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 gratitude.
Highlighting thankfulness and gratitude is important to us because it directly connects to the work we do with our clients. Our clients are encouraged to practice gratitude to help them heal from past trauma and cope with ongoing hardships. According to Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a leading scientific expert on the science of practicing gratitude, this therapeutic process is life changing. “Gratitude blocks toxic emotions, such as envy, resentment, regret and depression, which can destroy our happiness,” said Dr. Emmons. We often see the impact practicing gratitude has for clients and their families. For example, our Public Safety Clinician, Melissa Mojica, LMFT, encourages clients to identify at least one thing they are grateful for each day. This daily exercise helps Melissa’s clients gain optimism and hope for their lives.
We are also excited about dedicating this month to giving thanks because there are a lot of people we appreciate and want to acknowledge all they do for our agency and the clients and families we serve!
Adopt-A-Family 2018 Donors
We are grateful to have supporters and mental health advocates who support our mission. Our supporters thoughtfully contribute donations, auction items and gifts throughout the year. Receiving this support helps us as we continue to grow and reach those in need of our services.
Sunset Sip 2019 Committee member Sandra Haeberle and her husband Kevin, and Sunset Sip 2019 Committee Chairwoman Betsy Snare and her husband Ed Walters
We are also able to provide comprehensive mental health services to those in need because of our caring and passionate Board of Directors, dedicated staff and engaged community members and partners. Because of their generosity, children in our community will receive the help they need to live their best lives.
TGC staff members Elizabeth Ruiz and Leah Gutierrez, PsyD
We’re excited to share more with you about gratitude and kindness this month! Stay tuned for next week’s blog, which will feature reflections from our staff about thankfulness.
Resources:
UC Davis Health, & Public Affairs and Marketing. Gratitude is good medicine. Retrieved from https://health.ucdavis.edu/medicalcenter/features/2015-2016/11/20151125_gratitude.html