all mental health case managers on “A Recovery-Based, Trauma-Informed…
Kevin Mannix to Speak at HAM’s Annual Consortium
Health Affiliates Maine is excited and proud to announce Kevin Mannix as their Keynote Speaker at this years’ annual Consortium on June 19th at the Ramada in Lewiston. For nearly 24 years Kevin has been the morning weather…
New Psychiatrist Joins Health Affiliates Maine
(Bangor, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a growing statewide substance abuse and mental health agency announces the hiring of Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Jessica Manaker MD. Dr Manaker joins HAM’s expanding team of…
Health Affiliates Maine offers Seminar on Trauma & Neuroscience
(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency is excited to offer a cutting edge clinician seminar on “Working with Trauma: Looking through the lens of Neuroscience” presented by…
New Medical Director Joins Health Affiliates Maine Team
(Lewiston/Auburn, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide substance abuse and mental health agency announced the hiring of Melissa M. Bowker-Kinley, MD, PhD. Dr. Bowker-Kinley joins HAM as the new Medical Director, expanding and overseeing…
Health Affiliates Maine Opens New Augusta Clinical Office
AUGUSTA – Health Affiliates Maine (HAM), a growing mental health and substance abuse agency based in Auburn, is opening a new clinical office in Augusta. HAM is hosting an open house on Wednesday, November 5th…
HAM’s Free School Trainings Get A Thumbs Up
Back to school can be both a blessing and hardship for families. Anxiety about going back to school, financial strains, peer pressure, and changes in routine can all impact student performance. Now more than ever…
Executive Director Andrea Krebs Reflects On The Passing of Robin Williams & Our Mission
I, like many of you, have spent this week going about my daily tasks with Robin Williams and the tragedy that occurred Monday constantly in my thoughts. I have thought about the hopelessness and the…
Health Affiliates Maine Announces New Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
(Auburn/Lewiston, Maine) Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) a statewide provider of outpatient therapy, case management and medication management services have announced the hiring of Kati DeRevere, PMHNP-BC. DeRevere joins HAM’s team of Affiliates and will be…
Health Affiliates Maine Sponsors Local Youth In Obstacle Course
Thanks to the support of Health Affiliates Maine, 21 young people from Tree Street Youth participated in the 2014 Bands on the Run Fitness Run. For the third consecutive year, Auburn based Health Affiliates Maine…
HAM Hosts Their 3rd Annual Consortium!
HAM is thrilled to announce that they will be hosting their 3rd Annual Consortium on Friday, June 27th at the Ramada Inn in Lewiston! This is open to all providers and staff as a celebration…
Notice of Privacy Practices
Attention Clients: Health Affiliates Maine has updated our Notice of Privacy Practices. This document describes the legal obligations of Health Affiliates Maine and your legal rights related to your protected health information under HIPAA. It…
HAM Sponsors MaineFocus Film Festival
HAM is a proud sponsor of this years MaineFocus Film Festival, that features videos submitted by teens across the state sharing stories of how substance abuse has changed their lives. The festival is hosted by Bangor…
NAMI Maine Walk
Health Affiliates Maine Team- Reducing Stigma One Step at a Time with NAMI Maine. Health Affiliates Maine is pleased to be participating in the NAMI Maine Walks “Walking for Mental Health” event to raise funds…
Health Affiliates Maine recognized by Inc. Magazine
Inc. magazine today ranked Health Affiliates Maine (based in Auburn, Maine) NO. 1049 on its 32nd annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look…
Second Annual Consortium
In celebration of our providers and Health Affiliates Maine as an agency. Health Affiliates Maine held it’s Second Annual Consortium on June 28th, 2013 All affiliates, per-diem employees, and regular employees were invited to attend…
Health Affiliates Maine Adds to Leadership Team
Health Affiliates Maine (HAM) , a state-wide provider of mental health counseling announced Luanne Starr Rhoades has joined their leadership team as the new Director of Outpatient Therapy Services. Rhoades, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor…
Health Affiliates Maine Creates New Outpatient Program
(Auburn-Maine) Health Affiliates Maine, a state-wide provider of mental health counseling has created a new outpatient substance abuse program designed to meet a critical need in the community. Based in Auburn, Health Affiliates Maine (healthaffiliatesmaine.com)…