news
New Training: Mental Health First Aid Instructor
We are excited to announce a new Privately Hosted Instructor Training on Youth Mental Health First Aid. This training will prepare individuals to become certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructors. Instructors are required to teach the Youth Mental Health...
How Allison Shielded her Heart by Speaking her Mind
It's National Play Therapy Week!In honor of this, clinical therapist Megan Bunting shares a beautiful story of how play therapy helped a young girl find her voice. Allison experienced her first great loss when, at eight-years-old, her dad moved out of their home one...
Whole Child Program Helps Patients with Functional Neurological Symptom Disorder (FND) Find Healing
Psychologists in The Guidance Center’s Whole Child Program specialize in treating the intersection of physical and mental health. Because of this specialty, we frequently see children, adolescents and young adults who have been diagnosed with Functional Neurological...
Trauma-Informed Conference Was Filled With “Passion” for Change
In November, It’s About T.I.M.E. (Trauma Informed Movement in Education) consultants Nathan Swaringen, LCSW and Stevie McBride, LMFT arrived in Denver, Colorado to attend Beyond Consequences Institute’s Trauma Informed School Conference. Educators, clinicians and...
Fight to End Human Trafficking
"If everybody had a perfect childhood…the world would be a nearly perfect place. And by 'perfect' I don't mean something you see on an old sit-com. A perfect childhood simply means experiencing unconditional love, having your basic needs met and having equal...
Adopt-A-Family Tribute 2019
Please enjoy our Tribute Book for Adopt-A-Family 2019 A big thank you to everyone who participates in this program and makes it possible for us to help our clients in this way year after year.
Year in Review – A Letter from Our CEO
As I look back on the year 2019, I see a year filled with hope. Hope in our clinicians who showed our clients they are not alone and together they overcame many hardships. Hope in our donors who selflessly supported our mission because they have seen firsthand the...
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
“"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." - Maya Angelou This holiday season, The Guidance Center received an overwhelming amount of love and cheer as 89 community members and local business made the holidays bright for 90 of our client...
Holiday Tips for Parents with Children who have Mental Illness
The holidays can be a difficult time of year for those struggling with a mental illness. It is very likely that you may know someone who may be facing an emotional or behavioral health issue such as depression, anxiety or a trauma related disorder. They might want to...
Annual Client Holiday Party 2019
It was a celebration to remember! With bright blue snowflakes, shiny and sparkly garland and a fresh tree adorned with silver and white ornaments, our lobby was transformed into a winter wonderland for our Annual Client Holiday Party. More than two hundred children...
Happy Thanksgiving + Thank You Food Finders!
This season of thankfulness has been an amazing time. As an agency, a team of dedicated professionals and friend to the community, we hope we have shown how much we appreciate all of you. Our supporters, donors, staff and clients make the work we do possible and we...
A Season of Thankfulness – Grami’s Gift
This November 20, I celebrated my fortieth birthday. Only this year, something was missing; something I usually dreaded, but now in hindsight, utterly took for granted. Every year on my birthday, I’d inevitably receive a phone call with the caller-ID, “Grami.” I knew...
A Season of Thankfulness – Adopt-A-Family
This month of November, The Guidance Center is celebrating gratitude. Please view our blog, A Season of Thankfulness, for more information. For many, the holiday season is a time of celebration. Typically, when we think of the holidays, we think of gifts under the...
A Season of Thankfulness – Staff Reflections
This month of November, The Guidance Center is celebrating gratitude. Please view last week’s blog, A Season of Thankfulness, for more information. In honor of this, we reached out to our staff and asked them, “What does gratitude mean to you?” Their responses to this...
A Season of Thankfulness
During this time of the year, many families and friends gather together to reflect upon and share what they are grateful for. This month at The Guidance Center, we are delighted to join others in this tradition by featuring blog posts that focus on thankfulness and...
Adopt-A-Family 2019
The holiday season is fast approaching, but for many of the families we serve, the season can be a challenging time. Our clients often face complex hardships, which can make celebrating the holidays distressing and discouraging. At The Guidance Center, we want all...
It’s About T.I.M.E. Year Four Update, PT. 2
This blog post is continued from It’s About T.I.M.E. Year Four Update Pt. 1. To read part one, click here. We’re thrilled to announce the expansion of our It’s About T.I.M.E. program to a new school and the addition of new team members. Read on to learn about the...
Self-Compassionate Healing After Domestic Violence
Doris Pakozdi is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who received her Master's Degree at California State University Dominguez Hills. Her passion for helping women through their trauma was sparked while facilitating the Domestic Violence Women's Empowerment...
It’s About T.I.M.E. Year Four Update, PT. 1
Nathan Swaringen, LCSW often excitedly tells community members about his work in the It’s About T.I.M.E. (Trauma Informed Movement in Education) program. When asked how he enjoys the role he exclaimed, “I love what I do!” However, he also recognizes that this program...
Parent Coffee Talks
As I began my new role as a Mental Health Consultant at Educare Head Start at Long Beach Unified School District, I was immediately introduced to teachers, staff and students. I was briefed on the high needs of the school and the community, as some students were...