Heather R Hayes & Associates, INC

For decades, the troubled teen industry has been criticized for its use of gooning—a practice where adolescents are forcibly removed from their homes in the middle of the night by hired transporters and taken to treatment centers. This process, often carried out without warning and using coercive force, has led many young people to describe their experiences as legalized abduction. But what if the very first step in a teen’s healing journey is also the most traumatizing part? ?? Read on in our latest blog: https://bit.ly/3Q61rwn #TeenTransportation #Trauma #Gooning #FightOfFlight #Blog

One of the biggest challenges facing young people struggling with their mental health is reaching out for help because it can be difficult to know when to ask, who to turn to, and what to say. As a result, many teens stay silent, which can keep them from getting the support they need. But what are the signs that it’s time to ask for help? Here are four key indicators: 1?? - Significant changes in eating/sleeping patterns. Many mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar, and other conditions, have a major effect on diet and sleep. If you’re experiencing long-term and serious changes to your sleeping and eating habits, it might be time to seek help. 2?? - Intense mood swings. Another way that many mental health conditions affect daily life is by influencing mood - unmanageable emotional highs and lows could indicate that it’s time to talk to someone about the way you’re feeling. 3??- Chronic feelings of panic, anxiety, or hopelessness. Many people experience occasional bouts of negative feelings such as panic, anxiety, or even hopelessness, but if these feelings are becoming chronic - meaning you are experiencing them more often than not - then you need to speak to someone about them. 4?? - Suicidal ideation. Feelings of wanting to end your own life are always a sign that it’s time to speak to someone about what you’re experiencing. This can be challenging, as such feelings come with much social shame, but keeping them to yourself is not the answer. There is no shame in reaching out and asking for help: friends, teachers, parents, and even siblings are great resources for communication. If you are a teen struggling with your mental health or know a teen who needs support, reach out to us at Heather R. Hayes and Associates. Visit our website for resources and contact information: https://bit.ly/3t0UNPX #MentalHealth #TeenMentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder

Diagnosing mental health conditions with overlapping symptoms can be challenging, especially when these conditions have distinct treatment implications. Attachment disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD) are sometimes misdiagnosed as narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) due to certain shared behavioral traits. However, despite surface-level similarities, the motivations and underlying dynamics inherent in these disorders are fundamentally different. This article explores the similarities, differentiating factors, and clinical theories that aid in accurate diagnosis. ?? Read on in our latest blog: https://bit.ly/4iH1lrb #MentalHealth #NPD #CPTSD #AttachmentDisorder #Diagnosis

Happy International Women’s Day from everyone at Heather R. Hayes and Associates! This year’s theme of #AccelerateAction encourages all of us to work toward equality in the face of the many global challenges which threaten progress. The point of this is not to focus on the bad but rather to re-energise the momentum toward the good. Today, let’s celebrate all the incredible women in our lives and communities and the difference they make. And however you choose to spend today, we hope you have an amazing day! #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #WomensDay

As we say goodbye to February, we’re reminded that even in the heart of winter, there are moments that bring us together—whether through time-honored traditions, shared stories, or the simple joy of connection. This past month has been meaningful and filled with opportunities to connect, learn, and share. I had the privilege of speaking at the Western Physicians in Recovery Conference in La Jolla, spending time with the NAATP board in San Antonio, and visiting Driftwood in Austin to reconnect with friends and colleagues. These experiences reinforced just how important it is to build relationships and support one another in the work we do. ?? Read on in my latest newsletter: https://bit.ly/3DfnPR8 #February #Newsletter #Connection #Opportunity #Relationships #Traditions

In a society where mental health issues, substance use disorders, and eating disorders are on the rise, the need for dedicated support systems is more crucial than ever. Therapeutic recovery companions have emerged as a vital resource for individuals navigating these challenges, offering one-on-one support that helps to bridge the gap between clinical treatment and everyday life. However, for these companions to be truly effective, it is essential that they are clinically informed and supervised by clinicians who understand the complexities of the issues at hand. Here’s why clinically-informed support, with trauma-informed practices and clinical oversight, is so beneficial for recovery journeys. ?? Read on in our latest blog: https://bit.ly/4316aHg #RecoveryCompanions #MentalHealth #SUD #SupportSystems #Trauma

