Special Update from Vered!
Secret project revealed!
Volunteer to provide support to families detained by ICE
Y’all might remember some cryptic references to a special project that our intern, Sprout, is working on.
We can finally reveal the news:
Vered Counseling is organizing a Volunteer Therapist Program, connecting therapists with families affected by immigration policies.
We’ve been talking to local organizations that provide legal (and other) help to families currently within the system.
One organization, RISE for Immigrants, has been providing free legal representation to children and families formerly detained in ICE facilities.
These lawyers were told to drop their cases when funding ran out, abandoning children in detention.
Instead of abandoning these children, the lawyers formed RISE for Immigrants, working without pay for the children who need protection the most.
Vered Counseling is going to work with organizations like RISE for Immigrants, providing a needed bridge between terrorized populations and clinicians who care.
Fill out the Volunteer Therapist Program interest form at the link below!
Note: I am very disabled and this is an all-volunteer program, so prepare to hear back at the speed of “we’re doing our best!”
What is the Volunteer Therapist Program?
Therapists can volunteer with this program as either “therapists” or “coordinators.”
Therapists will be asked to provide 20 free sessions of non-therapy, non-medical mental health support.
This non-therapy, non-medical mental health support will be referred to as “therapy*” for shorthand.
Why “Therapy*”?
There are two primary reasons why clinicians will be asked to provide 20 sessions of “therapy*” and not therapy:
The documentation requirements for non-medical services is more appropriate for these populations.
These clients don’t need a diagnosis - they need support
We’re asking volunteers to be clinicians not because they’re providing therapy, but as a screening process to help ensure competency.
What do coordinators do?
To help with administrative needs (we can’t keep Sprout here forever!), we’re asking some volunteers serve as coordinators. Coordinators will screen volunteer therapists and follow up with them on a monthly basis. Coordinators will not have access to any patient data - only information on therapists who have been assigned to them.
The coordinator role is only available to those who have attended a Vered Counseling continuing education course prior to today (2/23/2026).
Don’t want to scroll back up?
Fill out the Volunteer Therapist Program interest form at the link below!
Note: I am very disabled and this is an all-volunteer program, so prepare to hear back at the speed of “we’re doing our best!”
How else can I help?
Money! Funding means more time and resources can be devoted to this project.
You can donate to Vered Counseling at their ko-fi (yes, I was talked into finally starting one) and RISE for Immigrants at their website. The donation to RISE for Immigrants is tax-deductible).
Additionally, Vered Counseling will be offering paid trainings as another source of fundraising. Volunteers will get information on trainings first, and non-volunteers may be offered these courses as well.
As my mentor Glen Pearson (President of the American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry, professor at UT Southwestern, and all-around force of nature who would hate me describing him by his achievements), was fond of saying:
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum
Until next time,
Vered
VeredCounseling.com
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