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By Rebecca Smith Collin Phaup has been a board member at Next Step for five years, and president of the board for two of those years. Over the last five years, Next Step has nearly tripled its budget. County coverage has doubled. Staffing has nearly doubled,...
By Rebecca Smith Yvonnee Tatum always knew she wanted to be a counselor. “I was the kid on the playground solving people’s problems,” she chuckled. “That was me. Other people I’ve talked to in the profession, they have the same story. Then in high school, that’s when...
By Rebecca Smith Lori Dunaway smiled when she received a text from a former client who had just graduated. “She wanted to know if I was still at the school and if she could meet and talk to me,” she said. “She wanted to let me know...
By Rebecca Smith Next Step counselor Dinah Nix believes growing up with substance abuse in her own family makes her a more empathetic counselor. “A family member would take me to AA, and I was supposed to stay outside, but I would sneak back in and hide...
COVID-19 has taken over the world in recent months, and experts are still uncertain as to when the pandemic will end. While the social distancing and shelter-in-place measures are a necessary step for the good of society, they have also placed a heavy burden on...
How to support your teen’s mental health during a pandemic Teens have plenty to be stressed about under even normal circumstances. Unfortunately, the social distancing that is required to deal with the coronavirus pandemic comes with its own set of new stresses, to say nothing of...
On day three of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, let’s talk about prescription drug abuse. Prescription drug abuse, particularly opioid abuse, has had a devastating impact on this country for the last few years. While the US has made strides in addressing the issue, we...
Today is Day 2 of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week. Today let’s talk about vaping and its potential complications with the COVID-19 pandemic. Top priority for everyone right now is not only preventing the spread of the coronavirus to other people but keeping ourselves and...