At Heather R. Hayes & Associates, we appreciate that the ripple effect of mental health and substance use affects everyone in the family unit. We know how hard it is to watch a loved one suffer, and we understand that it can be painful and difficult for families to know who to turn to for help in times of crisis. Due to the unpredictable nature of substance use disorder and mental health conditions, families can feel that they have lost connection with their loved ones and that the dynamic has become unhealthy or even destructive. As such, we aim to provide families with compassionate help and guidance to help restore mental well-being and a healthy family dynamic. Family interventions are intense therapeutic programs that address the changes that have come about within families due to substance use or mental health. Each unique family requires compassion and understanding in order to heal. Every set of complex circumstances requires a compassionate understanding and treatment approach in order for the whole family to heal. Our team is committed to providing resources that can support you and your loved ones through each stage of the recovery journey. To learn more about Family Interventions, as well as all the services we offer, visit our website and follow the menu to MENTAL HEALTH: https://bit.ly/3t0UNPX #FamilyInterventions #Compassion #Therapy #Health #MentalHealth

It can feel impossible to succeed at any goal, let alone a major one like recovery from drug or alcohol use disorder. Especially when things are bad, success might seem like a mirage on the horizon that can never be reached. However, the process of recovery is not about suddenly achieving success; it’s about succeeding in small ways every day. Former First Lady Michelle Obama says it well: You have to practice success. “If you aren't practicing success today, you won't wake up in 20 years and be successful because you won't have developed the habits of success, which are small things like finishing what you start, putting a lot of effort into everything you do, being on time, treating people well.” Small habits make big life changes happen. The little things that lead to success may not feel monumental at the time - making your bed each morning, taking a walk in the park each afternoon, routinely calling the people who matter to you and asking about their lives, and taking care in doing things completely and well - but they add up. It’s this slow and patient path of small wins that lays the bricks on the road to a successful life in recovery. #Success #Goals #Recovery #Quotes #Habits

As the opioid crisis continues to wreak havoc across America, understanding the root of the problem which plagues our nation remains key to being able to provide solutions. Drugs like fentanyl, codeine, oxycodone, and other synthetic opioids continue to cause thousands of deaths across the country every year. This problem is not limited to the United States, either; the opioid crisis is a significant problem around the world as increasing numbers of individuals find themselves dependent on these dangerous drugs. It was recently estimated that over sixty million people struggle with the effects of opioids worldwide. ?? Read on in our latest blog: https://bit.ly/3ER46Yg #Fentanyl #Addiction #Opiods #Solutions

Happy President’s Day from Heather R. Hayes and Associates! Our first president was a very interesting man, and many things about him have become widely known as legends: that he had wooden teeth, for example, or that he was a fearsome but fair commander of the army who fought for victory and freedom from British rule. However, there are many features of his life that are not often talked about, including: ?? He was a meticulous and precise man, and as a teenager, he compiled over a hundred rules for social interaction, copying meticulously from English translations of French civil guidebooks. ?? He only left mainland North America one time in his life: to accompany his favorite brother and good friend, Lawrence Washington, to Barbados in the hopes that the warmer weather would cure Lawrence’s tuberculosis. ?? He married a 27-year-old widow named Martha Custis, taking on her children as his own and helping to manage her large and profitable estate (which included ownership of 84 slaves!). It was thanks to this marriage and becoming a wealthy and respected landowner that he was able to gain prominence politically in what was, at the time, the colony of Virginia, leading to his eventual role as the first President of the New United States of America in 1789. Our history is a long and rich one, and understanding what has led us to where we are is an important part of our future. #HappyPresidentsDay #History #Culture #GeorgeWashington #1stPresident