AffectorOfChange
Hello there! I'm Anthony, and I use he/they pronouns. Some friends call me Affector, AoC, or Augustine. I’m a lifelong gaymer and an RPG streamer with a deep passion for mental health and recovery. I’m all about tabletop games, the Final Fantussy series, and immersive roleplaying. By day, I'm a psychotherapist, and by stream, I’m a proud Warrior of Light.Right now, I'm running an actual play 5e D&D campaign called Frog Pond Academy—a slice-of-life, mystery-solving adventure following first-year students at a magical school. Catch us live every Wednesday at 8:30 PM EST on my Twitch channel.I'm also on a journey to play through every mainline Final Fantasy game. We started with FFI and are currently working through Final Fantasy Tactics.Other streams you might tune into include Coworking Fridays, Final Fantasy 14, cozy games, retro RPGs, map making, and the occasional one-shot tabletop adventure.I also host the Roll for Resilience (#R4R) podcast, where we explore the intersection of roleplaying games, healing, and personal growth.
Check out my Podcast, Roll for Resilience #R4R
Roll for Resilience (#R4R) is a podcast with the mission to explore how we can use games like RPGs as tools to facilitate healing and personal growth. Here, you will find episodes of actual play tabletop RPG games, as well as interviews, panels, and talks that aim to highlight the intersection of gaming and mental health.
I'm a member of two pretty cool teams!The Trepies were founded by eyesonbee, we are a collective of humans first and content creators second. Brought together by a common love for Final Fantasy, the main goal of this team is to be part of a happy, healthful, and supportive community. We are passionate about mental health care both online and offline, accountability and personal growth, and coming together to create earnest & uplifting spaces on Twitch.
https://www.twitch.tv/team/trepiesThe Fruities was founded by gh05t_girl and is a twitch stream team dedicated to uplifting LGBTQIA creators and conversation. Members of the team are driven on creating safe and inclusive spaces on twitch. We are passionate about bringing awareness and education about LGBTQIA topics.
https://fruitiesontwitch.carrd.co
Finding a Therapist and Other Resources
Check out my socials here:
Crisis Resources
If you find yourself in need of immediate support from a professional, here are some resources for you to check out:
National Suicide Prevention Line (USA)
If you are in the USA, you can dial 9-8-8 or visit https://988lifeline.orgSAMHSA’s National Helpline
SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Dial 1-800-622-HELP(4357) or https://findtreatment.samhsa.govTrevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) young people. You can text, call, or chat with a crisis counselor 24/7/365.
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-helpTrans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.
https://translifeline.orgInternational Association for Suicide Prevention
The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing suicidal behavior and providing support to those affected by it. Through research, education, and advocacy, IASP works to raise awareness and promote understanding of suicide as a global public health concern.
https://www.iasp.infoInternational Suicide Hotlines
Do you live outside of the US and want to connect with someone in your country? Check out this list of international list of crisis lines:
http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.htmlCampaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
The Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) is a UK-based charity focused on preventing male suicide, offering support and resources to men experiencing mental health struggles. Through helplines, web chat services, and campaigns, CALM provides confidential and non-judgmental assistance to those in crisis or in need of emotional support. Additionally, they work to challenge societal norms around masculinity and mental health, aiming to create a culture where men feel comfortable seeking help and talking openly about their feelings.
https://www.thecalmzone.net
https://www.thecalmzone.net/guides/worried-about-someoneSamaritans
Samaritans is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing emotional support to those in distress, particularly through their 24/7 helpline services. They offer confidential listening to anyone going through difficult times, including feelings of loneliness, despair, or suicidal thoughts. Samaritans operates through a network of trained volunteers who offer empathetic and non-judgmental support to individuals in need, aiming to alleviate emotional pain and prevent crises.
https://www.samaritans.org
Find a Therapist
The biggest step you can take in finding a therapist is to first work on knowing that you are deserving of love and growth. With the right conditions, every human brain is capable of healing and you have the power to create those conditions.
