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Summer Self-Care
The days are getting longer, the weather is warming up, and the school year is coming to an end. Summer is almost here! As a parent or caregiver, you’ve worked hard all year long to support your children in and outside of school. The end of the school year and change...
Discover the Superhero Within: Meet Samantha
Meet Samantha, a client in our Intensive Services Program at our Long Beach Clinic. She’s the last of four clients that we are honored to feature during May Mental Health Month. Samantha struggled with severe depression and bullying, but with support, she’s realized...
Discover the Superhero Within – Meet Wendy
Meet Wendy, a client in The Guidance Center's CalWORKS program in Long Beach. She’s the third of four clients that we are honored to feature during May Mental Health Month. The stress of bravely escaping domestic violence triggered a previously unknown mental illness...
Discover the Superhero Within – Meet Jason
Meet Jason, a former client at our Compton Clinic. He’s the second of four clients that we are honored to feature during May Mental Health Month. Jason has already experienced heartbreaking tragedy and challenges in his young life. But no matter how many times he’s...
Discover the Superhero Within – Meet Karen
Meet Karen, a client in our Long Beach Intensive Services program. She’s the first of four clients that we are honored to feature during May Mental Health Month. This is her inspiring letter of overcoming obstacles and discovering the superhero within. Since...
Discover the Superhero Within
The world is full of villains, like stigma or symptoms of mental illnesses or trauma. In fact, 1 in 5 children ages 13-18 have or will have a serious mental illness. However, these numbers only reflect the children who have received help and have been diagnosed.Many...
It’s About T.I.M.E. Gets Ready to Celebrate Two Years
Now that Spring Break is over, the end of the school year is drawing nearer, which means that our It’s About T.I.M.E. program will soon celebrate two full years of partnering with Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). Isn’t it incredible how time...
Answering Frequently Asked Questions about Child Therapy
As a parent or caregiver, you’ve come to The Guidance Center for help with your child and family, but you have questions. We totally understand! The questions you may have are often ones that other parents or caregivers have asked us, too, and we’re more than happy to...
Talking Helps After Crisis
One month has passed since the tragic shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In the weeks since, we’ve heard threats of violence reported at our Long Beach schools and in numerous nearby communities.When I heard the news about the latest shooting, as a...
Celebrating our Social Workers
so·cial work·erˈsōSHəl ˈwərkər (noun)a person dedicated to enhancing the well-being of others and meeting the basic needs of all people, especially the most vulnerable in our societyMarch is National Social Worker Month so we're taking the opportunity to...
It’s About T.I.M.E. Partners with Head Start
My decade-plus tenure as a clinician at The Guidance Center has provided me with the privilege of being with hundreds of children of all ages. Notice the choice of word, “being” rather than the word “working”. In my opinion, and experience, therapeutic healing comes...
For Teens: How to know if you’re in an abusive dating relationship
Meet Taylor, a 15-year-old high school student. Taylor has been dating Alex for six months. Recently, Taylor appears sad and has stopped hanging out with friends. When friends ask to hang out, Taylor will run it by Alex but will cancel plans with friends when Alex...
Parents: How to Have a Healthy Conversation about Teen Dating Violence
Trying to hold a conversation with a teen can be difficult. Trying to hold a conversation about a heavy subject like teen dating violence can be even harder for both parent and teen. However, it can be informative for both parent and teen; can be preventative for a...
Celebrating Black History Month
In celebration of Black History Month, The Guidance Center would like to recognize several of the leaders who serve as activists for the importance of mental health. Communities of color, including children, experience unique obstacles in accessing mental health care...
Community is the Foundation: It’s About T.I.M.E. Program Update
This past August, I walked onto the campus of Long Beach’s Poly PAAL High School to train the teaching and administrative staff, beginning our two-year It’s About T.I.M.E. journey. I always wonder how my curriculum will be received by other professionals. Will it be...
Join the Fight to End Human Trafficking
Andrea is 11 years old. She loves drawing and walking to the park with her friends. She’s tall for her age, and struggles to fit in with her foster siblings. She’s desperately lonely at home. She finds her escape at school but often gets distracted dreaming about what...
A Community of Connection
This special client success story comes from our 2016-17 Annual Report. Click here to experience more stories of community and hope that comes from compassionate collaboration. “Community means coming together for the common good of the kids.”-Armando Naranjo,...
Adopt-a-Family Program Gives Joy to Many
Because of generous community members and local organizations, 150 of our children and parents, totaling almost 40 families, will experience the joy of the holiday season this year. The holidays for our families can be especially difficult. They come from all...
Annual Client Holiday Party
Nothing warms our hearts and brings the holiday spirit quite like our annual Client Holiday Party! And, this year’s celebration was no exception.On Wednesday, our headquarters in Long Beach was transformed into a winter wonderland just for our children and families...
Preparing for the Holidays + Upcoming Community Events
It’s not quite yet December, but the hustle and bustle of the holiday season can already be felt. Holiday decorations are popping up all over neighborhoods and in stores. A slight chill can even be felt in the air.The holidays can be a magical time, full of...