Educational Services

KMHA has been known for our grassroots work in the communities of Kauai where we host and facilitate community-based forums known as Community Conversations. These talk-story events ensure that residents have an opportunity to come together and experience healing through community counseling.

After a spike of suicides on our island, KMHA came together with community members to educate ourselves more on the triggers and warning signs of a person in mental distress. As a result, the professionals at KMHA now have a background in facilitating a variety of training workshops that support those seeking mental health assistance. Trainings can be customized for any professional, community, or personal development with a focus on mental health and wellness, mental health crisis, and suicide prevention. We are always looking for individuals to help coordinate, so if there is ever a desire to support, there are multiple opportunities to do so at KMHA.

• From our Agency to Yours

  KMHA is able to support your agencies who want to learn more about mental health and how it's interwoven into the work culture. KMHA collaborates with contracted agencies to customize information, developed around mental health and work, in a digestible manner for agency employees or contractors. Trainings typically range between 2-4 hours. Any requirements outside of the standards that are offered can be discussed to customize a training best suited for your agency's unique needs. Please give us a call regarding pricing and collaboration.

• Community Members Interested in Mental Health

For Community Members interested in learning more about what a mental health crisis is and what to do in the midst of a mental health crises, this training is for you. KMHA established a standard professional (and personal) development  training workshop for individuals and small groups interested in learning more about general mental health and wellness, what a mental health crisis looks like, and how to be resourced in a mental health crisis. This training requires a minimum of 8 individuals to attend in order for KMHA to facilitate. If you are looking to host an event and want to include this training or content, please give us a call regarding pricing and collaboration to bring a training to you and your community soon.

• From Our Town to Yours

KMHA can act as a local host organization that will assist inter-agencies in coming to Kauai for mental health and wellness professional development trainings and workshops. This includes support in coordinating with local vendors and doing our best to support traveling agencies when bringing relevant mental health and wellness content through trainings and workshops to our island. Please give us a call regarding pricing and collaboration.

• Relationship Literacy Program

Brian C. Alston, STM, MA, is a psychological counselor, and founder of the Relationship Literacy Program (RLP). With over 25 years of experience working with communities impacted by trauma, violence, addiction, and systemic injustice, Brian has served in diverse settings including MA, CT, HI, as well as international initiatives in Haiti, Afghanistan, Sudan, Rwanda, and the Congo.

Educated at Amherst College and Yale University, among others, Brian brings graduate training in psychology, law, ethics, theology, and cognitive science. His clinical background includes psychological testing with forensic populations and extensive counseling experience with individuals and families navigating relational conflict. For many years, he served as a certified addictions specialist and licensed drug and alcohol counselor, leading psychoeducational groups on anger management, violence prevention, sexual health, and substance abuse.

Since moving to Kaua‘i in 2007, he has focused on affordable housing, homelessness, and male engagement, including leadership of the Kauai Fatherhood Council and the annual Kauai Men’s Conference. Through his partnership with KMHA, Brian’s Relationship Literacy Program provides practical tools for emotional intelligence, communication, and violence prevention—aligning with KMHA’s mission to destigmatize mental health, prevent suicide, and build resilient communities.

*While these courses are able to be taught, collaboration in funding is critical to make these courses more accessible to the community. Please let us know if you'd like to support this cause through a fiscal donation or volunteering!