Therapy Den is a mental health directory and resource made with love. Their mission is to make finding the right therapist or counselor as painless as possible.
https://www.therapyden.comPsychology Today is a standard directory of psychotherapists that many therapists utilize to advertise their practices, introduce themselves to the community, and also indicate their current availability. You can sort listings by the insurance accepted, fees, models of psychotherapy, and more.
https://www.psychologytoday.comOpen Path Psychotherapy Collective is a nonprofit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing in-office and online mental health care—at a steeply reduced rate—to clients in need.
https://openpathcollective.orgEMDRIA has a fabulous directory for finding a clinician who is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy, which is considered a first line treatment for PTSD and other trauma-related conditions.
https://www.emdria.org/find-an-emdr-therapistInclusive Therapists celebrates diverse identities and offers an easier way to find therapists who understand and support marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, and those with disabilities. They prioritize the needs of these communities and advocate for mental health liberation through education and activism.
https://www.inclusivetherapists.comLatinx Therapy is a website where people can find therapists who understand and support Latinx individuals. It helps connect Latinx individuals with culturally responsive therapists who can provide mental health support tailored to their experiences.
https://latinxtherapy.comThe South Asian Therapists Directory is a website where people can find therapists who understand South Asian culture. It helps users find therapists who can provide mental health support tailored to their cultural background. https://southasiantherapists.orgInternational Therapist Directory is a website where people can find therapists from around the world. It helps users search for and connect with therapists who match their needs and preferences.
https://internationaltherapistdirectory.com
Coping Strategies
Trauma Made Simple
This website is dedicated to bringing you resources on trauma and recovery referenced in the books Trauma and the 12 Steps and Trauma Made Simple by Dr. Jamie Marich. You will also find some wonderful content on this creator's YouTube Page for muscle relaxation, breathing techniques, meditations, and yoga.
https://www.traumamadesimple.com/mindful-living-coping-skills.htmlInsight Timer
A free app for sleep, anxiety, and stress. You will find more than 130,000 free guided meditations there.
https://insighttimer.com
Education
Take This
Take This is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing mental health issues within the gaming community and the broader tech industry. Through advocacy, education, and awareness campaigns, Take This strives to promote mental wellness, reduce stigma, and provide support for individuals experiencing mental health challenges. They offer resources such as mental health guides, workshops, and panels at gaming conventions, along with their AFK Rooms program, providing safe spaces for attendees to take a break and recharge during events. Take This aims to foster a supportive environment where everyone feels empowered to prioritize their mental well-being.
https://www.takethis.org/mental-health-resourcesNAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Across the country, thousands of trained NAMI volunteers bring peer-led programs to a wide variety of community settings, from churches to schools to NAMI Affiliates. With the unique understanding of people with lived experience, these programs and support groups provide outstanding free education, skills training and support.
https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-EducationTTRPG Safety Toolkit
This is a comprehensive online resource offering tools and guidelines for ensuring player safety and comfort in tabletop role-playing games. It provides diverse resources to facilitate open communication, consent, and emotional safety within gaming communities.
https://ttrpgsafetytoolkit.comProQOL
The ProQOL is a commonly used measure of the negative and positive effects of helping others who have experienced suffering and trauma, including disaster survivors. The ProQOL has sub-scales for compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress.
https://proqol.org/proqol-measure
ProQOL for Livestreaming
Downloadable PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wfaxeAtwsMhSpnDQ0I5fLWhzawCzI2Js/view?usp=sharing
Scorable Version (make a copy): https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I2ED3DOuDMjPdH_R5lFimSDPiWTcEEOn2QLxDZ9GmYc/copy
Streamer Support
Guardians Mental Health
Guardians Mental Health is a 501c3 nonprofit mental health organization that is focused on spreading mental health awareness and meaningful resources throughout the gaming space. They provide first step support with gathering resources, peer support and where to find a mental health professional near you. They are not a replacement for dedicated professional help.
https://guardiansmh.org
They also have an RTS bot that you can use in your streams or on your Discord server to provide information and resources on demand.
https://rts.guardiansmh.org/bot