Additional Resources

LA Resources for Wildfires:

This section is in progress- last edited Jan. 14th, 2025

Main Links:

• Comprehensive Wildlife support list (ways to get help and ways to give help)

• MALAN Fire & Wind Storm Resources (google doc organized alphabetically by location)

• LA County Emergency Updates

• Off The Grid Missions: assistance (supplies and much more) for Deaf and Disabled individuals impacts by LA fires (option to ask for help, and option to donate or volunteer)

Precautions to take (air, water, etc):

WATER

• There are precautions in place for water in areas impacted by Eaton Canyon and Palisades Fires.

• See a list here: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/what-is-water-boil-notice-water-advisories-do-not-drink (and double check that this is up to date for your area using the resources listed in the link and the number below)

• “LADWP is issuing a DO NOT DRINK NOTICE  that replaces the previous “Boil Water Notice” for Pacific Palisades Zip Code 90272, and Adjacent Communities in the LADWP Service Area North of San Vicente Blvd under evacuation orders due to the potential of fire-related contaminants that may have entered the water system in the area.”

• It is also recommended not to swim in the ocean.

• Information and specifics to your area can be found at: 1-800-342-5397 (DWP hotline)

AIR

• LA air quality is considered unsafe at this time because of plastic, copper, asbestos, lead, and additional toxic chemicals released from the materials burnt in the fire. Scientists are suggesting staying inside or using high quality P100 masks or N95 masks when possible/limiting exposure and using KN95 masks when not possible to reduce risks (more information) (additional information) (more information)

• Air quality data can be useful for your local area, HOWEVER that does not include data about things like lead and asbestos so continuing to take precautions is recommended (more information)

• HEPPA air filters can be helpful for indoor use.

• The Fires: Air Quality, Public Health & What to Do Next (slides and bullet point breakdown from a public health webinar Coalition for Clean Air)

Housing:

Get Funds:

Insurance:

Legal:

• ALG Alexandroff Law Group has offered to handle fire insurance claims completely free. 818-219-8848 (if you find out this information is no longer correct/out of date please contact me immediately)

Mental Health Care:

Supplies:

• Free masks: Maskblocla- outside of Amoeba in Hollywood daily (

• Free masks: LA public libraries

• Free masks: Long Beach Forward 2217 E. 6th st. Long Beach, CA 90814 (10-4, M-F)

• Most supplies: Octavia’s bookshelf: 9-6 T-S

• Most supplies: IATSE Local 80 2520 W. Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91505

• Food, water, coffee, clothes, hygiene: Neighbors & Friends 88 East Union St, Pasadena CA 91103

Pet Care:

Disability support:

• Disability Disaster Access

Give support:

Free Apps:

• Tracking active fires and progress: Watch Duty

• Air Quality: South Coast AQMD

FEMA:

• File a FEMA claim

Other:

Have a suggestion? e-mail me at samsilvermantherapy@gmail.com to get it added (make the subject line: wildfire resource so I know it’s not SPAM)

General Mental Health Resources

• Podcast on coping with grief and loss: Terrible, Thanks for Asking 

• Podcast about coping with work stress and work dynamics: How’s work? with Esther Perel 

• General mental health podcast: Unlocking Us with Brene Brown (the first episode in particular is on coping with the pandemic) 

• Motherhood podcast: Motherhood Sessions

• General Mental Health Podcast: Counselor Toolbox

• Online Sand tray (express your feelings or just play)

• A good TED Talk about boundaries

• Free therapy worksheets

• About the transformative justice model

• Understanding self-harm as more than just physical

• Create your own recovery/life mission statement

• Act Mindfully Free Resources 

• Therapy podcast (with a focus Black identity and experience): The homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema 

• Open Path collective: sliding scale therapy resource

• Therapist Aid: free therapy worksheets

• Headspace: A Mindfulness and Meditation resource- currently free to LA residents for the duration of Covid

• PTSD coping worksheets

• Owl Comic for mental health support and advice

• https://www.mutualaidhub.org

• When your unsure how to begin with asking for help on any day to day task

Self-Love & Body Positivity Resources

• Self-esteem/building trust with ourselves

• Radical self-acceptance (body and intersectionality focus) 

• Self-Compassion 

  Body image/disordered eating resources: 

  • The Body Image podcast

  • Food Psych podcast 

  • Diets don’t work (intersectional) (facebook)

  • Jameela Jamil (twitter/Instagram) 

  • Sofie Hagen (podcast, twitter, instagram, facebook)

  • HAES (facebook group) 

  • Dieticians Unplugged Podcast

  • Virtual meal support groups : @covid19eatingsupport on Instagram 

  • Eating disorder recovery mentor

  • Another eating disorder recovery mentor resource

  • FEDUP group on Facebook (Fighting Eating Disorders in Underrepresented Populations)

• A good ted talk about women, body image, and boundaries

• Happy Fat by Sofie Hagen

• The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

Relationships & Sex Resources

• Relationship, sex, and sexuality resources

• Relationship podcast: Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel 

• Teen-friendly resources on sex, sexuality, and gender 

• Healing from/coping with the aftermath of childhood sexual assault

• Queer Sex Ed podcast

Queer/Trans/Intersectional Resources

• Non-binary centered news/culture

• National queer and trans therapists of color (they offer therapy scholarships for QTPOC)

• Trans Student Educational Resources

• Intersex information and advocacy

• Queer/trans resources (Sam Dylan Finch’s Website)

• Queer trans disabled Los Angeles collective

• Pidgeon: non-binary intersex person, activist, blogger, filmmaker and youtuber

• A comic about the early stages of figuring out your gender

• Writing project by and for QTPOC survivors of child sexual abuse

• Deadname remover

• Donate binders/get free binders

• Legal name and gender change assistance contact MSW Nick Bell at nbell@lagendercenter.com for 1:1 consult (free, but $25 donation encouraged for those who can afford it)

• Queer and Trans Mutual Aid Facebook Group

• Autostraddle (predominately queer women and lesbian centered news, culture, dating, and community)

• Oliver Quincy: An autistic non-binary person’s instagram where they talk about mental health and debunk harmful myths about gender, autistic, and mental health

• Conversion Therapy Survivors

• Trans, non-binary, and intersex AA meeting (Sundays 7:30 pm PST)

• Jessica Kellgren-Fozard- Disabled Deaf lesbian youtuber talks about chronic illness, mental health, queerness, and invisible disabilities.

• Gender Affirming Letter Access Project

• Everyone Is Gay (Advice and Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth)

• Gender Diversity (family resource/support groups for parents of trans and non-binary youth and for trans and non-binary youth)

BIPOC Resources

• Inclusive Therapists Resource List

• Therapy for Black Girls

• Melanin and Mental Health

• Black Mental Health Matters

• BEAM: Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective

• A reparations Facebook group where POC can ask for financial support and where everyone can make offerings of things they can give (items, services, etc)

• African American Therapists Directory

• Mental Health Issues Facing the Black Community (Contact for additional “free or low-cost sources for mental health treatment in the Black community”) * This is not an endorsement of Sunshine Behavioral Health

• 5 Myths that Uphold Mental Health Stigma in Latinx Communities

• 4 Ways People of Color Can Foster Mental Health and Practice Restorative Healing

• Being Biracial: Figuring Out Where Home Is

Neurodiversity Resources

• ADHD Alien Comic

• How ADHD can impact depression/anxiety/your self concept

• Autism and gender diversity overlap

• One woman shares about her experiences as an autistic Black woman

• Black autistic artist shares about their experiences

Anti-Oppression Resources

• The Blackful: Anti-Racist Training and Consultation

• @portia.noir on TikTok

• How to Be Antiracist by Ibram X Kendi

• Fearing The Black Body by Sabrina Strings

• Radical Copy Editor (making your writing more anti-racist, trans affirming, up to date, and inclusive)

• bit.ly/ANTIRACISMRESOURCES

• Learning about Microagressions:

  • Microaggressions and micro-affirmations

  • The Impact of Microaggressions – An Introductory Training

  • Tone Policing

  • Racial Microagressions in everyday life

  • Sexual and Gender Microagressions and access to healthcare

Additional Mental Health Resources

• Chronic Illness Support

• Healing from/coping with the after math of childhood sexual assault 

• Support and community for people who hear voices created by someone who hears voices (from a non-stigmatizing perspective)

• Los Angeles Covid 19 Mutual Aid Resources

• Los Angeles Covid 19 Mutual Aid Facebook Group

• Aids Healthcare Foundation (free HIV testing, affordable housing, and more services)

• International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation

Los Angeles Based Low Fee Therapy Resources

• Los Angeles and Long beach LGBT centers

• Individual and Family Therapy Center in North Hollywood

• Southern California Counseling Center

• The Place Within

• Mitchell family Counseling Clinic

• Into The Woods Therapy Center

• West Valley Counseling Center

• The Relational Center

• Maple Counseling Clinic

• Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic

• Open Paths counseling

• Westminster Center

• Valley Community Counseling Clinic

• USC and UCLA both have clinics you don’t have to be a student to go to

• Playa Vista Counseling

• Telebehavioralhealth (virtual therapy services that take medicare and medicaid as well as other providers)

Resources to Find a Therapist (United States):

• Mentalhealthmatch.com

• Inclusivetherapists.com

• National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network

• Therapy Den

• Talk Space

• Therapy for Black Girls

• Melanin and Mental Health

• Find a Therapist

• Good Therapy

• Psychology Today (be mindful of their issues with publishing racist and transphobic articles and/but they have one of the most extensive lists of therapists- so I didn’t want to leave off the list)

• Neurodivergent Therapists- https://ndtherapists.com

Fun Things to Do During a Pandemic

• Free virtual board games (play alone, with friends, or with strangers)

• Make free digital art: https://www.canva.com/ (posters, flyers, collages)

• Make free digital art: https://www.pixilart.com/draw (MS paint style art)

• Your local library (has free virtual resources you can access)

• Open Source Books and Articles on Muse

• Free Movie Streaming

• Monterey Bay Aquarium Life Camera Feed

Book Recommendations:

• The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

• Unmasking Autism by Devon Price

• Adults Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How to Heal From Distance, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson

• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Amelia and Emily Nagoski

• Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings

• Self Therapy by Jay Earley (I know some IFS traditionalists are not a fan but I found this a lot less dense/easier to read than the books by Richard C. Schwartz. However, check out Richard C. Shwartz’s Internal Family Systems Model if you want the original text on IFS)

• Self Compassion by Kristen Neff